Can You Sue For Slipping on a Wet Floor?

A slip-and-fall injury on a wet floor is a very frustrating experience. Sometimes, you can’t even see the danger. However, these falls can cause horrible, sometimes life-changing injuries. When these situations occur, our Michigan slip-and-fall lawyers can help investigate what happened and determine whether the property owner was negligent.

But these cases are not easy. Property owners have several ways to get these cases dismissed. And without a proper investigation and case work-up, an injured person can end up with much less compensation than they deserve. That is why it is important to contact a good slip and fall attorney after a slip and fall injury. 

What is Negligence for the Property Owner Mean?

A property owner owes a duty to visitors and customers to exercise reasonable care to protect them from unreasonable risks of harm posed by dangerous conditions on the land. When this duty is breached, and a person is injured, the owner can be held liable for negligence.

However, the landowner does not have to ensure their property is in perfect condition. The plaintiff must prove the danger was unreasonable. This is typically determined on a case-by-case basis.

In addition, the injured person must prove that the property owner knew, or should have known, of the dangerous condition. This is called notice. An experienced Michigan wet-floor lawyer can help prove that the defendant was negligent and had notice, so you can obtain compensation.

What Compensation Can I Get from a Slippery Floor Accident?

Michigan wet floor accidents are treated like other slip-and-fall cases. They fall under the umbrella of negligence law. This means the injured person files for compensation against the property owner for all available damages under Michigan law.

These damages include:

• The payment of past medical bills
• The cost of future medical care
• Past lost wages
• Futures lost wages or loss of earnings capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Emotional distress
• Anxiety and depression
• Loss of society

Stores, property owners, and their insurance companies don’t like paying out for slip-and-fall damages. They are very aggressive in defending these cases. If you have been injured due to a wet floor, and you believe the owner was negligent, then contact a Michigan wet floor attorney to protect your rights.  

What are Common Causes of Wet Floor Accidents?

Accidents involving spills and wet floors can occur for any number of reasons. However, when a property owner is negligent for a slip and fall, an employee or an outside company hired by the building owner usually fails to do something. 

Grocery Store Slip and Fall Accidents

One classic example is failing to clean up a spill at a grocery store. Grocery stores do not have a legal duty to ensure their property is always 100% clean or to clean up spills immediately. But if a store employee knows about a spill, or the spill existed for a long enough time that the store should have known, then the grocery store can be held responsible if a wet floor causes an injury.

Grocery stores can also be held liable for failing to place mats at the store entrance to help absorb rainwater and snow.

Ice and Snow

Another common cause is failing to clean up melted water from ice and snow. Water, by its very nature, is clear and easily blends into the underlying surface. This can make it difficult to see. Stores and building owners are obligated to periodically walk around the store to ensure it is free of wet floors and spills. This includes the entrances where snow and ice can build up and melt.

If an area is dangerous, then the area must be marked with a warning sign and the area cleaned up. Failing to do this can result in civil liability.

Wet Mats or Rugs

Another common cause of wet-floor accidents is failing to place a mat in areas where water can accumulate. Area rugs or carpeting near a store's entrance can prevent water from pooling on the floor and making it slippery.

It’s important to have a mat in areas where water can accumulate—especially near store entrances—because mats play a key role in preventing slip-and-fall hazards.

Here’s why they matter:

• Absorb moisture: Mats and area rugs soak up water from rain, snow, or wet shoes, preventing it from pooling on hard floors.
• Improve traction: Wet tile, concrete, or polished floors become slick. Mats provide a textured surface that helps people keep their footing.
• Reduce tracked-in water: Entrances are high-traffic zones. Mats capture water before it spreads deeper into the store.
• Increase visibility of hazards: A properly placed mat signals a transition area where conditions may be wet, alerting customers to be cautious.
• Demonstrate reasonable safety measures: From a safety and liability standpoint, using mats shows that the business took reasonable steps to protect customers from foreseeable risks.

Without mats, water left on the floor can create a dangerous, slippery condition, significantly increasing the risk of falls and injuries. Proper mat placement is a simple but critical safety measure for any area exposed to moisture.

In addition, damp or wet mats must be changed to ensure the walkway areas are safe for pedestrian traffic.

What are Common Locations for a Wet Floor Accident?

There are several common locations where wet-floor accidents may occur.

• Grocery stores
• Drug stores
• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Shopping malls
• Casinos
• Apartment complexes or rentals

Why Hire the Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers from the Lee Steinberg Law Firm

• Decades of Experience. Our Michigan personal injury lawyers have handled these cases for decades, even when many law firms refused to take them on. We are not afraid to seek the truth and get justice for our clients.
• Big Settlements: Our firm recently secured significant settlements, including a $3,250,000 slip and fall lawsuit against a “big box” store and a $4,500,000 negligence case. We have recovered tens of millions for our clients.
• Familiarity With These Cases. Slip and fall cases are not the same as car accident cases. Liability or negligence is often contested, and the defendant will shift the blame to the injured plaintiff. We know how to defeat these accusations.
• There Are No Fees or Costs Until We Win. We work on a contingency fee basis. This means we don’t get paid and don’t charge anything until we win your case.

What are the Defenses to a Wet Floor Lawsuit?

Property owners, building owners, landlords, and insurance companies can use a few different defenses when defending a Michigan wet floor case.

Comparative Negligence:

The most popular defendant is comparative negligence. Comparative negligence is the plaintiff's fault for being injured by a dangerous condition. A jury must apportion fault. If a jury finds that the plaintiff is more than 50% at-fault or negligent for causing his own injuries, then he is not entitled to receive any pain and suffering compensation.

If a jury says the plaintiff is 25% comparatively negligent for getting injured, then the total verdict is reduced by 25%. For example, if the verdict is $100,000, the plaintiff will only get $ 75,000.

Open and Obvious:

Another major defense is the open and obvious defense. For many years, this defense meant that if a condition was open and obvious, or readily visible to an average person under casual inspection, the property owner escaped all liability. Basically, the open-and-obvious rule meant the property owner had no duty to remove open-and-obvious conditions.

For example, if a parking lot was filled with potholes or a grocery store floor was wet from spilled fruit, those conditions were considered to be there to be seen. In other words, they were open and obvious, and the injured person had no claim against the landowner.

The open and obvious rule has changed recently. It is smart to consult with a Michigan wet floor lawyer who understands this defense well and handles cases throughout the state.   

How Much Time Is There To File a Wet Floor Lawsuit?

Under Michigan law, typically the injured person has three (3) years to file a lawsuit against the proper defendants for a slip and fall from a wet floor. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. 

However, some defendants, such as cities and townships, have specific notice requirements that must be met. Contact a Michigan wet-floor lawyer for free legal advice.

What Happens if the Property Owner Denies Liability?

If the property owner or the insurance company adjuster for the landowner sends a letter stating they are denying liability, it means they will not pay you anything for your case. In this situation, you must hire a great Michigan slip and fall law firm that will prepare for battle. A lawsuit will be necessary, and you will need a team of legal experts on your side.

When this happens, stop communicating with the insurance company. Contact the Lee Steinberg Law Firm at 1-800-533-3733 so we can quickly get started on your case.

Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers That Win Big

The slip and fall lawyers at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm have been helping injured shoppers and customers recover millions for their injuries. We do it by meeting with witnesses, recovering video, taking photos, and hiring experts to explain why the property owner broke the safety rules.

We also do it by meeting and communicating with our clients. Call us for a free consultation at 1-800-533-3733, or fill out a contact form today. 

The consultation is free, and we will never charge anything until we win your case.