What is a “slip and fall” injury?

A "slip and fall" is the generic term used by lawyers for an injury that occurs when someone slips, trips or falls as a result of a dangerous or hazardous condition on someone else's property. Slip and falls can occur at any time and in any place, such as a sidewalk, grocery store aisle, city park or a friend’s house. There are four general types or categories of slip and fall cases.

• Trip and Fall - Foreign object in a normally clear walkway. (Example: cardboard boxes in a grocery store aisle)

• Stump and Fall - An impediment or obstruction causes a person to stumble when walking. (Example: stumbling on a misaligned sidewalk)

• Step and Fall - There is a hole, crack or other foundational failure in the walking surface. (Example: an uncovered manhole on a city sidewalk)

• Slip and Fall - The meeting of the shoe’s sole and floor surface fails because of a slippery substance or surface. (Example: slipping on spilled paint at the hardware store)