Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur? The Complete Guide

Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur: The Complete Guide

July 19, 2026

Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common causes of injury in Israel - yet many people are unaware of their legal rights when they happen. Unlike car accidents, which have mandatory insurance and a clear compensation mechanism, slip and fall accidents require proving liability - who is at fault for the place being dangerous?

The first step in understanding your rights is to understand where these accidents usually occur, and who may be liable in each case.

In this article we will review:

All the types of places where slip and fall accidents occur
Who is liable in each type of place
The legal differences between the types of places
Real-life examples

Why Is It Important to Know Where the Accident Happened?

This is not just a geographic question - it is a substantive legal one!

The reason: who is legally liable changes completely depending on the location:

Fell in a mall? → The mall owner / tenant is liable
Fell on a public sidewalk? → The local authority is liable
Fell in someone's private home? → The homeowner is liable
Fell at your workplace? → The employer is liable (and sometimes National Insurance too)

Each type of location = a different legal process, a different limitation period (sometimes!), and a different standard of proof.

The Basic Legal Principle - "The Property Owner's Duty of Care"

Before we dive into the specific places, it's important to understand the general principle:

The owner/occupier of real property must keep the place safe for anyone who lawfully enters it.

This is called the "duty of care".

What this means in practice:

Repairing known hazards
Inspecting the place regularly
Warning against dangers that cannot be repaired immediately
Maintaining infrastructure (floors, stairs, lighting)

Important: The level of the duty changes depending on the type of visitor (we will expand on this below).

1. Malls and Shopping Centers

Why Are Slip and Fall Accidents Common in Malls?

Malls are the most common place for slip and fall accidents in Israel - and it makes sense:

Shiny floors (marble, polished tiles) - dangerous when wet
Enormous foot traffic - many people = many opportunities for harm
Large spaces - hard to supervise everything
Food stores - spills, liquids
Entrances/exits - rainwater, mud

Who Is Liable in a Mall?

It can be complex - several possible parties:

a. The mall owner/manager:

Liable for the common areas - corridors, plazas, parking lots, public restrooms
Must maintain, clean, and repair

b. The specific store:

If the accident happened inside a store - the store owner may be liable
For example: an oil spill on a supermarket floor that wasn't cleaned

c. The cleaning company:

If it is proven that the cleaning company was negligent (didn't clean properly, didn't place a warning sign)

d. The maintenance contractor:

If there is a structural problem (a broken tile, a defective step)

Common Examples in Malls

1. Wet floor with no signage

A cleaner washed the floor and didn't place a "Caution - Wet Floor" sign
Clear liability!

2. Food/drink spills

Someone spilled coffee and no one cleaned it within a reasonable time
Depends on the time elapsed - if too much time passed without a response = negligence

3. Escalators / faulty stairs

A missing step, a mechanical malfunction
Serious liability - these are dangerous installations that require meticulous maintenance

4. Entrance on rainy days

Water tracked in with the public, no absorbent mat / warning sign placed
Liability - malls must prepare for rainy weather

5. The mall's parking lot

Oil, water, cracks in the parking lot floor
The mall's liability (if it manages the lot) or the parking management company's

What Makes a Claim Against a Mall Strong?

In your favor (the claimant):

Security cameras (malls almost always have them!) - can prove the negligence
Many witnesses (a crowded public place)
Written maintenance procedures (large malls usually document cleaning)

Critical tip: Demand that the mall preserve the security footage immediately! It is deleted after a period (usually 30 days).

2. Sidewalks and Public Streets

The Special Challenge - The Local Authority

Sidewalks are owned by / the responsibility of the local authority (the municipality).

This is different from a claim against a private business - there are special rules (we will expand in a separate chapter on claims against authorities).

Common Types of Hazards on Sidewalks

1. Broken/cracked sidewalks

Sunken, protruding, or missing tiles
Tree roots that lifted the tiles

2. Holes and depressions

In the sidewalk or the road

3. Damaged sewer/utility covers

A broken, missing, or improperly aligned cover

4. Slippery sidewalks

Moss/algae on shaded sidewalks
Wet leaves in autumn

5. Unmarked obstacles

Light poles, signs, benches in a dangerous location
Work pits with no fencing/signage

Who Is Liable?

In principle: The local authority (the municipality / local or regional council) is liable for public sidewalks.

But - there are exceptions:

a. If the hazard was caused by an adjacent property owner:

For example: a store owner who poured water onto the sidewalk in front of it
Then the property owner may be liable (in addition to the municipality, or instead of it)

b. If the hazard was caused by a works contractor:

Digging, infrastructure works
The contractor is liable (in addition to the municipality)

A Real-Life Example

Case: A person tripped on a protruding tile on the sidewalk next to a flower shop. It turned out the shop had done renovations and the tile was not properly restored to its place.

Who is liable? In such a case - both the shop and the municipality may be liable (the municipality because it failed to supervise, the shop because it caused the hazard).

3. Parking Lots

Managed Public Parking Lots

(Parking companies such as Ahuzat Hof, Pango, etc.)

Liability: The management company is responsible for:

Adequate lighting
Floors free of oil/liquids
Functioning stairs/elevators
Correct marking of levels and steps

Common hazards:

Uncleaned oil stains
Poor lighting (underground lots)
Stairs without a handrail
Holes/cracks in the asphalt

Mall / Business Parking Lots

Same principles as malls - the mall owner is liable.

Street Parking (Blue-and-White)

The local authority's liability - similar to sidewalks.

4. Workplaces

This Is a Separate Field with Special Rules!

If you fell at your workplace - you have two cumulative tracks:

a. National Insurance - "Work Accident"

Any employee injured during and at the workplace is entitled to compensation from National Insurance
It doesn't matter who is at fault! (even if you were negligent yourself)
Covers: injury allowance, medical treatment, disability (if caused)

b. A tort claim against the employer

In addition to National Insurance - if the employer was negligent
For example: failed to repair a known hazard, didn't provide adequate lighting, didn't warn of a danger

Common Hazards in Workplaces

Warehouse floors with oil/liquids
Electrical cables on the floor
Stairs without a proper handrail
Poor lighting in warehouses
Objects left in a passageway
Machinery (mainly in industrial plants) that is not guarded as required by law

Who Is Liable?

The employer - liable for providing a safe work environment.

If it is a workplace where you don't work (for example: a supplier who comes to fix something) - the owner of the place is still liable towards you, but the insurance coverage is different (not National Insurance, because you were not at "your" work).

5. Restaurants, Cafés and Businesses

Why Are They a Special "Risk Zone"?

Kitchen floors - oil, water, spilled food
Kitchen entrances/exits - fast movement of staff
Restrooms - wet floors, splashed water
Stairs between floors (in multi-level restaurants)
Rickety chairs and tables that break during use

Who Is Liable?

The business owner - a clear duty to maintain a safe place for customers.

Important evidence:

Security cameras (ask if there are any!)
Eyewitnesses (waiters, other customers)
Documentation of prior complaints (if there were similar complaints in the past - it strengthens the claim)

Example

Case: A customer entered a restaurant restroom, water on the floor (from a leaking tap), no warning sign. The customer slipped and was injured.

Liability: The restaurant - knew (or should have known) about the water leak and did not repair/warn.

6. Private Homes and Apartments (Including Rentals)

When Is This Relevant?

You visited a friend's/family member's home and fell
You are renting an apartment and fell in a common area of the building
You worked in a private home (a professional - electrician, plumber) and were injured

Who Is Liable?

a. If it's the private home itself:

The homeowner is liable towards guests (if they knew or should have known about the hazard)
Important: If it's a friend/family member - usually you don't want to sue them personally! But home insurance (third-party liability insurance) usually covers damage to a third party - you are suing the insurance company, not your friend personally

b. If it's a common area in the building (stairwell, elevator, shared parking):

The house committee or the management company are liable

c. If it's a rented home:

Depends on the liability clause in the rental contract
Usually: the landlord is liable for structural maintenance (roof, plumbing, structure)
The tenant is liable for ongoing maintenance (cleaning, etc.)

Example

Case: A person visited a friends' apartment, tripped on a folded/uneven rug at the entrance.

Liability: The apartment owner (the friends) - but in practice, their home insurance is what pays (third-party insurance). This is why you shouldn't feel "bad" about suing - it's the insurance that covers it, not the friends' personal pocket.

7. Hospitals and Clinics

Special Risk

Hospitals are places with a high concentration of weak/vulnerable people (patients, the elderly) - which makes slip and fall accidents more serious.

Common hazards:

Washed floors with no signage
Bodily fluids that weren't cleaned immediately
Medical equipment left in a passageway
Cables from medical instruments

Who Is Liable?

The hospital / clinic - an especially high level of care is required, given the vulnerable population of visitors.

8. Schools and Kindergartens

Special Responsibility

Educational institutions owe an enhanced duty of care towards minors.

In addition, every student in the country studying under the Compulsory Education Law is covered by student accident insurance (24/7 - including outside school hours and outside the school grounds). This is insurance with relatively modest sums, but it does not require proving negligence - only proving that:

An accident occurred
Bodily harm was caused as a result of the accident

Common hazards:

Playgrounds with defective surfaces
Stairs without a handrail suited to children's height
Slippery floors (mainly but not only in sports halls)

Who Is Liable?

The educational institution (and/or the Ministry of Education / the local authority).

9. Swimming Pools and Sports Facilities

High Inherent Risk

Water = slippery floors = inherent risk.

But: this doesn't mean there is no liability! The facility owner is still required to provide:

Anti-slip floors (appropriate texture)
Clear warning signage
Adequate lifeguards/instruction

Common hazards:

Tiles that are too smooth around the pool
Lack of "Caution - Wet Floor" signage
Poor lighting in the changing rooms

10. Hotels

An Especially High Duty

Hotels host guests who don't know the place - an enhanced duty of care.

Common hazards:

Rooms with slippery marble floors
Showers/bathtubs without an anti-slip surface
Corridors with poor lighting
Pools/spa (as above)

A Substantive Difference - "Invitee", "Licensee" and "Trespasser"

Important to understand: the level of the duty of care changes according to your status at the place!

1. "Invitee" - The Highest Level

Who this is: Customers, visitors invited for a business purpose (mall, store, restaurant)

The owner's duty: The highest - a duty to proactively inspect the place and repair hazards, even ones they didn't specifically know about (but "should have known")

2. "Licensee" - Medium Level

Who this is: Social guests (friends who come to visit)

The homeowner's duty: To warn against known dangers (no duty to actively search for hidden hazards)

3. "Trespasser" - The Lowest Level

Who this is: Someone who enters without permission

The owner's duty: Very limited - mainly not to cause harm intentionally

Summary Table - Who Is Liable Where?

Location	Primary Liable Party	Level of Duty
Mall	Mall owner/manager	High (invitee)
Public sidewalk	Local authority	High
Private parking lot	Management company	High
Workplace	Employer	High + National Insurance
Restaurant	Business owner	High
Private home (guest)	Homeowner (home insurance)	Medium
Building common area	House committee	High
Hospital	The medical institution	High
School	The institution/authority	Very high (minors)
Pool	Facility owner	High
Hotel	Hotel owner	Very high

Why Does This Matter for Your Claim?

Once you know where the accident happened:

You'll know who to sue - saves precious time
You'll know what evidence to look for - mall cameras? municipality records? hotel maintenance procedures?
You'll know the legal process - a claim against a municipality is different from a claim against a private company (we'll elaborate in the next chapter!)
You'll know the timelines - there are differences in limitation periods and prior-notice requirements (especially against authorities)

Summary - Key Points

✅ Remember:

The location determines everything - who is liable, how you sue, what evidence is needed
Malls and private businesses - relatively clear liability, there are cameras and a good chance of proof
Sidewalks and local authorities - more complex, there are special rules (a separate chapter!)
Workplace - two tracks: National Insurance + a tort claim
Private homes - usually home insurance covers it, not the personal pocket
The level of duty changes - an "invitee" gets higher protection than a "social guest"
Always document the exact location - it is the basis of the entire claim

The next step: Once you know where the accident happened and who the potential liable party is - it's time to understand how to prove the liability. A topic we'll address in the next chapter.

Were you injured in a slip and fall accident and unsure who is liable? Contact us for legal advice - we'd be glad to review your case and explain your rights.

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur? The Complete Guide