What Is the Difference Between an Evansville Slip and Fall and a Trip and Fall?

August 23, 2025

With emergency rooms treating more than 8.5 million individuals nationwide for fall-related injuries in 2022, falls clearly aren’t rare, but there nevertheless seems to be a lot of confusion about the various kinds of fall accidents. Yet while terms like “slip and fall” and “trip and fall” are often used interchangeably, their distinct causes and mechanics can have a significant impact on any personal injury claim for an accidental fall in Evansville, IN. So what is the difference between an Evansville slip and fall and a trip and fall? Join Hensley Legal Group as we discuss the unique characteristics of these accidents and how our Evansville slip and fall lawyers can help you get fairly compensated for each of them.

What Is a Slip and Fall Accident?

The fundamental differences between a slip and a trip can heavily influence any claims for damages arising from them. A slip and fall accident transpires when your feet suddenly lose traction on a surface, causing you to lose your balance and fall backward onto the ground or floor. In slip and fall cases, the focus is therefore on the slippery floor or hazardous condition of the surface and whether the property owner failed to maintain a reasonably safe environment or provide adequate warnings near the unsafe area, like a spill in the frozen foods aisle at Meijer.

Slip and falls generally injure the head, back, neck, or spine. In addition, shoulder injuries and wrist fractures can occur if someone reaches out to break the fall. As such, slipping will likely involve a different set of injuries and legalities from tripping, and understanding the key distinctions between the two is paramount for building a successful case and receiving all the compensation you’re entitled to.

What Is a Trip and Fall Accident?

In trip and fall accidents, we shift our attention to the uneven surface or hindrance itself, and whether the property owner was negligent in creating, failing to remove, or neglecting to warn guests or visitors about the tripping hazard. For example, a trip could be instigated by your foot striking an object or a raised surface, thereby disrupting your walking pace and causing you to fall.

Common injuries from tripping and falling can include facial and knee injuries along with arm or wrist fractures, as people tend to instinctively use their arms for protection when they fall forward. Foot and ankle injuries are also frequent, particularly if a person’s foot is caught during the fall.

While both types of accidents can lead to severe injuries and potential litigation, understanding the root cause of a fall is critical when an attorney is determining the best way to proceed with a case.

How Our Evansville Slip and Fall Lawyers Prove Negligence

The mechanisms, the traumas endured, and even the strategies devised for slip and fall or trip and fall accidents may vary from case to case, and the tactics and relevant evidence may vary too depending on whether your fall was caused by an obstacle or a slick floor. Fortunately, a qualified attorney can analyze the specifics of slip and fall accidents to ensure that victims receive the compensation they deserve.

In legal terms, it’s imperative to identify if the fall accident was the result of either direct negligence or a dangerous condition the property owner should have been aware of. In many situations, an accident is caused by the inattention of the proprietor or a third party, so a thorough investigation of the scene of your fall will need to be completed to establish a viable case.

An Evansville slip and fall lawyer will look at information like:

• Surveillance footage (if you fell in a retail store or commercial space)
• The shoes you were wearing at the time of the fall
• How well the site of the accident was lit
• Statements from bystanders supporting your account of events
• Any other factors or high-risk conditions that may have played a role

The more of these materials you have, the stronger your case will be, so it’s important to do what you can to get them in the immediate aftermath of your fall. By reporting what took place to a business or property owner right away and writing down the contact information for any eyewitnesses while they are still present, you could equip your slip and fall attorney with the tools necessary to get you justice.

Contact Our Evansville Slip and Fall Lawyers Today

Hensley Legal Group has been achieving top outcomes in complex personal injury cases since the firm first opened its doors almost three decades ago. If you recently slipped or tripped in Evansville due to someone else’s negligence, contact our Evansville slip and fall lawyers today to explore your legal options.

To schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Evansville slip and fall attorney, please give us a call at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form now.