Public places like shopping malls in New York could pose slip-and-fall hazards to consumers. While most people spot fall hazards outdoors on sidewalks and in parking areas, slippery wet areas might be less evident inside malls. An accidental fall can happen in the blink of an eye, and a brain injury could result if the person’s head strikes the floor or another hard object.
Typical slip hazards in malls include freshly mopped or waxed floors, which might look good and clean, shiny floors can pose significant fall hazards. Although cleaners may use warning signs while the mop or wax a floor, that area remains dangerous afterward when the cleaning is done and the signs removed. Moreover, many consumers who visit malls can spill beverages, and if it is not cleaned promptly, many passing feet will spread the wetness, increasing the size of the dangerous area and the fall risks.
Other dangerous areas in shopping malls include stairways. Typical risks include the lack of secure railings and children who love to play on stairs, running up and down, often while holding beverages or ice cream, which could cause slippery conditions. Understandably, falls on stairways can cause serious injuries.
Consumers in New York who have to deal with the financial and emotional consequences of slip-and-fall accidents in a public area such as a mall might have grounds to file a premises liability lawsuit. When the fall results in a brain injury, long-term and even permanent consequences could follow. An experienced personal injury attorney can assist with the navigation of a civil lawsuit in pursuit of monetary compensation to cover current and future medical bills, therapy, and income losses.