Slip and Fall Hazards Lurking in Your Home

 Posted on May 01, 2018 in Slip and Fall

You can slip, fall, and suffer an injury anywhere. When a slip or fall occurs because of a property owner's negligence, such as a store owner who failed to promptly clean up a liquid spill, the property owner is liable for the victim's related damages. But not all slips and falls happen in public places; you can slip and fall in your own home. Below are a few common slip and fall hazards in American households. Take care to repair these hazards in your home to protect yourself and your loved ones from falling, especially if an elderly relative lives with you. Slips and falls, especially in the bathroom, are one of the top causes of injuries among elderly people.

Unsecured Wires

Sometimes, it is necessary to run a wire across a room to power an electronic device. When you have to do this, either run the wire along the wall to keep it out of any walking paths or if this is not possible, secure it to the floor with tape. Even a small wire can be a tripping hazard, especially in dimly lit rooms.

Throw Rugs

Like wires, throw rugs can be dangerous trip and fall hazards when they are not secured. Whether you have area rugs on top of wall-to-wall carpeting or you have rugs on hardwood floor, make sure they are property secured to prevent falls. An area rug can easily become bunched up or kicked out of place, making it an easily overlooked tripping hazard.

Loose Handrails

Check your handrails regularly to make sure they are tight enough to support individuals walking up and down the stairs. When an individual trips on the stairs and reaches for the handrail to stop a fall, a loose handrail can just make the fall worse. Additionally, many people use handrails to support themselves as they use staircases, and when a handrail is not strong enough to support a person's weight, he or she can easily fall and be injured.

Wet Tiles

Wet tiles in the kitchen and bathroom are a common slipping hazard. When you spill liquid on tiles, be sure to clean it up promptly to prevent slipping and falling. Another way to reduce your chance of being injured in a fall is to put strips of non-slip tape on the floor to keep your footing secure at all times. If you live with an elderly relative, do this in the bathroom and in the shower or bath tub.

Work with an Experienced Arlington Heights Slip and Fall Lawyer

If you slipped, fell, and suffered an injury because of another party's negligence, you could be entitled to recover monetary compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. To learn more about pursuing compensation this way, contact our team of experienced slip and fall lawyers at Newland & Newland, LLP to schedule your initial legal consultation with us. We serve clients in the Arlington Heights, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Libertyville, Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, Elk Grove, and Itasca areas.

(image courtesy of Jonathan Stout)