It’s not uncommon for people to slip and fall indoors. In fact, it’s a leading cause of premises liability lawsuits in Chicago. There are so many hazards inside a commercial or residential building, such as wet floors, objects, poor lighting, broken stairs and much more. Here are some of the conditions that can lead to slip-and-fall accidents outside.

Since we are in the midst of the summer heat, we won’t discuss ice or snow here, but these items can still cause slip-and-fall accidents. Summer storms can be just as severe, if not more severe, than those that hit in the winter. High winds, heavy rains, flooding and lightning can cause quite a bit of damage. Property owners are required to clean their property within a reasonable amount of time after a storm so the hazards do not cause injury to someone.

Parking lots are one of the most common outdoor hazards where slip-and-fall accidents occur in Chicago. Owners of lots are required to maintain their lots so that bumps or holes in the road, broken curbs or raised sidewalks don’t cause pedestrians to fall and suffer injury.

Outdoor lighting is also a problem when it comes to slip-and-fall accidents. Properties are required to be properly lit so visitors can see where it is they are going. Areas such as parking lots, walkways, driveways and stairs all must be well-lit in order to prevent people from getting injured.

Suffering an injury due to slipping and falling outside is not always cut and dry. You might have suffered the injury due to the negligence of the property owner, which means a premises liability claim might be necessary. An attorney can help you understand how to begin your claim.

Source: FindLaw, “Conditions Leading to Outdoor Slip and Fall Accidents,” accessed Aug. 04, 2017