People who fall are sometimes to blame for the incidents that they experience. Engaging in horseplay in public locations, visiting the store while under the influence or wearing highly unsafe shoes can all increase the risk of someone losing traction and suddenly falling.
However, many slip-and-falls are not the fault of the person who fell but rather the fault of the business where they fell. Public slip-and-falls often occur in stores and similar locations, and many times, negligent facility maintenance is to blame.
How do businesses put customers at risk of slipping or tripping and falling?
Understaffing
Retail establishments are notorious for scheduling the fewest workers they can while meeting basic customer demands. When workers do not have enough support, they may need to choose between cleaning and helping customers. Customer service almost always takes priority, which can lead to delayed maintenance and consumer injuries.
Delayed repairs and maintenance
Messes left behind by other customers aren’t the only reason that people slip, trip or fall. In some cases, leaving dirty, rumpled rugs near the entrance instead of cleaning them and securing them can lead to people tripping and then falling.
Other times, aging refrigeration units or freezers could produce condensation that drips out onto the floor, creating a slipping hazard. Leaks from the roof could also be dangerous, as could electrical cords used as a temporary power supply for machinery within the store.
If a customer who experiences a slip-and-fall at a business can convince other reasonable adults that the business was negligent, they may have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit. Holding companies responsible for unsafe property conditions can lead to compensation for injured people.