People visiting businesses have a reasonable expectation of safety. Unfortunately, sometimes they encounter hazardous situations. Unsafe premises can lead to a variety of different negative scenarios, including slip-and-fall injuries.
In some cases, people hurt in a public slip-and-fall incident may have reason to pursue a premises liability lawsuit against the business. Typically, they need to show that the company’s negligence contributed to their injuries.
What types of negligent behavior might increase the risk of a slip-and-fall?
Intentional understaffing
One of the ways that companies increase their profit margins is through a reduction in staffing. By scheduling fewer workers to run the business, the company can limit its operating expenses. Consistent understaffing often makes employees feel unsafe. They don’t have time to attend to security matters or provide the support that customers need, let alone keep the facility clean. Understaffing frequently contributes to unsafe conditions that cause slip-and-falls.
Delayed property maintenance
The cost of fixing a refrigeration unit or replacing a roof can be a major investment. The people running businesses sometimes delay key repairs to the premises or equipment within the business despite knowing that doing so could went to safety hazards. Allowing issues to progress unaddressed may mean that preventable incidents occur. There are many forms of deferred maintenance that could create slip-and-fall hazards at a business.
Showing that a company failed to do what was necessary for safety could help those hurt in a slip-and-fall scenario pursue a premises liability lawsuit. People who fall and get hurt may be able to recover medical expenses, lost wages and other damages related to a fall.
