Slip-and-falls can occur at many different locations, including inside a business. In some cases, the person who falls might be to blame for their own injuries. If they go out in public while under the influence of intoxicating substances or engage in horseplay, then those who fall might be to blame for their own injuries.
Other times, factors related to facility maintenance could be what cause slip-and-fall incidents. Especially if members of the general public might agree that a business was negligent, then it may be possible to pursue a premises liability lawsuit after a slip-and-fall incident. The following are some of the common ways that a company may contribute to the cause of a slip-and-fall where someone gets hurt.
Strategic understaffing
Keeping enough workers on hand to meet customer needs and properly maintain the facilities is a delicate balance. Many companies track performance on different dates and attempt to estimate the staff coverage necessary based on historic organizational performance and other factors. Having the lowest number of workers on staff keeps operational costs low, but it also prevents workers from addressing known risk factors in a timely fashion.
Delayed repairs and maintenance
There are some facility maintenance issues that require daily attention and others that may only arise occasionally. Companies may delay more expensive forms of maintenance and facility repair because of the costs involved. Ignoring a leak in the ceiling or peeling linoleum floors could directly lead to customers getting hurt when visiting the store in the future. When there are obvious facility issues that lead to someone getting hurt, the business may be liable for failing to perform adequate maintenance and repairs.
Improper staff training
Even when businesses have enough workers on hand and make a point of repairing major facility issues as they arise, day-to-day issues could lead to preventable slip-and-fall incidents. All it takes is a customer spilling something and a worker not following the right protocol for the company to have a degree of liability. Staff members should regularly inspect the premises for issues and should respond rapidly when they or visitors identify slip-and-fall hazards. The failure to properly clean a spill or put signage in an area where there is a risk of a slip could leave a company vulnerable to legal action.
Especially if an average person might recognize that the company failed to do what was necessary for the protection of the public, then a premises liability lawsuit may be possible after a slip-and-fall incident. Learning about how companies may fail in their obligations to the public may help people more effectively establish who is liable for a slip-and-fall.