The Law Offices of Chaikin and Sherman, P.C.
Toll Free - 800.229.8384
Phone - 202.659.8600
Fax - 202.659.8680
Personal Injury Lawyers—
Proving Fault in Slip and Fall Lawsuits
Washington, D.C., Maryland, & Virginia
Slip and fall cases are considered premises liability cases, the area of law that addresses the duty of business and property owners to provide a reasonably safe environment for those who come onto their property.
What you need to prove
In a slip and fall case you need to prove at least one of the following:
- The owner caused the dangerous condition
- The owner was aware of the dangerous condition and failed to correct it
- The owner should have known about the dangerous condition, because any reasonable person would have known
In addition, you must prove that the dangerous condition caused you to fall and that you suffered injuries as a result of the fall.
Cause of slip and fall
Many situations, involving owner negligence, can cause slip and fall accidents including:
- Damaged flooring, such as ripped carpet
- Wet floors
- Failure to clean up after spills
- Failure to use appropriate warning signs for wet floors and other dangers
- Unlevel floors and unmarked small steps
- Snow and ice
- Potholes
- Debris
- Missing or damaged railings
- Uneven stairs
- Slick flooring materials
- Low obstacles
- Failure to maintain a clean environment, leading to mold overgrowth
- Broken sidewalks
Slip and fall accidents are serious
People who have never been the victim or lost a loved one to a slip and fall accident may joke about the subject or feel that it is a frivolous claim. Slip and fall accidents can cause permanent and severe injuries and – in some cases - can be fatal. Injuries caused by slip and fall accidents can include:
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Neck injury
- Back injury
- Facial lacerations
- Broken nose
- Broken teeth
- Eye injury/vision loss
- Fractures and broken bones
- Cuts and bruises
- Broken ribs
- Knee injuries
- Burns
- Paralysis
- Coma
- Seizures/epilepsy
- Infections
- Death
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured as a result of an accident on somebody else’s property in Maryland, Virginia or Washington DC, please e-mail or speak to one of our skilled personal injury lawyers before you settle with an insurance company. Our premises liability lawyers are committed to obtaining justice for you - the victim.











