Photo of legal professionals at Gammon McFall & Villarreal

At Your Side When Life Changes

Outdoor hazards must be handled right away

On Behalf of | Feb 10, 2018 | Firm News, Slip-and-fall Injuries |

Slips and falls are sometimes minor incidents that don’t have lasting impacts. In other cases, they are catastrophic situations that come with serious injuries. Property owners need to make sure that they are keeping their property free of hazards that might lead others to slip, trip or fall.

Outdoor hazards are sometimes difficult to spot when you are walking around. One hazard that is usually easy to spot is inadequate lighting. This is a problem in many areas because property owners don’t take the time to think about how no lights outside or dim lights can be hazardous. Often, they become so focused on how the property looks during the day that they forget about the darker hours.

Another hazard that occurs outside is uneven pavement. Jagged pavement is easy to trip on, especially when you are carrying groceries out of your car or doing something similar. Instead of allowing a parking lot or sidewalk to remain broken and in uneven, property owners should take steps to have the area smoothed out and fixed.

The weather can also pose a hazard outside. During rain, snow and ice storms, property owners should do all they can to keep customers safe. This includes making sure walkways are cleared of slippery, wintry precipitation. It also means minimizing the transfer of moisture from outside to inside by placing mats and other items in the entryways.

If you are injured in a slip-and-fall accident, you might decide to sue the property owner. This is done via a civil lawsuit and might help you to recover some of the costs of the accident.

Source: FindLaw, “Conditions Leading to Outdoor Slip and Fall Accidents,” accessed Feb. 09, 2018