Who Is Liable in a Slip and Fall Accident?
1) The Property Owner
The number one party that is liable for a slip and fall accident is the property owner. This includes people who own apartment complexes, shopping centers, hotels, office buildings, and other businesses.
In many cases, the owner will be responsible for:
- Keeping their premises safe and clean
- Fixing any problems with the property (such as broken tiles)
- Putting up proper safety markings or warning signs about dangerous areas on their property
- Having good lighting that helps pedestrians see where they're walking at night
2) The Tenant/Lessee
In some cases, the tenant or lessee of a property could be held liable for injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident. This is because they're responsible for maintaining the safety of their premises. If there are broken tiles on the floor (for example) that could cause someone to trip, it could be considered the fault of the tenant/lessee if they don't fix it.
3) The Contractor
In some cases, a contractor who is working on the property of another party could cause someone to slip and fall. If you've been hurt in this situation due to negligence from a contractor, they can be held liable for your injuries.
In some cases, the property owner will also be responsible if they hired a negligent contractor to perform renovations or maintenance on their property.
4) A Government Agency/Employee
Under certain circumstances, a government agency or employee could be held liable for injuries sustained in a slip and fall accident. This might be the case if a government agency or worker was in charge of keeping a sidewalk safe for pedestrians but didn't do their job correctly.
5) The Manufacturer of a Product
It's important to note that not all slip and fall accidents can be attributed to one party. For example, if a shopping center owner hires a new, less attentive cleaning crew and you slip on their premises due to an uncleaned floor, they could be held responsible for your injuries.