Slip-and-fall incidents can sometimes be the fault of the person who fell. For example, individuals who go out in public while under the influence of drugs or alcohol could injure themselves through unsafe behavior. Wearing inappropriate shoes or engaging in horseplay at a business could also create circumstances in which people get hurt because they slip and then fall.
However, many slip-and-fall situations occur because of something a business did or did not do. Negligence on the part of business owners or managers can put patrons at unnecessary risk. The five factors outlined below are easy for those running businesses to overlook and can constitute actionable negligence in some cases.
Understaffing
If there is one business mistake that has the greatest impact on slip-and-fall risk, it is likely the decision to intentionally understaff a retail establishment. When there aren’t enough workers on hand to attend to customers and handle facility maintenance, cleaning and similar tasks may take a back seat to customer care.
Ignoring spills and similar messes
During heavy precipitation, customers might track moisture in from outside, creating a wet and unsafe entranceway. Consumers may also knock items off of shelves or drop beverages on the floor. If workers don’t discover and address those unsafe conditions quickly, a visitor could end up seriously hurt if they slip.
Failing to monitor entranceway rugs
Rugs placed near the entrance of a business can help collect dirt and moisture brought in from outside. However, they can become saturated and slippery. They could also end up rumpled if workers have not properly secured them. Rugs can become slipping and tripping hazards without regular maintenance and cleaning.
Delaying equipment maintenance
There are many types of equipment in a business that could create slipping hazards. Water fountains with too much water pressure could shoot water onto the floor. Refrigeration units could produce condensation or defrost, leading to puddling. If companies don’t regularly maintain equipment within the business, people could slip as a result.
Improper floor maintenance
There are many ways in which poor maintenance of floors could lead to people sustaining injuries. If a business has carpeting with tears, people could trip and fall. If the business has tile, wood or synthetic hard flooring, over-polishing the surface of the floor could create a slipping hazard.
In scenarios where easily-identified mistakes by businesses lead to visitors getting hurt, the negligence of the business might open it up to legal action. Pursuing a premises liability lawsuit can compensate those harmed in slip-and-fall incidents. People who can prove that negligence caused their injuries may be able to request compensation from the business where their slip-and-fall occurred.
