A slip-and-fall could leave someone with major injuries. They could break a bone or develop a brain injury. Occasionally, people cause their own injuries by doing something very unsafe, such as roller skating inside an apartment building. Other times, it is poor property maintenance on the part of a business owner or landlord that leads to people getting hurt. There are many different maintenance and business management mistakes that could lead to an elevated risk of visitor injuries.
The following are some of the more common ways that landlords and business owners contribute to slip-and-fall incidents.
Failing to regularly inspect facilities
There are many safeguards that should exist in most retail spaces and apartment buildings. In stairwells, for example, there needs to be adequate lighting. There should also be handrails for people to grab in case they lose their balance. Entranceways typically require rugs to absorb moisture and collect dirt that people track in from the outside. Dirty, improperly-secured rugs can lead to people getting hurt. So can burned-out lights and loose handrails in stairwells. When property owners don’t regularly inspect their facilities, they may overlook issues that may directly contribute to injury risk.
Not scheduling enough employees
At retail businesses and other busy establishments, circumstances can change in an instant. Patrons and workers alike could spill items or break something, leading to slipping or tripping hazards. When there aren’t enough workers on the clock to address safety issues, employees may delay addressing safety issues. Patrons could get hurt simply because nobody mopped up a spill or placed warning signs around a slippery section of the floor.
Deferring major repairs
Maybe the linoleum has started peeling up in the stairs of an apartment complex. Perhaps there is a leak in the roof at a local pet store. Bigger repairs can cost business owners and landlords thousands of dollars. They may want to delay those projects for as long as possible to save money. Unfortunately, deferred repairs can lead to unsafe property conditions and might justify people taking legal action against the property owner or business.
Provided that someone who has been hurt in a slip-and-fall incident can show that negligence played a role in their injury, they may have grounds for a premises liability claim. Holding landlords, businesses and property owners accountable for slip-and-fall injuries can reduce the financial impact that an injury victim would otherwise be compelled to absorb.
