A slip or fall in public can happen anytime and anywhere. While many may find them embarrassing and funny, they can’t be taken lightly. As you make your way across busy streets, you can be in a rush or perhaps carrying heavy belongings. So, you can lose your balance. Apart from this, there are natural road hazards that can make you trip or meet with accidents.

Whenever you sustain a physical injury because of a trip or fall in public, you need to hold the responsible individuals accountable for it. This will require having a doctor to certify your injuries and hiring a personal injury lawyer to process your claim. Visit abercrombiepa.com for experienced professional lawyers that can help you in such situations.

That said, here are some of the common public places where you may slip or fall:

1. Poorly Lighted Alleys

Street lights are there for a purpose. They help motorists and pedestrians navigate through streets safely. No matter how perfect your eyesight is, if a street or alley isn’t well-lighted, you can trip or fall.

When you walk, you’re naturally facing forward. You don’t face the ground or look at your shoes. Hence, when pathways and streets aren’t well-lighted, it’s hard for you to see if the road is damaged, there are uneven steps and the like. In the worst case, you may even fall into a manhole or a canal.

2. Defective Pavements

If you’re walking around an area where the sidewalks are made of pavers or cobblestones, you’re prone to tripping. These pavements aren’t as smooth as cemented or asphalted roads. Also, these aren’t always well-maintained. The more the pedestrian traffic, the higher the risks of loose pavers or defective stones.

These paved walkways may look aesthetically pleasing but they’re dangerous if not properly maintained. If you’re a homeowner, make sure that pathways or walkways made of pavers are well-maintained. Else, you can be held liable for somebody else’s injuries.

3. Slippery Floor Surfaces

This section applies to public indoor spaces such as grocery stores, malls, and government offices.

These public indoor spaces are regularly cleaned. If the management is prudent and their employees do their jobs effectively, they dry the wet floors immediately after cleaning. They put out a security warning sign cautioning people of wet floor areas. However, there can be negligent establishments that take this for granted. So, slips due to wet and greasy floors are possible.

The same also holds for fast food chains and other restaurants where foods and drinks can end up on the floor. Depending on how busy the restaurant is, a thorough cleaning may not be possible all the time. You can easily trip over wrappers, slimy food, or spilled drinks.

4. Highways And Pedestrian Lanes

People crossing over pedestrian lanes are always in a rush. It’s very easy, therefore, to bump into someone or trip over a step. For example, walking from the pedestrian lane to the sidewalk, you generally have to take one step up. When you’re in a rush amidst a sea of other pedestrians, it’s very easy to miss this step. Therefore, you can trip easily.

5. Offices, Hotel Lobbies And Residential Areas

Offices, hotel lobbies, and residential housing complexes or buildings are generally created to look elegant. However, elegance comes with risks.

To give that cozy, welcoming and homely feel, offices and hotel lobbies are generally adorned with carpets and rugs. Unfortunately, some of these aren’t anchored securely on the floor. Also, old carpet floorings may have worn-out areas that haven’t been replaced.

These are also common areas where one can slip and fall as one can easily trip over loose edges.

6. Car Parks

You can slip over oil or water leaks and spills in car parks. Remember that car parks are some of the least maintained and watched public areas because many cars come and go every day. Therefore, it’s difficult to find the time to clean parking lots.

Apart from this, when you’re in a rush, you can easily miss barriers or barricades that are meant to divide one parking space from another.

Conclusion

All public places or roads are supposed to be safe for people to move around. While well-made and well-maintained roads can be safe, you can trip and fall while walking on dimly lit or poorly maintained roads. Defective pavements, slippery floors, pedestrian lanes, carpeted hotel lobbies, and dirty car parks are some other areas where one needs to be careful to avoid trips and falls.  If you experience a trip or a fall, you must consult a medical professional and a personal injury lawyer, especially if the fall is caused by the negligence of other parties.