All slip and fall accidents are covered by negligence law and deal with the concept of premises liability. Property owners have a "duty of care" to see that their property is safe. This includes ensuring that the building has no structural defects that could cause an accident, both inside and out. Structural defects can include: loose floor mats, rugs, or tiles; water on the floor; badly lit stairs or steps; and cracks or holes in sidewalks or parking lots.
In some states, the property owner may also have a duty to reduce problem areas caused by weather. Weather-related hazards may include standing water and icy spots. A plaintiff or claimant also has a duty to exercise reasonable care - so if any action of yours contributed to the accident, you may share in the negligence.
If you experience a slip and fall accident, you should try to determine what made you fall and if it could have been anticipated and/or prevented. Be sure you get the names and addresses of all witnesses who saw you fall. Try to note the conditions in the area - was the lighting poor, was there some substance that made you slip? If you did slip because of something on the floor, try to obtain a sample. Also, try to get pictures of the area. Report any such accident to the manager or owner of the premises and insist that he or she make a record of it.
It is your responsibility to prove that a hazard existed and that it was the cause of your accident.
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