A fall can happen in seconds, but the effects may last much longer. Understanding the common causes of slip and falls in Indianapolis may help you recognize when unsafe property conditions contributed to your injuries. Our competent and committed slip and fall lawyers could review what happened and explain whether a property owner may be responsible.
Many slip-and-fall accidents begin with conditions that should have been noticed during routine property care. Wet or recently mopped floors may become dangerous when no warning is posted. Spilled liquids in grocery aisles or restaurants may also create a slick surface if cleanup is delayed. During Indianapolis winters, tracked-in moisture may make entryways slippery, and ice or packed snow outside an entrance may create another serious danger.
Other hazards involve the condition of the walking surface itself. Uneven pavement may catch a visitor’s foot, while broken steps may cause an unexpected loss of balance. Loose mats may slide or bunch-up beneath someone walking through an entrance. Cords across a walkway may create a tripping hazard, and poor lighting may make changes in elevation harder to see. These conditions are among the common causes of Indianapolis slip-and-fall accidents, and they often raise questions about how long the hazard existed and whether reasonable maintenance could have prevented it.
Property owners generally owe lawful visitors reasonable care under the circumstances. That duty may require an owner to inspect areas used by visitors and address dangerous conditions the owner knows about. Responsibility may also arise when a hazard existed long enough that reasonable attention should have discovered it. A warning may be appropriate when a dangerous condition cannot be corrected immediately.
Because the common causes of an Indianapolis slip-and-fall injury usually trace back to a maintenance failure, this duty is central to claims involving spills or damaged flooring, and icy entrances may raise the same issue. An injured visitor does not necessarily need to prove that the owner personally created the danger. The issue may instead be whether the owner knew about the unsafe condition or should have found it and taken reasonable steps to correct it or warn visitors. Maintenance records may show what inspections occurred, and photographs or witness accounts may help an injury lawyer evaluate the fall.
A property owner may argue that an injured person should have noticed the condition or could have avoided it. In Indiana, a share of the blame can be assigned to each person or business whose conduct played a part in the fall. Under Ind. Code § 34-51-2-6, the injured person loses the right to recover only when that assigned share is greater than the combined fault of everyone else who contributed to the harm.
A smaller share of fault does not automatically eliminate a claim. Instead, it reduces the amount that may be recovered in proportion to that person’s assigned share. The presence of warning signs may matter when fault is evaluated, and lighting or the visibility of the hazard is among the common factors that cause an Indianapolis slip-and-fall. These details are often fact-specific, so responsibility may depend on the circumstances surrounding the accident.
If unsafe property conditions caused you to fall, identifying why the accident happened may be an important part of understanding your options. The common causes of slip and falls in Indianapolis often involve hazards that a property owner knew about or should have discovered through reasonable care.
McCready Law could examine the circumstances surrounding your fall and help you understand whether the condition may support a premises liability claim. Contact McCready Law to discuss your situation with a personal injury attorney.
