2 ways businesses can cause slip-and-fall injuries

On Behalf of Mallilo & Grossman Attorneys at Law | Feb 22, 2023 | Uncategorized |

Businesses in New York City see a substantial amount of foot traffic every day. People walk to the local shop from their offices and from the subway back to their apartments, making foot traffic a major source of revenue for retail businesses. Unfortunately, those who walk into a retail shop or restaurant could end up falling and getting hurt while there. Slip-and-falls range from minor incidents to life-altering experiences that leave someone permanently injured.

Most businesses carry insurance to protect against premises liability, which is the legal and financial responsibility the company may have due to injuries on their premises. Businesses should also do their best to reduce the chance of people getting hurt through proper maintenance and staffing practices.

Unfortunately, quite a few businesses fail to take the proper steps to keep patrons and visitors safe. These are just two of the primary ways that businesses can contribute to a visitor’s risk of suffering a slip-and-fall injury.

1. Improper exterior maintenance

Some businesses don’t want to pay their workers to shovel sidewalks or clear their parking lots of ice and snow. Others may treat such tasks as a low priority despite delegating them to workers.

Although many people tend to blame those who fall on snow and ice for the injuries they suffer, property owners are often technically to blame. New York City statutes require that property owners clear adjacent sidewalks. If individuals slip and fall on icy or snowy sidewalks or parking lot asphalt, the business that did not keep their outdoor spaces safe and walkable would be to blame.

2. Understaffing and inadequate cleaning

Retail establishments are often shorthanded, meaning they barely have enough people to provide security and run cash registers. There will be no one will be free to mop up a spill when it happens or swap out the rugs at the entranceway if they become saturated. Businesses that cut operating costs without regard for the safety of their visitors may end up responsible when their staff members don’t properly clean their spaces.

Those hurt while visiting a business may have grounds for a premises liability claim. Filing a civil lawsuit or insurance claim may be a necessary stop following a slip-and-fall injury at a New York business.

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