Loose and uneven flooring are among the problems that lead to the National Floor Safety Institute calling “hazardous floors” the leading cause of more than 1 million emergency room visits for slip-and-fall injuries each year.
If someone slips or trips and falls and is injured because a property owner or other responsible party unreasonably failed to correct a hazard caused by loose or uneven flooring, the responsible party may be held liable for this negligence. The injured person may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income and other losses.
If you have been injured in a fall caused by loose or uneven flooring, the personal injury law firm of Ginarte Gonzalez & Winograd, LLP, can review your accident to determine whether you may have a valid claim. If the negligence of the property owner or other responsible party caused your fall, you may be able to obtain compensation for your losses.
Loose and Uneven Floors Contribute to Dangerous Falls
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), floors and flooring materials contribute directly to more than 2 million fall injuries each year.
Floors in stores, theaters, offices, homes and other buildings must be properly installed and maintained in a way that ensures they are safe for visitors. Flooring of any kind – linoleum, carpet, ceramic tile, stone, hardwood, etc. – can become uneven or loose over time. If a damaged floor cannot be repaired immediately, it should be well lit, and the potential hazard should be identified with caution signs.
There are many ways loose or uneven floors can create a slip- or trip-and-fall hazard. Some examples include:
- Linoleum or vinyl floors that are peeling, cracked, warped or turned up at the edges are potential tripping and slipping hazards.
- Carpet that is bunched up or has holes in it is a tripping hazard. Loose carpet, area rugs and mats can move under visitors’ feet and cause slip-and-fall accidents.
- Tiles that are not even when installed are a tripping hazard. Property owners must be aware of worn grout or failed glue that loosens tiles and causes a slipping hazard. Missing tiles create uneven floors and the potential for someone to trip and fall.
- Hardwood floors that have warped or have become cracked or split are a tripping hazard.
- Sub-flooring that is not level or properly treated prior to the addition of flooring materials can warp, sink or otherwise move and create an uneven surface.
- Thresholds between rooms that are improperly sized (too tall or wide) create a tripping hazard. Threshold pieces that are loose or broken can cause falls as well.
If the condition of flooring at a private home, office or business has caused someone’s injury and it can be shown that the property owner or other responsible party knew or should have known of the hazard but did nothing to address the danger, the injured party may have a valid personal injury claim. A lawsuit could seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other losses caused by the slip-and-fall injury.
Contact Our NY / NJ Fall Accident Attorneys Today
If you have been injured because the condition of uneven or loose flooring has been neglected by a property owner, the slip-and-fall accident lawyers of the Ginarte law firm want to help you obtain justice. Those who have been injured because of someone else’s negligence deserve compensation for their injuries.
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