Most Common Premises Liability Claims

As a small business owner, you have a duty to protect your customers from hazards by maintaining your premises. When areas of your property are hazardous or in disrepair, this creates danger for visitors. This can lead to personal injuries, resulting in expensive medical bills and other unexpected damages. When a guest or customer is not at fault for the accident, they can hold the premises owner responsible by seeking a settlement with the help of personal injury attorneys in Jacksonville. There are many types of premises liability claims, but the following are the most common.

Slip And Fall

Slip and fall accidents can be caused by torn carpeting, wet surfaces, broken stair steps, and other hazards. Loose electrical wiring, potholes, broken glass, debris, fallen leaves, garbage, and other obstacles need to be removed. It is possible to hold the premises owner liable because they are required to maintain their property to protect any visitors from getting injured.

As a small business owner, you are responsible for maintaining your property and ensuring that it is safe for visitors. This includes removing hazardous obstacles, repairing broken areas, and keeping the property up-to-date. If you fail to do so and someone is injured as a result, you may be held liable. Therefore, it is important to take care of your property and make sure it is safe for everyone.

Poor Security

Small business owners are expected to ensure that their employees and customers are safe when they enter the premises. Poor security can result in guests getting harassed, attacked, or robbed when they are on the property. Gates, security guards, surveillance cameras, and other safety features need to be provided when necessary. For example, if a person is attacked in a poorly lit area, the owner can be held responsible.

Animal Attacks

As a small business owner, it’s important to keep your premises safe for visitors by ensuring that domestic animals are properly secured. This means keeping them confined when you’re not present, or they’re not on a leash. If an animal such as a dog escapes, and someone is bitten, you could be held liable. So it’s best to err on the side of caution and keep any pets under control and away from guests.

Lack of Warning Signs

When there are hazards on the property or construction is taking place, it is the small business owner’s responsibility to warn all visitors. Without warning signs or any indication that an area is hazardous, guests can end up injuring themselves because they are unaware of the hazard. For example, a sign indicating that a staircase has a large drop step can prevent visitors from falling. 

Small business owners have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their guests by providing warning signs for potential hazards on the property. By doing so, they can help prevent accidents and injuries from occurring.

Can I Be At Fault For Someone Else’s Injuries?

If you are a small business owner, you may be held liable if someone is injured on your property. For example, if there are no warning signs and the person falls, you could be held responsible. If the hazard was clear and easily avoided, then this may also be your fault if you still venture into the area. Still, you should speak to a premises liability lawyer to review your case.

If you own a small business, you may be held liable for injuries that occur on your property. In some cases, property owners can argue that the dangerous area was easy to avoid or noticeable. If you are unsure if you are at fault, you should seek the help of a premises liability attorney to help guide you.

Small business owners should be aware of the most common premises liability claims so that they can take steps to prevent them. The most common claims are slip and fall accidents, trip and fall accidents, and injuries from defective products. By taking some simple precautions, such as maintaining a safe environment and ensuring that their products are in good working order, small business owners can help prevent these types of accidents.