Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall hazards are everywhere we turn in Allentown – or in any city, for that matter.
Think about the spill on the floor in the supermarket that wasn’t cleaned up properly or the icy sidewalk or raised sidewalk in front of your neighbor’s home. The wet tile floor in the doctor’s office caused by the umbrellas and shoes of people walking in from the parking lot in a downpour could also cause hazards.
Slips and falls and trips and falls are nothing to take lightly. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), slips and falls account for 14,500 deaths each year, with adults 65 and older representing almost 80 percent of the fatalities.
If you’re a Pennsylvania property owner, there are a number of ways you can help to make your property safer for visitors or employees. Here are few of the most important ones for starters.
- Perform regular maintenance. Sidewalks and walkways deteriorate over time, and walkways and curbs can settle, leaving uneven spots and raised areas that are tripping hazards. Have these repaired as you spot them.
- Keep carpets in good shape by checking for frays, tears and curling edges. All mats should have slip-resistant backing and be fixed to the floor securely.
- Keep all noncarpeted flooring surfaces clean, and make sure to mop up oil, water and grease. Scuff up tiled or concrete floors to give them a rougher surface or use skid-resistant mats.
- Keep stairways and steps free of items that could provide obstacles, such as packages that have been delivered. Make sure the stairwell is well-lit and put handrails on both sides, if possible.
- Replace burnt-out light bulbs right away, especially in outside stairs, parking lots and walkways.
- Clear ice and snow from the walkways, outdoor steps and parking lots as soon as possible and apply non-slip substances such as salt, ice-melter, sand or cinders to prevent the accumulation of snow and ice on your property.
If you have been injured as a result of a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall that was preventable with proper maintenance and diligence by a property owner, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries, harms and losses. For over the past forty years [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″] has represented people who were injured when a property owner failed to take these or other precautions to protect the citizens of the Lehigh Valley and beyond. In many instances, we were able to get the injured person’s medical bills and lost wages paid and get a recovery for pain, suffering, loss of life’s pleasures and inconvenience of having to get treatment for the injuries caused by the negligence of the property owner in failing to appropriately maintain their property.
