When it comes to slip and fall accidents, many think of custodians mopping slippery floors in warehouses or a school janitor who slips on a wet floor and breaks their arm. However, those are just two of the most common examples of this type of accident. Anyone can be injured at work from falling or slipping while doing almost any task.

People are often hurt or even killed in such accidents because they underestimate the risk involved in that activity. In every case, they can be prevented by considering all relevant factors beforehand—not just after they happen.

This article will provide helpful information concerning slip and fall accidents, determining whether they were deliberate or just accidental, and when to speak to a personal injury lawyer.

Accidental Slip and Fall vs. Foul Play

A slip and fall accident does not result from any malicious intent on behalf of the party involved and does not cause serious injury or death to anyone involved. While accidents can be devastating for all parties concerned, they do not constitute a crime because they are unexpected events beyond one’s control.

An accidental slip and a fall can occur anywhere, be it at your workplace, at home, or even when you are traveling.

Accidental slips usually happen because of:

• The ground is wet from rain or other sources (such as snow in winter).
• Wet floors, such as wet tiles in a bathroom or kitchen area, after cleaning has been done by staff members who failed to dry them thoroughly before leaving the premises, for example
• A spillage on the floor from some food products may have been dropped by someone who was eating nearby without realizing what had happened until it was too late.

Slip and fall accidents are generally categorized into three types:

Slips

The first type of slip-and-fall accident refers to unintentional slips or trips. This kind of accident involves a sudden movement by the victim due to poor lighting or worn footwear. The result is usually an ankle sprain or minor fracture, which may heal quickly with medical treatment.

Stumbles

The second type of slip-and-fall accident involves intentional falls from height by the victim after tripping over some object in their path. This can happen when someone tries to walk through a stairway but slips on a step that has been wetted by water or other fluid. Stumbles can also occur when someone tries to open a door but falls over something on the ground, such as boxes or chairs left in front of doors.

Trips

The third type of slip-and-fall accident involves tripping over some object on the ground, such as an uneven surface, a hole in the flooring, or an object left behind by someone else (like toys).

What Is Foul Play?

For something to be considered foul play, it needs to be done intentionally by someone else with malicious intent toward another person or group of people. Foul play can include things like assault, harassment, and theft—all of which could lead to a slip and fall accident.

Grounds to File for an Accidental Fall and Slip Claim

An accident can be caused by some type of negligence on the part of the property owner or manager who failed to ensure their premises were safe. A deliberate slip and fall occurs when someone intentionally injures another person by tripping them or pushing them down.

The main difference between the two types of slip-and-fall cases is intent: accidents are unintentional, while foul plays are intentional. However, even if there was no intent behind the act, it doesn’t mean that your case has no merit; it just means that proving it will be more difficult because you’ll need witnesses who saw what happened and can testify to it in court.

If you were injured in a fall on someone else’s property, you might be able to file for compensation. These types of claims are called “premises liability claims.”

Accidents happen. The question is whether or not the property owner is responsible for the accident that injured you. In some cases, there are grounds for filing an accidental fall and slip claim against the property owners. The following are some of the most common grounds:

• The property owner knew or should have known that their property was unsafe but failed to fix it.
• You were injured in a slip-and-fall accident on someone else’s property because of their negligence
• The property owner was unable to caution general users about the dangerous condition.

Grounds to File for a Slip and Fall Claim if You Suspect Foul Play

It is well-known that most slip and fall accidents are not caused by mere negligence. Instead, they are caused by some form of intentional wrongdoing.

Foul play can include any of the following:

• Intentionally causing someone to slip or fall on purpose
• Forcing a person to slip or fall in order to take advantage of them (e.g., insurance fraud)
• Intentionally causing an accident that results in a slip or fall injury
• Deliberately tampering with property so that someone will get hurt if they use it as intended (e.g., putting grease on stairs leading up to a building)

The most important thing a person can do when they suspect foul play is preserve the evidence. This means taking photos of the scene and any injuries as soon as possible after they occur. If there were witnesses, try to get their contact information so they can be called upon later if needed.

If you have any reason to suspect that someone may have caused your injury, it is best not to clean up before taking photos or calling 911 because it may destroy valuable evidence needed in court.

Final Word

If you have suffered slip and fall injuries in Media, PA, due to someone else’s negligence or intentional actions, a personal injury lawyer from Siddons Law Firm can help you get full compensation for your injuries and other damages.

Call us today at 610-255-7500 for more information about our services.