Public buildings are required to alert those on the property about potentially dangerous conditions, including wet floors. Bright-colored signs are generally used for this purpose. Slipping on a wet floor without a caution sign could lead to severe injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Owners and managers of public spaces like grocery stores and office buildings must keep their properties hazard-free. This is part of state premises liability laws. Any public store or business owner open to the public has to inspect the area for apparent safety risks; this includes buildings, stairways, parking lots, and anything else on the property. When an issue is found, property owners are supposed to correct it or warn others that it exists in a reasonable timeframe.
An injured party must prove the owner or manager caused the hazard, knew about it and did not address it, or should have been aware of it and no action was taken. You must also show the following:
- The business owner or manager owed you an obligation to keep you safe.
- They failed in this duty of care.
- That failure caused the accident.
- You became injured from the slip and fall accident a suffered medical and financial harm.
Your slip and fall lawyer will want to know if the floor was obviously wet; there may have been a custodian mopping the floor at the time of the accident, which would have been a red flag.
What Happens if You Slip and Fall on a Wet Floor Without a Caution Sign?
After you slip and fall in a public area, it is best to remain calm in case of serious injuries. Hopefully, someone will come to the scene quickly, and after management personnel arrives, there should be an incident report. It may be necessary to call for help if no one shows up; in some cases, a trip to the ER is warranted.
It is always a good idea to use your phone’s camera to take photos at the scene, and if there is no warning sign, take pictures that prove this. Do not sign anything without speaking to a lawyer first; ask for their contact information if there are witnesses. Keep all your medical records, statements, and receipts organized, as this will also help to build a stronger case.
Our Philadelphia Slip and Fall Lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC Can Help You
If you were injured in a public space that did not have a wet floor caution sign, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our knowledgeable Philadelphia slip and fall lawyers at McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC. Call us at 215-569-8488 or complete our online form to schedule a free consultation today. Located in Philadelphia and Abington, Pennsylvania, as well as Wilmington, Delaware, we serve clients throughout the surrounding areas.