Slips and falls are some of the most common types of liability risks for businesses. The problem is that they can occur for various reasons, some of which may be hard to prevent. A customer may spill coffee and then slip on it. Are you responsible for their injuries? What happens when the parking lot or sidewalk is iced up in the winter? There are plenty of reasons to have commercial liability insurance, but risks like slips and falls can be some of the most important risks to protect against.
When are You Responsible for Slip and Fall Accidents?
As a business owner, it is up to you to ensure that your customers and clients are able to use your facility safely and with minimal risk. Yet, there are many situations in which accidents can happen on your property that are not your fault. Every situation is different. And in every situation, you should work alongside your company's attorney and insurance agent to ensure that risks are minimized.
In most cases, if the owner or management of the facility created the condition, knew it existed and negligently failed to fix it, you may be responsible for any losses suffered. This may also be true if the condition lasted for an extensive period of time and, in that period of time, the owner should have learned of it and made arrangements for a repair.
Insurance Can Help
The good news is that if you have adequate business insurance, you can minimize the financial risks you face from slips and falls. That is, you can safeguard your business from these lawsuits and settlements, which can cost your company a great deal of money. Your insurance should cover all customer and non-employee claims (injuries occurring to your employees should be covered under your company's workers compensation policy).
Does your company have enough business insurance to ward off the financial risks associated with slip and fall cases? Talk to your agent about the amount of coverage you have. This can help determine what additional coverage you may need to keep your company safe from financial risks.
Protect your workplace from common risks. Call Owen & Associates at (770) 422-0456 for more information on Marietta business insurance.
Has your business taken steps to reduce the risk of slip and fall accidents? Please share your workplace safety tips in the comments section below.