What Surfaces Lead To The Most Slip-And-Fall Accidents?

Slip-and-fall accidents occur at seemingly random and unexpected times to victims that often suffer brain injuries, serious and life-altering injuries, but these accidents are actually caused by definable factors that come from the types of surfaces that people walk on. When walking, friction and surface roughness keep us stable and safe from slipping, but when these factors are removed, surfaces became much less safe to walk on. This is why ice is so easy to slip on, as it has very little friction to keep a pedestrian from suffering a slip-and-fall accident. However, there are some man-made surfaces that present very real slipping hazards.

Some surfaces offer all-around slip protection, while others become much more dangerous when exposed to certain conditions. In order to choose the best surface for an area, surrounding conditions and dangers must be considered.

• Ceramic and porcelain tiles – Very slippery, especially when wet, but can be safer when slip-resistant treatments are applied or when created with certain textured styles.
• Vinyl composition tile (VCT) – Inexpensive flooring that comes in large sheets that look like tiling. However, it can be extremely slippery when wet and is very limited when it comes to slip-resistant treatments.
• Marble, granite, and terrazzo tiling and floors – Good friction and roughness normally, but quickly become dangerous when wet from any liquid.
• Concrete – Comes in a variety of textures and treatments. Sealed concrete floors can be easy to clean but much slicker than normal, while broom-finished concrete flooring has some of the highest all-around slip resistance of any surface.

In order to improve a surface’s slip resistance, treatments can be applied to the flooring. These can include abrasive treatments (giving the floor a grittier surface), chemical etchings (adding small ridges that increase friction), and adding carpeting and mats. Certain polishes and cleaners also have slip-resistance qualities, but not all of them.

Property owners are responsible for the safe conditions of their land and, as such, are responsible for the injuries sustained due to unsafe conditions brought on by their negligence. The San Jose personal injury attorneys of Caputo & Van Der Walde can help you win the compensation you deserve for slip-and-fall accident injuries. Contact us today for a legal consultation at (800) 900-0863.