Slip & Fall Accident Lawyer in Nashville

Did You Suffer A Serious Injury on Unsafe Premises?

Slip & fall accidents are among the most common causes of injury to Americans every year – according to a report released by the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), about one out of every four workers’ compensation claims come after slip & fall injuries.

Millions of people, both on worksites and off, suffer slip & fall injuries, and approximately 12,000 people are killed in these types of accidents. As common as these accidents are, OSHA reported that the vast majority were completely preventable. If you were seriously injured in a slip and fall accident caused by someone’s negligence or wrongdoing, you may be able to file a lawsuit to secure compensation.

Our Nashville slip and fall accident lawyers at Kinnard Law have dedicated their careers providing injured victims with the experienced legal representation they require to secure the compensation they need. Since we first opened our doors nearly 50 years ago, our tireless efforts have helped us secure hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Give us a call at (615) 933-2893 or contact us online to speak with a Nashville slip and fall attorney today.

Where Do Slips & Falls Occur?

Slip-and-fall accidents can happen almost anywhere, but they tend to occur more frequently in certain locations due to environmental hazards, poor maintenance, or high foot traffic. Common locations include:

• Grocery Stores & Retail Shops – Spills, wet floors, and misplaced merchandise can create tripping hazards.
• Restaurants & Cafés – Spilled drinks, greasy floors, and cluttered walkways increase the risk of falls.
• Sidewalks & Parking Lots – Uneven pavement, cracks, ice, and poor lighting contribute to accidents.
• Workplaces – Office buildings, warehouses, and construction sites often have hazards like wet floors, loose carpets, or scattered tools.
• Hotels & Resorts – Slippery pool decks, poorly maintained stairways, and unsecured rugs can cause falls.
• Hospitals & Nursing Homes – These facilities often have polished floors, medical equipment, and cluttered spaces, posing risks to patients and staff.
• Public Spaces (Parks, Malls, Theaters) – Uneven surfaces, wet floors, and obstacles like electrical cords can be dangerous.
• Schools & Universities – Hallways, cafeterias, and stairwells can become hazardous due to spills, loose tiles, or debris.
• Residential Properties – Slippery driveways, stairs without handrails, and cluttered walkways in homes and apartment complexes can cause falls.

Slip & Fall Accident Causes and Prevention

While these types of accidents mostly affect people over the age of 65, anyone could suffer a serious injury if the right set of circumstances occur. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that almost 3 million people over the age of 65 go to the emergency room for injuries caused by slip & fall accidents, and hundreds of thousands of patients end up being admitted in order to receive treatment for serious injuries.

Here are some of the common injuries from slip-and-fall accidents:

• Lacerations
• Broken bones
• Serious hip injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries

Senior citizens may be the most at-risk portion of the population, but dangerous situations place even the most physically capable people at risk.

Typical causes of slip-and-fall incidents include:

• Slippery floors
• Wet floors
• Uneven tiles
• Cracked or broken sidewalks
• Unmarked drop-down
• A change in floor materials, i.e. going from a material with more traction to one with less traction
• Loose carpeting
• Cluttered walkways
• Overcrowded aisles
• Poor lighting
• Narrow stair treads
• Broken railings

It’s the responsibility of the people in charge of the area to mark off any potential hazards – if they fail to do so, then they may be liable for any injuries a victim suffers in a slip-and-fall accident.

Establishing Liability in Slip & Fall Accidents

To succeed in a slip-and-fall accident claim in Tennessee, you must establish the following elements:

1. Duty of Care: Demonstrate that the property owner or occupier owed you a legal duty to maintain a reasonably safe environment. This duty arises when there's a dangerous condition on the property, and the owner knows or should know about the danger.
2. Breach of Duty: Show that the property owner breached this duty by failing to address the hazardous condition. This could involve neglecting to fix a known hazard, not providing adequate warnings, or failing to conduct regular inspections.
3. Causation: Establish a direct link between the breach of duty and your injury. You must prove that the hazardous condition directly caused your slip and fall, leading to your injuries.
4. Damages: Provide evidence of actual damages resulting from the accident, such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related losses.

Additionally, in Tennessee, you must prove either that the property owner created the condition that caused your fall or had actual or constructive notice of its existence prior to your fall. Constructive notice means the condition existed for such a length of time that the owner should have been aware of it.

Be aware that Tennessee follows a modified comparative fault system, meaning your compensation can be reduced if you're found partially at fault for the accident. You may be barred from recovering any damages if you're 50% or more responsible.

Hire The Experienced Legal Representation You Need

If you were seriously injured in a slip & fall accident caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, you may be able to file a lawsuit to secure the compensation you need to cover any medical bills or damages you may have incurred. At Kinnard Law, our Nashville slip & fall injury attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients since we first opened our doors, and are committed to providing each new client we accept with the same high level of legal assistance that we have become known for.

Fill out our online form or give us a call at (615) 933-2893 to speak with a member of our firm today.