Responsibility Of A Restaurant Or Store In A Slip And Fall Case
Getting serious injuries due to a slip and fall accident is the last thing you want when visiting a store or restaurant. Nonetheless, a majority of preventable injuries occur as a result of slip and fall cases across the US. While older people are more vulnerable to slip and fall, such accidents can happen to anyone belonging to any age group.
Generally, businesses owe a legal duty to their customers and other people entering their premises. That means getting injured due to a slip and fall accident on a property allows you to file a compensation claim against the manager or owner of that property.
After the accident, you will have some questions regarding how to pursue a slip and fall case.
Common causes of slip and fall cases
Several types of hazards can result in a slip and fall accident. Restaurants and grocery stores see a much higher rate of such accidents. However, these cases can occur at any type of business location.
The most common causes of slip and fall accidents are the following.
- Defective stairs
- Missing handrails
- Uneven surface
- Wet floor
- Cracked or damaged pavement
- Poor lighting
- Unmarked hazards
- Spilled liquids
- Weather conditions
- Potholes
- Debris
- Defective furniture
No matter what hazard caused the accident, chances are the customer wasn’t responsible for the cause of the accident. So, customers who have been injured on another person’s property should consult with a skilled slip and fall attorney for a better evaluation of their case.
Establishing liability in a slip and fall case
Different states have different sets of rules to govern premises liability cases. However, some rules are applicable across all states. For example, businesses inviting customers and clients should place warning signs around hazardous places to let the invitees know about the potential risk of falling and getting injured. Moreover, all businesses should run frequent checks to discover any latent hazards that may not be fully visible to guests.
A worth mentioning principle here is that an accident victim can demand compensation only when the business was aware of the hazard more than the customer. For instance, a grocery store customer dropped a jar of a liquid or semi-liquid product on the floor but didn’t notify an employee or the store in charge shortly after. If another customer walks down the aisle and slips over the puddle of that product a few seconds after the jar was dropped, he may not be able to claim against the grocery store.
Slip and fall cases must involve a situation where the business was aware of the hazard that caused the accident. In such a situation, the legal system will ask the property manager about the efforts made to warn guests or customers about the hazard. For instance, did an employee placed a “wet floor” sign after noticing a spill?
Because stores and their coverage companies deal with slip and fall cases more frequently, filing a slip and fall claim is trickier than you think. That is why you must contact a slip and fall attorney if you think that your slip and fall claim is legitimate.