Uneven Floor Slip and Fall Accidents

Uneven flooring is one of the most common causes of a slip and fall injury, which can result in seriously debilitating injuries – especially for senior citizens. You may be walking along the Boston Common normally, marveling at the architecture and ambiance of the city, when all the sudden a missing chunk of concrete causes you to break an ankle. In such situations, you may be able to file a claim for damages and the personal injury attorneys at Altman & Altman LLP can get started on your case immediately.

Any business which deals with people has a responsibility to ensure a safe environment for them to exist within. This means that, for example, a coffee shop shouldn’t have a doorway that leads to an immediate one-foot drop to the flooring below. This condition could pose a serious threat to anybody walking in. If corrections are not a possibility for this situation, they have an obligation to post a message (such as “CAUTION: Low step”) upon the entryway for patrons to clearly see.

If a property owner allows a potentially hazardous condition to continue, without alerting people of the danger, they could be held liable in the instance somebody falls and hurts themselves as a result. Slip and fall incidents may result in seriously debilitating injuries, such as:

• Sprained or broken ankles
• Deep lacerations or deep bone contusions
• Broken hips
• Concussions or other serious head injuries from impacting head on the ground

Uneven flooring can happen for a number of reasons. Perhaps there is construction going on to refinish the flooring in one area of the building, which makes one area of the floor rough and provides ample traction. However another section of the floor might remain smooth and slippery, leading to a possibility of a slip and fall. Again, signage should be posted to alert of these changing conditions.

Outside, uneven flooring may include cobblestones – like in some areas of Beacon Hill – which have been removed, damaged or are otherwise causing an uneven surface in the walking area around it. It may also include the growth and protrusion of tree roots sticking up through the brick sidewalks, which is a common sight around Boston. Other common uneven flooring conditions may include cracked or damageg sidewalks.

Any of these cases, alone, may not be grounds for a slip and fall claim for damages. However if it can be shown and proven that a property manager, landlord or municipal entity knew about the risk for potential damages and did nothing to prevent them, they may be held liable if somebody is injured as a result of such conditions.

Nobody goes out into the world for a nice day of walking and shopping and expects to slip and fall or trip and suffer a serious injury from a slip and fall. If an uneven surface contributed to you falling and suffering a serious injury, contact the personal injury experts at Altman & Altman LLP today. We have over 50 years of experience assisting clients who have been injured in such incidents.

We will pursue every avenue to get you financial compensation to pay for your medical expenses or recoup money from being unable to work during your hospitalization and recovery. We are conveniently located in Cambridge, downtown Boston and Salem on the North Shore. We will work with you to personally guarantee the best possible outcome, and provide free consultations to go over the details of your specific situation.

Call us today at 617.492.3000 or toll-free at 800.481.6199. We are available 24/7.