Slip, fall and unsafe property
Hurt in a fall or by a hazard on someone else's property?
Property owners and businesses are expected to keep their property reasonably safe for the people they invite in. When someone falls on an unmarked wet floor, a broken step or an icy walkway, the injury can be serious, and the owner’s insurer may dispute what happened. Most people go through this once. That insurer handles injury claims every day.
These guides explain what makes a property injury claim, which evidence matters, and why the rules can depend on why you were there and who owns the property. Claims involving government property often have strict notice deadlines. You shouldn’t have to become a legal expert to be treated fairly after a fall.
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15 guides in this section.
What to do first
Your first-week plan: four steps that protect your claim
Get medical care
Tell the doctor exactly how and where you fell, so the record matches what happened.
Report it on the spot
Tell the owner or manager, and ask for a copy of any incident report they write.
Photograph the hazard
Do it before it is cleaned up or repaired, and get the names of anyone who saw it.
Keep your shoes and clothes
Store them as they are, and talk to a lawyer before you give anyone a recorded statement.
What waiting can cost
- Evidence. Hazards get cleaned up and camera footage disappears quickly.
- Deadlines. Every claim has a legal deadline, and a fall on government property can require written notice much sooner.
- Disputes. If the owner’s insurer disputes what happened, your own photos and witness names matter.
Guides
Every guide in slip and fall
- Complete Premises Liability Guide
- Complete Slip and Fall Lawsuit Guide
- Michigan Premises Liability After Kandil-Elsayed: What Changed for Slip-and-Fall Cases
- How Much Is The Average Slip and Fall Settlement
- 8 Common Causes of Slip And Fall Cases
- What To Do After a Slip and Fall
- How To Win Your Slip and Fall Lawsuit
- Complete Dangerous Condition Lawsuit Guide
- Complete Negligent Security Guide
- Complete Attractive Nuisance Guide
- Swimming Pool Injuries
- Elevator Accidents
- Lawsuits Against Hotels
- Fire Accident Lawsuits
- Compensation For Amusement Park Accidents
What a good outcome looks like
The record shows what you fell on and why it was there, your treatment is documented from day one, and you decide what to do with the facts in view.
Common questions
Can I sue if I slipped and fell in a store?
Possibly. It usually turns on whether the store knew, or should have known, about the hazard and failed to fix it or warn you. Evidence such as camera footage disappears quickly, so act early.
What if I was partly at fault for my fall?
In most states, being partly at fault reduces what you can recover rather than ending the claim. A few states are stricter, so check the rule where you were hurt.
Other injuries