Questions to Ask in a Slip and Fall Accident

Here are some questions to ask if you are involved in a slip and fall accident. 

  • If you slipped on a spill in a mall, was it there long enough that the property owner should have been aware of it?
  • Is there a standard cleaning/maintenance schedule for the premises? If so, can the property owner show proof that the policy exists?
  • If, for example, you tripped over a stack of boxes beside a shelf in a grocery store, was there a good reason for the boxes to have been there? Could they have been safely and conveniently placed elsewhere or should a proper barrier or warning sign have been set up?
  • Was the slip and fall accident caused, at least in part, by poor or dim lighting?
  • Did you have a valid excuse for being at the site of the slip and fall accident?
  • Were you paying full attention at the time of the slip and fall accident?
  • Was the area properly labeled?
  • Would a reasonable person have been able to avoid the slip and fall accident?

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Who is Liable When Someone Slips and Falls?

Slip and fall accidents come under the area of law known as ‘premises liability’. This special form of liability determines which party is at fault for the accident and requires the person in possession of the land or premises in which the accident occurred to be responsible for certain injuries suffered by persons on that premises. Therefore, each time someone steps onto a property, the property owner faces a considerable liability issue. The owner is required by law to provide a safe environment for individuals who visit the property. This includes performing routine maintenance and preventing unsafe and dangerous conditions that could cause injuries to an individual.

Here is a list of accidents covered under premises liability:

  • broken sidewalks
  • uneven floors
  • broken elevators
  • cracked or broken steps
  • puddles of water
  • swimming pool accidents
  • broken railings
  • debris on the floor


Slip and fall accidents can happen at:

  • shopping malls
  • hospitals
  • office buildings
  • housing complexes
  • parking garages
  • restaurants

 If the negligence of the property owner is found to have been the cause of an injury, the property owner is liable and victims may be entitled to compensation.

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