What if I Fell on a Wet Floor at a Store?
Each year, more than one million people visit the ER after slipping on a wet floor. If you have had the misfortune of slipping on a wet floor, you may have experienced any number of injuries. When your fall was caused by someone failing to keep conditions safe, you may have a slip and fall case. Pennsylvania slip and fall law mandates that store owners provide the highest level of care to store patrons. However, recovering compensation depends heavily on your ability to prove fault.
At HGSK Injury Lawyers, our Philadelphia slip and fall attorneys are committed to helping individuals who have been injured due to a hazardous condition. If you have fallen victim to a slip and fall, our legal team would like to speak with you.
Where Can a Slip and Fall Occur?
A slip and fall can occur just about anywhere. In Philadelphia, common places where slip and falls take place include:
- Supermarkets
- Shopping malls
- Restaurants
- Amusement parks
- Sidewalks
- Swimming pools
- Parking garages
- Hotels and resorts
A slip and fall claim does not just apply to wet floors, although these are among the most common reasons that a person falls. Other reasons a person may fall include if there is a loose mat or rug, puckering carpet, poor lighting, an uneven surface, or an icy sidewalk. Anytime a dangerous condition is not addressed and you suffer losses, you may be eligible to recoup compensation.
Invitees versus Licensees versus Trespassers
Slip and fall cases are based on another person’s carelessness in remediating a property defect or hazard. To recover damages in a slip and fall, you must show that the landlord, property owner, or occupant owed you a duty of care. The duty of care that is owed to individuals who enter the property will depend on several factors.
The Commonwealth creates three distinct categories when determining the duty of care owed: Invitees, licensees, and trespassers. A property owner or manager will have the highest duty owed to invitees, who are generally invited onto the property for business purposes. Common examples include a grocery store customer, a restaurant patron, or delivery person.
Regarding invitees, Pennsylvania law requires that a property owner scope out potential hazards and fix the issue before inviting people onto the property. However, this comes with the caveat that the hazard must not have been obvious. In encountering a wet floor at a store, to recover compensation you will need to demonstrate at the time of your fall that the spilled liquid or sleekness of the floor was not visible.
Secondly, to invitees, the next highest duty of care is owed to licensees. Licensees are typically invited onto the property for social reasons. Common examples include inviting a friend over for dinner, a guest at a party, or someone who comes into a store to use the restroom. While a landlord or property owner may not have a duty to remediate the defect for a licensee, they may be found liable if they were aware of the issue and failed to warn you about it.
Trespassers (the third category) are individuals who do not have permission to be on the property. A property owner owes no duty of care to trespassers, except in limited circumstances in which the owner intentionally caused the trespasser harm. If you are unsure if a property owner or manager violated the duty owed to you, do not hesitate to reach out to our Philadelphia slip and fall lawyers.
Contact a Philadelphia Slip and Fall Attorney Today
Each state has its own laws regarding liability in slip and fall claims, and Pennsylvania is no different. Generally, if a person has permission to be on the property, then the property owner should take the appropriate measures to ensure the property is safe. If you have been injured due to slipping on a wet floor or falling due to any property defect, the legal professionals at HGSK Injury Lawyers would like to speak with you. To arrange your free consultation to discuss your case with an attorney, we can be reached online or by calling (267) 551-8782.