A slip and fall accident may not seem like a huge deal, but these accidents can lead to some serious injuries, including broken bones, gashes, and even concussions. The types of injuries sustained will depend on the way a person falls and hits the ground. While some people get lucky and get away with only a few minor scratches or some small bruises, others are not as lucky and can end up with severe injuries that cause them a lot of pain. When a person ends up with injuries from a slip and fall, the property owner may be held responsible for those injuries due to premises liability.
What is Premises Liability?
Premises liability holds property owners responsible for accidents that happen on their property due to hazardous conditions that should have been properly taken care of. Anyone who owns property must make sure that they are not putting pedestrians at risk of slipping, falling, and getting hurt. There are quite a few different ways that a person can end up slipping and falling while walking past a property, such as:
- The property owner failed to shovel the pavement after a snowstorm
- The property owner failed to safely remove black ice from the pavement
- The pavement is uneven and has not been fixed
- There is a hole or damage to the pavement that can cause a person to trip and fall
A property owner must take responsibility for the condition of his or her property both inside and out. As a property owner, the best way to avoid being held responsible for another person’s injuries while preventing those injuries in the first place is to always shovel your walkways and driveways, take care of the snow and ice removal, and make sure that there is nothing wrong with the pavement that could potentially put someone at risk of getting hurt. It is better to pay for the cost of fixing any damage to your pavement than to be held responsible for someone’s extensive and serious injuries.
Is Premises Liability for Homeowners Only?
Because slip and falls can happen inside and outside of both homes and commercial properties, premises liability is not just for homeowners. It is also for those who own commercial properties and businesses. For example, a restaurant owner would need to take responsibility for a slip and fall accident that occurred inside of his or her establishment. If the floors were wet and there was no signage posted to make guests aware of the slippery conditions, the injured individual could file a lawsuit against the restaurant owner due to the injuries he or she sustained from the fall.
How to Protect Yourself and Others
There is always that possibility of being held liable for someone else’s injuries that occurred while on your property. However, there are certain steps you can take to protect yourself and everyone else. The easiest way to protect yourself is to get premises liability insurance coverage. If someone were to get injured on your property, you would have the insurance needed to cover the cost of any claims that are filed, thus keeping you from dealing with a financial burden if someone files a lawsuit against you.
Aside from having the coverage as a safety precaution, you can keep other people protected by doing everything you possibly can to prevent hazardous situations. If you see something inside or outside of your property that could cause someone to get hurt, you should take care of it immediately instead of waiting to get it fixed. The longer you wait to fix something or take care of something that could cause a slip and fall accident, the greater the chance that someone will get hurt, seek medical treatment, and eventually file a claim against you.
If you are in a situation in which you slipped and got hurt due to the negligence of a property owner, you should know that you have the right to seek compensation from that property owner because of your injuries. Not only are injuries from slip and fall accidents often painful, but they can cause you to miss several weeks or months of work, which will lead to a loss of income for you. Because of the financial burden that is caused by slip and fall accident claims, you should let an accident lawyer help you with your case against the property owner. Hornsby Watson & Hornsby has what it takes to represent you and get you through this difficult time. If you are ready to make a claim, dial 256-607-9053 today.