When this type of fall occurs, a person loses traction between his or her foot and the walking surface because of something like a spilled liquid, slippery conditions, or loose rugs.

When an accident of this nature occurs, it often is the result of an object left in a walkway that causes a person to trip over it and fall.

When this kind of accident occurs, it happens after a person loses his or her balance after stepping into a hidden hole or onto a defective surface.

Slip-and-fall injuries can be particularly harmful to older adults. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. Falls are also a common hazard in nursing homes, where between half and three-quarters of residents fall each year – twice as often as older adults living at home.