Slip & Fall Practice

Back to the book page

To quickly search for key terms, use your browser's 'Find' function, found in the 'Edit' menu.


Summary Table of Contents

Part One. Case Evaluation

Chapter 1.    In the Beginning

Chapter 2.    Premises Liability Law

Chapter 3.    Building Codes

Chapter 4.    Mechanics of Walking

Chapter 5.    Measurements and Testing

Chapter 6.    Case Evaluation

Part Two. Litigation

Chapter 7.    Pleadings

Chapter 8.    Depositions

Chapter 9.    Production of Documents, Interrogatories and Inspection Demands

Chapter 10.   Selection and Use of Expert Witnesses

Chapter 11.   Determining Damages

Chapter 12.   Defending a Slip and Fall Case

Chapter 13.   Settlement and Arbitration

Chapter 14.   Preparing Documents and Evidence for Trial

Chapter 15.   The Trial

Part Three. Categories of Cases

Chapter 16.   Workplace Falls

Chapter 17.   Falls on Public Property

Chapter 18.   Falls in Markets

Chapter 19.   Falls in Residences

Chapter 20.   Falls on Construction Sites

Chapter 21.   Falls at Recreational Facilities

Chapter 22.   Falls on Ice and Snow

Chapter 23.   Falls by the Elderly or Disabled

Chapter 24.   Playground Accidents

Table of Authorities

Index

 

Expanded Table of Contents

Part One:  Case Evaluation

Chapter 1.  In the Beginning

§100     Introduction

§110     Slip and Fall Elements

§111      Victim

§112      Hazard

§113      Causal Link

§114      Injury

§115      Focus on the Issues

§120     Establishing the Hazard

§121      Getting the Basic Information

§121.1      The Victim

§121.2      The Accident

§121.3      Mechanics of Fall

§121.4      Type of Shoes or Footwear

§130     Documenting the Hazard

§131      Witnesses

§131.1      Paramedics and Other Emergency Personnel

§131.2      Percipient Witnesses

§131.3      Store Personnel

§132      Statements and Reports

§132.1      Client Statements

§132.2      Incident Reports

§132.3      Depose Witnesses for Preservation of Testimony

§133      Physical Evidence

§133.1      Clothing

§133.2      Debris or Other Foreign Material

§134      Photographs

§135      Measurements

§136      General Damages and Non-Medical Specials

§137      Determine the Existence of Building or Safety Codes

§§140 - 150     [Reserved]

§160     Expert Evaluation

§160.1      Consulting With Experts and Other Witnesses

§§170 - 180     [Reserved]

§190     Initial Evaluation Checklist

Chapter 2.  Premises Liability Law

§200     Introduction

§201      Common Law

§202      Modern Elimination of Categories

Case 1:     Business Invitee

§203      Common Carriers

§210     Burden of Proof

§211      Dangerous Condition

§212      Duty

§212.1      Control of Premises

§212.1.1      Landlord and Tenant

§212.2      Ordinary Care

§212.3      Statutory Duty

§213      Notice

§213.1      Actual Notice

§213.2      Constructive Notice

Case 1:       Box on Floor

Case 2:       Dangerous Plastic

Case 3:       Fallen Banana

Case 4:       Hand Lotion

Case 5:       Slippery Milk

§214      Breach of Duty

§215      Causation

§215.1      Injury Consistent With Hazard

§216      Damages

§216.1      Special Damages

§216.2      General Damages

§216.3      Punitive Damages

§216.4      Evaluation of Damages

§220     Plaintiff’s Status

§221      Trespassing Adults

§222      Trespassing Children

§223      Licensees

§223.1      Duty to Warn

§224      Invitees

§224.1      Knowledge of Dangerous Condition

§224.2      Special Duties

§225      Limited Immunity for Recreational Use of Land

§230     Notice

§231      Actual Notice

§232      Constructive Notice

§232.1      Defendant’s Creation of Hazardous Condition

§232.2      Frequency of Inspections

§232.3      Notice Applies to Plaintiff and Defendant

§232.4      Foreseeability

§233      Duty to Inspect for Hazards Caused by Others

§233.1      Self-Service Retail Stores

§233.2      Mode of Operation

§240     Strict Liability

§241      Landlords

§250     Plaintiff’s Negligence

§251      Contributory Negligence and Comparative Fault

§252      Assumption of Risk

§252.1      The Fireman’s Rule

Case 1:       Liability and Fireman’s Rule

§260     Negligence Per Se

§261      Defense to Negligence Per Se

§262      Did Defect Cause Accident?

§270     Jury Instructions

§280     Government Tort Actions

§281      Public Duty

§281.1      Dangerous Condition

§281.2      Trivial Defect

§281.3      Liability of Abutting Property Owners

§282      Pleading and Practice

§283      [Reserved]

§284      Duty of Municipality to Comply With Federal Mandated Standards

§285      Governmental Immunity

§285.1      Discretionary Immunity

§285.2      Design Immunity

Case 1:       Softball Field

§285.3      Design v. Negligence

Case 2:       Outdated Campus Design

§290     Special Statutory Actions

§291      Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA)

§292      The Jones Act

§293      Jurisdiction and Procedural Issues

§294      Federal Employers’ Liability Act or Workers’ Compensation

§295      Respect the Process

Chapter 3.  Building Codes

§300     Purpose and Use of Building Codes

§301      Application to Existing Buildings

§302      Negligence Per Se

§310     Common Terminology

§320     Model Building Codes

§321      Exits, Exit Access and Exit Discharge

§321.1      Scope and Intent of the International Building Code

§322      Corridors

§323      Elevation Changes

§324      Doors and Thresholds

§325      Stairs

§325.1      Rise and Run

Picture:       Rise and Run Violations

§325.2      Handrails

Picture:       Stairway Without Handrails

Picture:       Stairway With Only One Handrail

§325.3      Stairway Construction

§325.4      Deposition Guidelines for Experts on Stairway Accidents

§326      Ramps and Inclined Walkways

§326.1      Maximum Ramp Slope

§326.2      High Traction Requirements

§330     Exit Lighting

§331      Illuminating Engineering Society

§340     Local and Special Codes

§350     Handicapped Access Standard

§351      Purpose and Scope

§352      Applicability

§353      Definitions

§354      Parking Aisles

§355      Elevation Changes

§356      Ramps

Table:       Allowable Ramp Dimensions for Construction in Existing Sites, Etc.

§357      Stairways

§360     Building Code Checklist

§370     Diagrams and Illustrations

Figure 3.1:       Rise and Run

Figure 3.2:       Safety Tread Designs for Disabled Persons

Figure 3.3:       Ramps

Figure 3.4:       Stairway Features

Figure 3.5:       Handrail Placement

Figure 3.6:       Handrail Cross Section

Figure 3.7:       Light Intensity Diagram

Figure 3.8:       Angle of Ascent

Figure 3.9:       Cone of Vision

§380     Exit Checklists

Chapter 4.  Mechanics of Walking

§400     Introduction

§410     Human Walking

§411      Bipedal Motion

§412      Cyclic Pattern of Movement

Illustration:      Cyclic Pattern of Movement

§413      Ground Reaction Forces

§413.1      Traction Demand and Utilized Coefficient of Friction

§414      Typical Questions and Answers on Normal Walking Forces Generated During Normal Stride

§415      Phases of the Stride

Illustration:      Phases of Walking

§416      Stair Gait

Illustration:      Phases of the Stride

§420     Gait Analysis

Illustration:       Posterior View of Ankle on Heel Contact

§421      Medial or Lateral Body Shifting

Figure 4.1:      Lateral Movement of the Foot During the Stride

Figure 4.2:      Stringer Elevated Above the Plane of Tread

§422      Speed of Walking

§423      Angle of Impact

Figure 4.3:      Moments of Force During Heel Strike

§424      The Effect of Aging and Physical Impairment

§425      Arm Function

§430     Experiments and Ergonomic Studies on Slipping

§440     Walking Surfaces

§441      Level Surfaces

Picture:     Uneven Stepping Stones

§442      Ramps

Table:       Static Coefficient of Friction for Level Surfaces and Various Gradients

§443      Stairways

Picture:     No Slip Stripes

§444      Curbs and Risers

§445      Wheel Stops

Figure 4.4:      Tire Stop and Standard Parking Stall Dimensions

Picture:           Badly Placed Tire Stop

Picture:           Asphalt in Bad Repair

Figure 4.5:      Handicapped Parking Space

§446      Speed Bumps

Picture:           Speed Bumps With Solid Painting

Picture:           Proper Marking and Delineation

§447      Rough and Uneven Work Surfaces

§450     Balance and Perception

§451      Cone of Vision

§452      Visual Cues or Flags

Figure 4.6:      Contrasts Against Background

Figure 4.7:      NIOSH Contrast Visibility Chart

§452.1      Color Contrast

Picture:       Lack of Contrast

§452.2      Lighting and Illumination

§453      Determining Visibility or Visual Acuity

§454      Spatial Vision and Pattern Perception

§454.1      Defining an Object

§454.2      Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity Function (CSF)

§454.3      Primary Factors That Determine the Visibility of Objects

§454.4      Orientation Edges

§455      Distractions

§455.1      Orientation Edges

§455.2      Geometric Patterns

§455.3      Vehicular and Pedestrian Traffic

§455.4      Point-of-Purchase Displays

Picture:     Floor Pattern Hiding Riser

Picture:     Riser Hidden by Tile Pattern and Color

§460     Checklist: Evaluating a Walkway

Picture:  Repaired Walkway

Picture:  Uplifting Tree Roots

Chapter 5.  Measurements and Testing

§500     Introduction

§510     Coefficient of Friction and Slip Resistance

§511      Commonly Used Measurements

§512      Measurement Techniques

§512.1      Laboratory Testing

§512.2      Field Testing

§512.3      Portable Articulated Strut Tester (PAST)

§512.4      Portable Inclinable Articulated Strut Tester (PIAST)

§512.5      English XL Slip Resistance Tester

§512.6      Other Testing Methods

§512.7      American Society for Testing and Material Standard Changes

Picture:       The English XL Variable Incidence Tribometer

§513      Errors in Measurement

Table:       Standard Deviations in Measurement

§514      Correlating Methods

§515      Acceptable Coefficients of Friction

§515.1      Special Requirements

§515.2      Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces

§516      Standard Setting Procedures

Table 516A:     ASTM Standard Methods for Measuring Coefficient of Friction or Slip Resistance

Table 516B:     ASTM Standards for Reporting and Interpreting Data

§517      Typical Questions and Answers Regarding Slip Resistance

§520     Dimensional Measurements

§520.1      Types of Measurement Devices

§521      Stairway Dimensions

§521.1      Treads and Risers

Picture:       Storefront Theater Stairs

Picture:       Rise and Run Violations

Picture:       Sloping Landing

Figure 5.1:  Combination Square

§521.2      Handrails

Picture:       Covered Handrail

§521.3      Headroom

§521.4      Slope

Picture:       Non-Conforming Stairway

§521.5      Single Risers

§522      Ramp Measurement

§522.1      Slope

Figure 5.2:  Ramp Slope

Picture:       Electronic Level

§522.2      Handrails

§522.3      Markings

§523      Typical Questions and Answers

Picture:     School Playground Ramp

§524      Typical Questions and Answers—Single Risers and Thresholds

§530     Lighting

§531      Terminology

§532      Testing Instruments

§533      Acceptable Values of Incident Light

§534      Statutory Standards

§535      Industry Advisory Standards

Table:       Light Intensity Values

§540     Shoes and Footwear

§541      Coefficient of Friction

§542      Shoe Material

§543      Straps and Construction

§544      Shoe Design

Figure 5.3:      Toe and Heel Spring

Figure 5.4:      Woman’s Shoe Heel

§550     Field Testing Checklist

Sample:  Field Testing Checklist (on CD-ROM)

§560     Expert’s Report

Sample: Liability Evaluation Report

Picture:  Stairs With Missing Baluster

Picture:  Water Damage

Picture:  Urethane Cleavage

Picture:  Unworn Tread

Chapter 6.  Case Evaluation

§600     Introduction

§610     Elements of Liability

§611      Sufficiency Test

§611.1      The Hazard

§611.2      Duty

§611.3      Breach

§611.4      Causation

§611.5      Damages

§612      Obtainable Facts

§612.1      Witnesses

§612.2      Documentation