Whether it’s a spill, a freshly mopped surface, or rain tracked indoors, wet floors pose a serious slip and fall risk. What seems like a common, everyday occurrence can easily lead to injuries ranging from minor bumps and bruises to severe head trauma and more.
Some slip and fall accidents are due to your own negligence, and others are due to another party’s negligence. If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to compensation under Missouri’s premises liability laws. A qualified personal injury attorney can help you determine if you have a valid claim.
Quick sidenote. Wet floors are just one example of a hazard that can lead to a slip and fall accident.
Wet floors are a common cause of slip and fall injuries in public and private spaces. Property owners and business operators have a legal responsibility to maintain safe conditions and warn visitors of potential dangers.
Wet, slippery liquids on the floor must be cleaned up in a timely manner. Customers, employees, and other visitors must be protected or warned of potential dangers, for example, by putting up a wet floor sign or a “watch your step” notice.
The familiar A-frame “wet floor” sign is probably the most common way commercial establishments warn visitors about this type of hazard. However, on-site visitors can be warned of the hazard in different ways, such as by using orange cones or taping off the area.
These warnings aren’t just for customer safety—they also protect business owners from liability. Failing to address or warn about wet conditions can result in serious injuries and legal consequences.
If you have fallen due to a wet floor on someone else’s property, you may be able to file a premises liability claim.
In short, premises liability holds property owners legally responsible for accidents that occur on their property due to unsafe conditions. In this case, the unsafe condition is some type of water/wetness on the floor.
In a slip-and-fall claim, you will need to prove that:
Examples of what might be used to prove the establishment “should have been aware” or that a dangerous condition existed:
A wet floor sign (or other warning) does not necessarily prevent you from filing a claim. If you prove that:
Your attorney can help determine whether the “Wet Floor” (or other warning) sign did its duty to warn, and may ask questions such as:
Have you or someone you know suffered a serious injury from a fall? If so, do not wait—talk to a personal injury attorney today. Missouri follows a comparative negligence rule, meaning that although you could be partially at fault, you could still be eligible for compensation.
What makes a slip, trip, or fall a premises liability case? The presence of a neglected hazard—like a wet floor—that the property owner failed to address.
An experienced personal injury lawyer familiar with fall claims and premises liability laws can help you
Questions? Call our knowledgeable team at (877) 284-6600.
Slip and fall cases can be difficult to prove. To secure fair compensation for your injuries, you need an experienced and aggressive personal injury legal team that knows what to look for and how to build your case. The legal team at Nash & Franciskato Law Firm is that team, having obtained substantial settlements for premises liability cases. Contact us for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on May 1, 2023. It was reviewed on June 14, 2024, for content and accuracy. Last editing/update on October 9, 2025.
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