Commercial facilities such as stores and office buildings should be reasonably safe for visitors. People shouldn’t be at risk of injuries due to hazardous property conditions when patronizing a business or visiting someone they know who works there.
Unfortunately, poor maintenance practices are relatively common. Many commercial property owners and business tenants occupying commercial spaces ignore hazards and delay critical maintenance matters or repairs. Those decisions by property owners may then result in significant consequences for visitors.
People can easily slip or trip and fall, possibly leading to major injuries. Broken bones, brain injuries and even soft tissue injuries can prove quite costly. When negligent maintenance leads to injuries, the people injured at a business may have grounds for a premises liability insurance claim or lawsuit.
What constitutes negligent maintenance?
When business leaders and property owners ignore safety concerns that the average person can readily recognize, their choices may constitute negligence. For example, failing to routinely clean floors can lead to a buildup of debris that affects traction and may lead to a preventable slip-and-fall.
Choosing not to put rugs by an entrance, especially when there are storms in the forecast, can lead to people getting hurt as they enter or exit the building. When there are rugs present, the failure to clean and properly secure them can make them a slipping or tripping hazard.
Ignoring tripping hazards in the aisles at stores, delaying the replacement of carpet or linoleum that has peeled up from the subfloor and choosing not to repair refrigeration units that leak could all cause slip-and-falls. Such egregious oversights may constitute negligence, making the property owner or business tenant liable for the harm caused.
When there are clear hazards present, other adults can readily recognize the safety concerns at the property and how they might contribute to a slip-and-fall scenario. If another reasonable person can identify the hazard and a simple way to address it, then the business may technically be liable for any injuries that occur. A premises liability insurance claim or lawsuit might be possible. The injured party could receive compensation for medical expenses, property damage losses and lost income.
Reviewing the situation that led to a trip or slip with a skilled legal team can help injured people determine if negligent maintenance may provide grounds for a premises liability personal injury lawsuit. Those hurt due to unsafe property conditions may have the option of holding business tenants or property owners accountable.