An uneven floor can cause serious injuries if a person trips, stumbles, or falls on it. For many people, it may be difficult to see a difference in elevation of a surface. Customers and visitors to businesses may not have any way of knowing there is an uneven surface unless there is a sign warning about it.
If you have been injured because of an uneven surface in a public business, you may have the legal right to recover compensation from your injuries. That compensation may come from the owner of the building, the tenant of the building, or even a company that provided maintenance for the building.
Property owners have a legal duty to make repairs that are needed on a property. In addition, they have a duty to regularly inspect property to see if it needs to be repaired. Normally, in order to be liable for a fall, the property owner must have known or should have known of a dangerous condition. If a property owner had made repairs to a floor in the past because of its tendency to be uneven, that is evidence that the property owner should be on notice that repairs may be required again.
There are some common causes of uneven floor accidents. Many property owners do not properly maintain their floors, and ignore dangerous conditions. Sidewalks and driveways may crack because of weather, age, or the growth of tree roots under the property. Other accidents may occur because even though a property owner knows about a dangerous condition, he or she may fail to warn visitors of the condition.
Even one fall on an uneven floor can lead to very serious injuries. Some victims may suffer from back injuries, nerve damage, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, injuries to the spinal cord, and other conditions. Victims can seek compensation for their lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and more.
If you have been injured by a fall on an uneven surface in the Los Angeles area, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles premises liability attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.