Bathrooms can be seriously dangerous places – whether they’re in a private home, rental apartment, hotel, restaurant, or other public space. Slip in fall in bathroom accidents are more common than you might think and can affect everyone from toddlers to elderly adults and even the most agile athletes.
It is possible that you cause the accident yourself by being reckless, inebriated, or not paying attention to your surroundings. But a bathroom slip and fall accident could also be due to landlord negligence, hotel negligence, or restaurant negligence.
Here are some examples of why bathroom slip and fall accidents happen and when it’s time to call a personal injury attorney for help.
Reasons for a Slip and Fall in the Bathroom
Bathrooms are notoriously wet and slippery places due to splashed water, leaky plumbing, and dripping bodies as they get into and out of the shower. Falls can also happen because of broken bathroom tiles on the floor, an overflowing toilet due to a clog, and spilled hygiene products that aren’t promptly cleaned up.
It is very common for people to slip and fall while getting into or out of the shower or bathtub, and these falls commonly result in bruising, cuts, scrapes. But depending on the severity of the fall and what you hit on your way down to the ground, you might also suffer from a concussion, neck and back injuries, and broken bones.
When a Landlord Is to Blame
If you rent an apartment in New York City and fall in your bathroom, you might have a personal injury case against your landlord. These cases can be tricky, so it’s best to work with an experienced local lawyer to pursue a slip and fall settlement.
Landlords are not legally required to install safety measures in apartment bathrooms, such as non-slip floor mats or handrails. But if another condition was making the bathroom unsafe, such as broken floor files, a worn-out shower floor, or a building code violation, landlord negligence may come into play.
When a Hotel Is to Blame
Hotels have a duty under the law to make bathrooms safe for their guests, so you may also be able to pursue a case based on landlord negligence. With your attorney, you may be able to prove that cleaning products were not properly rinsed out of the hotel bathtub or that the shower was left in an unsafe condition and not repaired. But to prove a hotel negligence case, you’ll need to show that management was aware (or should have been aware) of the unsafe conditions that caused your fall and that they failed to do anything about the issues.
When a Restaurant Is to Blame
Likewise, it is possible that a restaurant is to blame for you slipping and falling in the establishment’s bathroom. For example, this could occur if the staff mopped the floor and did not put out a caution sign to warn about the slippery surface. Who you can sue may also be affected by if the restaurant is located on an independently owned property or in a shopping center that’s part of a multi-unit building and owned by another company.
Call Us When You Slip and Fall in the Bathroom
But no matter what type of bathroom you fall in, it is definitely worth a call to an attorney to discuss the details and determine whether you have a case against a negligent party. For a free consultation, contact us online or by phone at 718-237-5586.
