Wear and tear can occur to buildings over the years, and building owners, landlords, and property possessors have a job to keep the property up so that it is free of safety hazards that can trip people up when walking on their premises. Unfortunately, wear and tear can cause slip, trip, and fall accidents in Georgia to occur.
When buildings are not maintained and get run down, carpeting often becomes a safety concern. Many walkways and stairways at apartment buildings, hotels, supermarkets, department stores, and business complexes are carpeted. When carpet is loose, ripped and torn, or is highly worn, residents, employees, and visitors can suffer from slip, trip, and fall injuries.
Dangerous Carpeting Leads to Slip and Falls
Carpeting can cause Georgia slip-and-fall accidents in three ways:
- Torn carpeting – When carpet suffers from wear and tear, it can often develop tears and rips, creating a dangerous situation for those traveling over the area. Maintenance crews and property owners should be aware of the hazard. Failure to fix it, can lead to a trip and fall accident that can prove their negligence.
- Loose carpeting – When carpeted rugs or floor mats are used without the proper backing to secure the carpet onto the floor, it can slide around and cause a person’s feet to come out from underneath.
- Highly worn carpeting – When there is high traffic, carpeting in walkways and stairwells can become thin and slippery. Heavy foot traffic over time causes carpet to wear and become a premises liability. Thinning carpet has caused many people to fall and suffer injuries. Property owners are often held liable in this type of situation.
Property owners and possessors are required to keep the building in compliance with building codes and keep the premises safe and well-maintained so that people who visit their property don’t suffer from fall-related injuries. Torn carpeting, loose carpeting, highly worn carpeting, cracked tile, or other defects in the floor can lead to Georgia trip-and-fall accidents and injuries.
To find out if you have a valid premises liability claim against the owner of the building for failing to repair and maintain the carpets, you should speak with a knowledgeable Peachtree City slip-and-fall attorney. A lawyer can investigate the accident, speak with witnesses who saw you fall, find out if others have complained about the carpet previously, and make sure you do and say the right things so that you do not hurt your chances for a full recovery. To find out more, call Shane Smith Law and receive a free, no-obligation consultation at (980) 246-2656 today.