Property owners and businesses have a duty to maintain relatively safe facilities. If other people get hurt at a business or while visiting private property, they can potentially hold a business tenant or property owner liable for their injuries and subsequent economic losses.
Frequently, premises liability claims against businesses begin with a slip-and-fall incident. A failure to address spills and leaks is a common reason that visitors slip and end up hurt while shopping or visiting a business.
Deferred maintenance and cleaning could be negligence
Failing to promptly address safety concerns that increase the risk of people slipping and falling is potentially a form of negligence. If other reasonable adults recognize a safety hazard and can identify simple ways to address or reduce those risks, the failure to take appropriate action can constitute negligence.
Ignoring spills or delaying repairs when a roof leaks or equipment produces condensation that puddles on the floor could constitute negligence and might make a business vulnerable to premises liability claims brought by injured visitors. The injured party may have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit. They can request compensation for their medical expenses, property damage losses and other economic setbacks directly related to the unsafe property conditions.
Reporting a slip-and-fall, documenting unsafe property conditions with a mobile phone and consulting with an attorney are all valuable steps for people to take when they get hurt due to improper facility maintenance. If cleaning or repairs could have prevented a slip-and-fall, a business or property owner may be liable for the injuries people sustained due to their inadequate facility maintenance.
