Slip and fall or trip and fall accidents are common in public places like shopping malls. High foot traffic means that shopping malls are more likely to include dangers that customers could trip over or slip on, which could result in injuries if not addressed promptly. You need to know your legal options if you have been hurt in a mall slip-and-fall accident so that you can get compensated for your medical bills and lost wages. Discuss your case with a slip and fall lawyer in Jersey City.
Causes of Slip and Fall Injuries at Shopping Malls
The most common reasons for injuries sustained in slip and fall incidents in shopping centers include:
- Just-cleaned and waxed floors
- Accidental drips and spills
- Somewhere there’s a water leak.
- Exterior elements such as snow, ice, rain, leaves, and mud can be tracked inside and cause a mess.
- Accumulation of snow and ice on sidewalks and streets
- Traces of dangling wires or cords on sidewalks
- Potholed or uneven pavement
- Damaged or absent railings or stairways
- Lack of service or repair of faulty escalators, elevators, or moving walkways
- Disorganized or discarded floor detritus Uneven flooring
- Differences in height as one moves from one type of flooring to another, such as carpet to tile, are called transitions.
- Carpets and rugs that are worn or ripped
- Bad lighting
The Legality of Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Shopping Centers
You might be wondering who to sue if you’ve been hurt in a slip-and-fall incident at a mall. Some of the following may share responsibility for your injuries depending on the specifics of the incident:
If the accident took place in a public section of the mall, such as a walkway, corridor, parking lot, or garage, the mall owner is responsible.
Since the store owner, and not the mall owner, is responsible for maintaining the condition of the store’s leased space, the store owner may be held liable in the event of a slip and fall accident that takes place on store property.
Businesses or shopping centers often use outside maintenance firms to care for things like maintaining broken elevators and escalators, sweeping and cleaning the floors, and shoveling snow and ice from the parking lots and sidewalks.
When it comes to commercial properties in New Jersey, the owner is typically responsible for addressing any existing hazards and conducting routine maintenance checks to spot any emerging dangers.
