Slip-and-fall injuries on private properties are extremely common, and can cause a great deal of pain and suffering to the person involved. The exact cause of any accident or injury is very hard to pinpoint, no matter the circumstances, because there are always a multitude of contributing factors that need to be evaluated.
When adults are over the age of 65, their risk of an accident, in general, but also with respect to slipping and falling, as well as falling down stairs, increases. However, if a person over the age of 65 has been involved in a slip-and-fall accident on a private property, it cannot be simply dismissed as an accident that occurred as a result of the person’s age. There are likely to be other factors at play.
Often the main causes of slip-and-fall accidents are extrinsic factors. In other words, primary causes are likely to be contributing circumstances that were out of victims’ control. It has been found that one of the most frequently cited causes of slip-and-fall accidents are badly placed carpets and rugs. This might be in the form of carpets that are not properly attached to the staircase they are placed upon, rugs that have curled edges, or carpets with a low friction that easily slip when stepped upon.
If you have been involved in a fall accident on a private property that involved a carpet or rug, it is important to consider what might have been the causal factor. If you suffered as a result, you may be able to recoup the damages.
Source: PMC, “Slipping and tripping: fall injuries in adults associated with rugs and carpets,” accessed Oct. 24, 2017