Originally published: July 7, 2018 -- Updated: November 1, 2021

UPDATE: In addition to understanding the types of injuries that can occur in a slip and fall accident, victims will need to determine who may be held liable for these injuries and the types of damages they may be able to recover. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help identify the liable parties and ensure that a victim takes the correct steps to pursue compensation.

When slip and fall injuries take place on someone else’s property, the property owner may be held liable based on their failure to take the proper measures to protect visitors’ safety. A property owner or the tenant in control of a property, such as the owner of a retail store that leases space from a property owner, is responsible for addressing any hazards on the property. If damaged walking surfaces are not repaired properly, spills or wet floors are not cleaned up correctly, or warnings are not provided to ensure that visitors understand their risks of injury, a property owner or tenant may be held liable for injuries that occur as a result.

It may seem like a slip and fall accident would only result in minor injuries. Even in serious cases, most people would expect a victim’s injuries to be limited to issues such as broken bones or dislocated joints that can be painful and debilitating but not permanent. However, situations where these types of accidents lead to fatal injuries are much more common than most people would expect. In fact, falls account for around 23 percent of all preventable deaths in the United States, adding up to almost 40,000 wrongful deaths each year. When fatal slip and fall accidents occur when a person was on someone else’s property, the property owner may be held liable for any form of negligence that led to the accident.

Causes of Fatal Slip and Fall Accidents

A fall accident can be fatal if it causes a person to strike their head on the ground or another object. This can result in traumatic brain injuries, and depending on the force of the blow, these types of injuries can be severe enough to cause permanent, irreparable brain damage. If a person’s skull is fractured, pieces of bone or foreign objects may penetrate the skull and damage brain tissue. If brain damage is severe, it may cause a person to fall into a coma or permanently lose consciousness, or brain function may cease altogether, leading to death. Head injuries may also cause hemorrhaging of blood inside the cranium, placing pressure on the brain that may lead to death.

While fatal brain injuries can occur in any type of slip and fall accident, they are more likely if a person falls from a significant height. These types of accidents can occur on stairways or in stairwells at buildings such as malls or department stores, and a person may fall due to damaged steps, broken handrails, or inadequate lighting. A person may also fall from an upper level to a lower level due to missing or damaged railings, and head or neck injuries in these cases can be fatal.

As the winter season begins, Illinois residents are preparing to deal with cold and inclement weather. While most people will be taking precautions to protect themselves while at home or while driving, it can be impossible to foresee every potential hazard. This is especially true when it comes to snow and ice, which can greatly increase the chances of slip and fall accidents that lead to serious injuries. If you have been injured in this type of accident while you are in a public place or on someone else’s property, you will want to work with an attorney to determine how you can receive financial compensation.

Liability for Fall Accidents Caused by Winter Weather

During the winter, slip and fall accidents may occur on sidewalks or other outdoor walkways due to the accumulation of snow and ice. These accidents can also take place indoors at locations such as restaurants or stores due to wet floors caused by snow, sleet, or rain entering through a building’s doorways or water dripping from people’s shoes and clothes.

Property owners or tenants who are in control of a property are required to protect the safety of their visitors. If a property owner does not take steps to address hazards, they may be held liable for injuries that occur because of their negligence. For instance, a store owner may be responsible for slip and fall accidents that occurred because they did not clean up wet floors, did not use floor mats to prevent the accumulation of water near a building’s entrance, or did not provide warnings about slipping hazards.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over 800,000 people end up in the hospital each year due to slip and fall accidents. If you are one of those people who has been injured in a slip and fall accident, it is important to understand what your rights are for getting compensated for your injuries. Not only could you receive compensation for the costs of your treatment, but your attorney may be able to help you obtain other indirect costs.

Determining Slip and Fall Compensation

A student at the University of Washington died due to a blood clot in her lung according to the examination performed by the King County Medical Examiner's Office. Hayley Smith, 19, was a sophomore at the university when the university's police department responded to a slip and fall accident outside the Electrical Engineering building. Smith suffered a severe head injury.

Although it was not confirmed that she fell due to ice on the sidewalk, signs the next day were posted that the sidewalk was closed. The police department for the university found the medical examiner's determination of a death to be consistent with reports from witnesses and their investigation.