A slip-and-fall at a business can occur due to a variety of different issues. Some people fall at the front entrance of a store because of weather conditions outside. Other times, people fall because of spills caused by other customers or obstacles left in the aisles of a business.
A slip-and-fall might just be embarrassing, or it might leave someone with serious injuries. People can break bones or hurt their brains when they fall. They may have major medical expenses and might also lose out on income because they cannot work after getting hurt.
Those who get hurt when visiting a business may worry about recovering the financial losses created by their injuries. They may have grounds to pursue a premises liability claim against the company in some cases. When is a business potentially liable for the injuries that a customer incurs during their visit to a store?
Businesses may be liable for their negligent practices
Someone hoping to hold a company responsible for slip-and-fall injuries needs proof that the business is to blame for the incident. Typically, they meet that standard by proving some kind of negligence. Companies that fail to address known hazards could be responsible if people get hurt due to that oversight.
Negligent facility maintenance is a common allegation. If another reasonable person could readily see that there were unaddressed hazards at the business, then the person who fell may have grounds to claim that the company was negligent due to failing to replace old rugs or address a leaking refrigeration unit.
Negligent staffing practices can also contribute to claims of premises liability. If the business failed to train its workers on how to keep the facility safe or if it regularly schedules so few employees that they cannot maintain store spaces throughout operating hours, then those negligent practices could be to blame for the incident.
Typically, businesses carry premises liability insurance that can help cover the costs of medical care and lost wages after a customer’s slip-and-fall. Filing a premises liability lawsuit may be necessary to receive a reasonable settlement offer from an insurance provider. Those who know when a business might be liable for their injuries can seek appropriate compensation after getting hurt at a store.
