Articles Of Law

posted by Admin on Jun 25

Slip and fall accidents account for a vast majority of work related injuries, as well as many injuries outside the workplace. Whether one slips due to an unforeseen act of nature, such as excess rain, ice, or sludge, or because of personal carelessness such as tripping on a deep crack in a walking path or a wrinkle in the carpet, slip and fall accidents should never be taken lightly.

Weather Conditions

Primarily, slip and fall accidents occur because of uncontrollable weather conditions, like heavy rain, ice, and snow or sludge. These falls may result in a cracked tailbone or a condition that separates the vertebrae of the lower back, often requiring surgery. Although these are usually because of weather, they can sometimes be prevented from happening. By placing “slippery when wet” signs or salting and sanding areas where ice may accumulate, employers or landlords may greatly decrease the chance of someone hurting themselves.

Negligence of Maintenance

It is not uncommon to hear of slip and fall accidents occurring at one’s home, because of lack of routine maintenance, like filling cracks in the sidewalk with cement or repairing wrinkled carpet. These may also happen in the workplace or other public locations and may result in painful injuries that may require immediate surgery.

Fault of the Injured

Furthermore, often slip and fall accidents are the effect of one’s own careless working and living habits, like knowingly working in a warehouse or garage with condensation on the floors from humidity, choosing to go out in harsh weather conditions, or ignoring warnings of slippery floors. These types of slip and fall accidents are also common and are usually the fault of the injured.

Though slip and fall accidents may be the result of many variables, they are normally the outcome of poor responsibility on someone’s part, whether it be an employer, business, landlord, or the injured individual’s own negligence. In taking the time to notice and evaluate working, living, and business areas, one may limit the possibility of a slip and fall accident just by being aware. These accidents happen frequently and the only way to stop them is to take the area’s conditions into consideration and act accordingly.

This article is based solely on facts and is not meant as legal advice.

If you have an injury that you feel may have been caused by unsafe conditions, contact Wurtzel Law in New York. The attorneys will consult with you about the specifics of your case and help you.

posted by Admin on Feb 2

Most of us enjoy spending a little time in the backyard, but we often don’t think about safety issues. Keeping the outdoors safe is important to prevent personal injury not only to ourselves and our families but also for visitors. It is worth doing frequent maintenance checks to be sure accidents don’t happen.

Pools

Make sure your pool has child proof locks and that any fencing and gates are kept in good repair. While you may not be responsible for someone climbing over your fence you could face a lawsuit if there are holes in the fence or locks are not secure.

Decks and Patios

Always be sure that your deck or patio is in good condition too. If you are buying a new house include a stress test in your building check. Replace any flooring material that may be worn and keep the surface clean from any build up of moss or lichen. Many people like to put potted plants on their decks and patios and they can be very effective. Just be sure the pots don’t become too heavy and risk your deck collapsing.

Barbeques

Barbeques make for great family fun and entertaining, but they can also be a potential risk. Gas bottles should be checked regularly by an authorized person. Keeping both the range and the cylinders clean is important to stop any build up that could cause a fire. Use long handled BBQ tools when cooking to avoid burns, but keep them out of the way of children. A barbeque fork can do a lot of damage when used as a toy or a weapon. If you have very young children it may be worth using a safety gate around the BBQ.

Garden Tools

Always lock away any tools you may have including lawnmowers. A rake left lying on the ground can be a potential hazard as can garden forks, spades and hoes. If you keep any sprays, fertilizers or gas for use in the garden they need to be under lock and key too. Avoid using slug and snail baits if you have toddlers around.

Paths and Driveways

These should be cleaned regularly as they can become slippery. If you have paving stones make regular checks for any loose ones and get them repaired. Tripping on a loose stone can cause major injury. Install adequate lighting for any pathways. Don’t let children play in driveways ever. Too many injuries and deaths are caused by people backing over little ones that can’t be seen.

Trees and Shrubs

Do a check around your garden to make sure you have no poisonous plants growing. If you aren’t sure what something is search the internet to find out. Make regular checks on large trees for any loose or poking out branches that could cause harm. Always make this check after a storm too. Make sure trees aren’t touching power lines too.

Other possible hazards

Make routine checks for any holes in the ground and fill them in. Check for any broken glass, tin cans or other dangerous materials. We never put them there ourselves but it is amazing how these things can just appear.

More Information On Filing Premises Liability Claims In Coral Springs and Southern Florida, Visit The Weinstein Law Firm.