Any business is required to exercise a certain degree of care toward its customers and guests in maintaining its premises. In doing so, a company must review its surroundings for and anticipate certain common hazards, and then go through the necessary steps – for instance, cleaning up the mess and adding a clear barrier – to prevent injuries.
Out of all scenarios a business could face, the following are the most common:
- Liquids spill onto the floor to obstruct an aisle or create a slippery surface.
- Faulty staircases, escalators, or elevators lead to trips and slips. A missing step, an uneven surface, or a missing railing may result in head, bone, hand, wrist, arm, back, shoulder, and ligament injuries.
- Merchandise falls and blocks a customer’s path or creates a trip hazard.
- Doors slam onto a customer, who then falls forward.
- Poor lighting in and outside prevents customers from fully viewing the surroundings.
- Cracked floors and asphalt create a trip or slip hazard.
- Missing entrance and floor mats expose a slippery surface
- Leaks around produce, refrigerated areas, and drink coolers and machines create a slip hazard.
- Food or drinks spill onto the floor, and don’t get cleaned up soon enough.
- The floor is too smooth, made out of tile or linoleum, and becomes even more slippery when liquid or chemicals are spilled. This scenario is particularly common in nail salons and beauty parlors.
- A customer slips on ice or snow, because the sidewalk or parking lot isn’t cleared after a storm.
- Signage to indicate a spill isn’t added or isn’t clearly visible.
- Employees mop a floor, but afterward, the floor is still wet and a “wet floor” sign isn’t set up.
- Mats are too loose or bunched up, causing patrons to trip.
- The bathroom has a wet floor that isn’t cleaned soon enough.
However, plaintiffs in premises liability cases need to realize that placing blame isn’t always a clear-cut scenario. Aside from proving the business owner didn’t live up to his or her duty, you will be asked to show you weren’t behaving in a careless manner. For instance, if a yellow “caution” sign is placed in front of a wet floor or other obstruction, the plaintiff should have seen it and reacted logically. Running, ignoring warnings, or otherwise behaving recklessly places part of the responsibility on you.
If you were involved in a slip and fall accident similar to one of the above scenarios, or even an instance not listed, present your case to Trantolo & Trantolo. Our experienced attorneys will then evaluate your claim. Start by contacting one of our Connecticut offices today.
Citations
Nolo.com, “Slip and Fall Accidents: Proving Fault”
AllLaw.com, “A Store’s Liability for Slip and Fall Accidents”
FindLaw.com, “Conditions Leading to Outdoor Slip and Fall Accidents”
InjuryClaimCoach.com, “Injuries Due to Retail Store Negligence”
