Slip-and-falls can occur under many different circumstances. An individual going to the movies might slip on their way out of the theater because someone else spilled their soda. Someone passing a construction site might encounter messy surfaces that affect their traction and lead to them falling.
Slip-and-falls can occur in outdoor and indoor spaces. They can produce injuries ranging from bruises and strained muscles to brain injuries in more severe cases. People may miss out on days or weeks of work.
Those involved in a slip-and-fall that caused significant injuries might hope to hold a business or property owner accountable. When is a property owner or business tenant liable for a slip-and-fall incident involving a customer or a member of the public?
Negligence leads to business liability
Slip-and-fall injuries often occur specifically because of unsafe property conditions. If the injured party can show that a business or property owner was negligent about the maintenance of a facility, then they may have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit.
Such lawsuits can lead to an insurance payout or compensation directly from the business. To prove negligence, plaintiffs usually need evidence of unsafe circumstances. Specifically, the situation needs to be serious enough that a reasonable person might agree the business didn’t do what was necessary for public safety.
Negligence could entail engaging in overtly unsafe behavior. It can also entail failing to do what is necessary for the safety of others. Provided that the average person recognizes that a business failed to keep customers safe through reasonable actions, the person who fell may have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit.
People can document what happened using their mobile phones. They can capture video footage or pictures of the issues that caused them to fall. They typically need to report the incident to the business manager or property owner whenever possible and to undergo a medical evaluation. They can then potentially pursue a premises liability claim to recoup property damage losses, medical expenses and lost wages.
Reviewing a situation that led to slip-and-fall injuries with a skilled legal team can help people determine whether they have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit. Those with significant injuries can sometimes hold businesses accountable for creating an unsafe environment.