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What is the difference between a slip and fall and a trip and fall?
It may seem like splitting hairs, but there are differences between a slip and fall and a trip and fall. For legal purposes, the differences can mean a lot. For instance, if you find yourself at a store that is open to the public, you could experience both types of hazards while perusing the shelves looking for your favorite type of bread.

Most people have probably heard the term “slip and fall” used together. It is understandable that it seems confusing to have a separate category for tripping accidents. Why is there a difference between a trip and fall? Are they not the same thing?

This article will attempt to go over each term and provide you with specific situations where each might come up. If you find yourself severely injured, you might not care how you were hurt. Likely, the only thing that matters is getting compensation for your pain. Call the insurance and accident lawyers at Freundlich & Littman, LLC today. We will work hard for you so that you can get all the recovery you deserve for a slip, trip, or fall. Contact us today at 215-545-8500 or at info@FreundlichandLittman.com.

What is a Slip and Fall?
Let’s go back to the hypothetical bread isle situation. Along with the bread, the bread aisle tends to have a delicious assortment of jams and jellies. Down the aisle is a broken jar that an employee left and forgot about. Say you have your children with you. Anyone with young children knows how difficult it can be to grocery shop with them running around constantly. Your child is calling your attention to something sugary when all of the sudden you slip on the broken jar of jam. This causes your leg to hyperextend, or worse your leg gives out entirely and you end up on your back. You call an ambulance and curse the grocery store on the way out. This is an example of a slip and fall.

A slip is wear you slip on substance that makes a floor unsafe. Another very common slipping hazard is ice. Ice can form quite quickly and be hard to spot on blacktop. This is especially true if a landlord, homeowner, or business failed to properly prevent slip and falls on the ice.

What is a Trip and Fall?
A trip and fall is a little different. Let’s go back to the grocery store allegory. You made it past the bread isle and did not slip and fall on the jam that was carelessly neglected on the floor. Instead, you venture over to the next isle where another spill has happened. This time, someone has cleaned the mess up; however, they decided to leave the mop on the ground. Once again, your toddler saw something that looked delicious and tried to run towards it. Not seeing the mop, you chase after him and accidently catch your foot. You go down hard on your knees and hands. Back to the ambulance once more to treat your injuries. This is a trip and fall.

As the little story suggests, a trip and fall happens when an object is sticking out of its normal place or a surface is uneven. Most times, you catch your foot on it which causes you to fall abruptly. A trip and fall could also be an uneven sidewalk in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, those are all too common.

Legal Issues
These differences may seem subtle, but there is a difference legally. When it comes to making your case in front of the jury, you have to make sure that you are talking about the right thing.

A slip,trip and fall usually results in severe injuries. The slip tends to propel the body backwards. Depending on the velocity of your movements, you could seriously injure your neck, head, back, or spine.

When you trip, the body typically falls forward. You use your hands and knees to brace your fall. We learned this since we were children. A trip and fall, therefore, tends to cause injuries in the hands, knees, wrists, or face depending on how well you caught yourself when you tripped and fell.

For a slip and fall or a trip and fall, you want to make sure that you keep all medical records. Medical records are important if you decide to sue the person(s) or entity responsible for your injury. Due to the nature of a slip and fall, you want to remember as much details as you can. The more information you have, the easier it will be to prove negligence for your slip and fall.

If anyone approached you after the slip and fall or trip and fall, make sure to remember a name or a description. If the owners or managers responsible for the store sold you promises, it may be relevant during your case.

Making the Decision to Sue
If you make the decision to bring a lawsuit for your medical expenses and pain and suffering, you have two years to bring your lawsuit. The two-year statute of limitations start at the time of injury or time of discovery of the injury. If you make the decision to bring a lawsuit, know that you are not alone in the process. You deserve to be made whole for your slip and fall or trip and fall. You deserve a dedicated and professional team behind you. Call the insurance and accident lawyers today at 215-545-8500 to schedule a free consultation or email at us info@FreundlichandLittman.com.

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