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When you’re out walking around, you expect the areas where you are walking to be safe. You trust that property owners and businesses are keeping their premises in good repair and that they are providing adequate warnings to protect you from slip-and-fall hazards.

These are all reasonable expectations. You shouldn’t have to constantly watch your step or worry about getting injured every time you leave your home. Unfortunately, property owners and businesses don’t always do what they should. As a result, many people find themselves in need of a Fort Myers accident attorney.

10 Dangerous Walking Surfaces That Can Cause Slip-and-Fall Accidents

Dangerous walking surfaces are common causes of slip-and-fall accidents. While all walking surfaces can (and should) be safe, various issues can make them unsafe for customers, visitors, and guests. If a property owner or business fails to address a safety hazard that creates a dangerous walking surface, then the property owner or business can (and should) be held liable under Florida’s premises liability law.

There are several issues that can make a walking surface dangerous. This includes issues related to the walking surface’s design and construction, as well as issues related to the walking surface’s maintenance. Some examples of issues that can lead to dangerous slip-and-fall accidents include the following:

1. Uneven Walking Surfaces

Uneven walking surfaces can be very dangerous. Slopes, curbs, steps, and ramps can all present hazards that can lead to sudden and unexpected falls. The risks associated with spills and other issues can also be magnified with uneven walking surfaces, and it is not uncommon for this combination of factors to lead to falls resulting in serious injuries.

2. Unmarked Changes in Elevation

While it can be hard to miss a tall staircase or escalator, you can easily overlook smaller changes in elevation—even when they are right at your feet. Recognizing that this is the case, property owners and businesses have a duty to mark these changes in elevation in many cases. Oftentimes, this is done by painting the change in elevation (such as a curb or single step) either red or yellow so that it stands out from both directions of travel. If a change in elevation is left unmarked, pedestrians may not notice the change in elevation until it is already too late.

3. Use of Slippery Flooring Materials

Certain flooring materials are only safe for use in certain applications. For example, some types of tile, wood, and other flooring materials can be extremely slippery when wet—and, as a result, they are not suitable for areas where water may intrude or where customers, visitors, guests, or even employees might have wet or unsuitable shoes. In many circumstances, property owners and businesses must install non-skid material on top of other walking surfaces to mitigate the risk of slip-and-fall accidents.

4. Spills and Recent Cleanings

Spills can create dangerous walking surfaces in unexpected areas. For example, most people who are grocery shopping don’t expect to encounter spills, and they are generally looking at the shelves instead of looking down at their feet. As a result, if not cleaned up promptly, spills can create serious slip-and-fall hazards.

But, recent cleanings can also create slip-and-fall hazards. Floors typically remain wet for a period after cleaning—and this means they remain slippery for a period as well. To prevent slips and falls related to recent cleanings, property owners and businesses must place warning signs and cordon off dangerous areas, as necessary.

5. Gravel, Dust, and Debris

Gravel, dust, and debris are other types of hazards that can create dangerous walking surfaces. If these move under a person’s feet while they are walking, this can leave the person helpless to avoid a potentially serious fall. Just like spills, property owners and businesses have a duty to clean up gravel, dust, and debris when they present risks for slip-and-fall accidents.  

6. Loose Mats and Rugs

Loose mats and rugs can also present slip-and-fall hazards. If a loose mat or rug slides across the floor when someone steps on it, this can lead to a potentially serious fall as well. To prevent mats and rugs from slipping, property owners and businesses should place a grippy pad underneath or else use furniture, signs, or other heavy items to hold the mat or rug in place.

7. Worn-Out Floorboards and Carpeting

As floorboards and carpeting get old, they can wear out and start to become slippery. All types of flooring materials can wear out, and how long they last depends heavily on how (and how often) they get used. If a flooring material is no longer safe due to wear and tear, then the property owner or tenant must replace it before it leads to serious injury.

8. Cracked Sidewalks and Parking Lots

Cracks in sidewalks and parking lots can be dangerous as well. These hazards are common causes of fall-related injuries, as people who are walking outside must watch for cars and other pedestrians rather than carefully watching every step. Property owners and businesses also have a duty to repair these hazards before they lead to injuries.

9. Protruding Roots

Protruding roots in sidewalks and parking lots are another common hazard that can create dangerous outdoor walking surfaces. Depending on the circumstances, remedying this type of hazard may require painting the root, placing a sign, or removing the root and fixing the sidewalk or parking lot.

10. Inadequate Lighting

Inadequate lighting can hide dangerous walking surfaces and contribute to causing serious slip-and-fall injuries. Sidewalks, parking lots, parking garages, alleyways, stairwells, and building interiors must all have adequate lighting so that customers, visitors, and guests can see where they are walking.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation with a Fort Myers Accident Attorney at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

If you have been injured by a dangerous walking surface in Florida, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other injury-related losses. To learn more in a free and confidential consultation with Fort Myers accident attorney Randall L. Spivey, please call 888-477-4839 or request a free consultation online today at Spiveylaw.com.