The management and owners of businesses have certain responsibilities to the customers that visit their premises. That means that accidents that happen on a business' property could be subject to a personal injury claim. You might be entitled to take action if you can show that the business is liable for your injury. Liability is a legal concept that means the same thing as fault. Read on to find out more about the part liability plays when you get hurt at a business location.
Did the Actions of the Business Cause Your Injury?
Careless actions by store employees can often lead to injuries. The way the law sees it, if a reasonable person could have predicted that harm would come to a customer due to a certain action or inaction, then the business might be liable. For example, a department store created a display that involved a water feature, such as a fountain, inside the store. Unfortunately, the fountain leaked and a customer slipped down. If the victim can show that the business should have paid more attention to the fountain and placed warning cones around it, the victim could be in line for compensation for damages.
Did the Business Fail to Recognize a Potential Hazard?
Failure to quickly address potential hazards is another form of liability. Businesses and their employees have a responsibility to identify hazards that might cause injuries to customers. Here are some common trip and fall hazards customers might encounter in a store.
1. Uneven carpeting or mats that cause trips.
2. Spilled drinks by other customers when the store offers drinks that can be consumed on the premises.
3. Wires or cables that snake across the aisles.
4. Spilled sticky or oily food on the floor that was not addressed in a timely manner.
5. Wet floors on a rainy or snowy day with no orange cones present.
Did Your Actions Create or Make Worse the Hazard?
Known as comparable fault, the store may try to show that you did not do enough to prevent the injury yourself. The store, for example, might allege that the victim:
- Entered non-customer areas and was hurt as a result.
- Ignored warning signs and cones.
- Was distracted by a child, a cell phone, or something else when the injury occurred.
Damages to Expect
Victims of business hazards can expect to be paid for their pain and suffering, their medical expenses, losses of personal property, and lost wages. Seek medical help immediately and speak to a personal injury attorney at your earliest convenience.
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