Discussions about store patrons falling often focus on slip-and-fall incidents. Dirty floors, spills left unattended and even icy sidewalks can all cause slip-and-fall incidents that injure people. Trip-and-fall scenarios are also relatively common, but they do not receive the attention that they deserve. Businesses can create unsafe property conditions by leaving tripping hazards in areas where visitors are likely to walk.
Trip-and-falls can involve a case of canned vegetables left on the floor by an employee stocking shelves. They might begin with crumpled rugs by the entrance of the business or with power cords that cross aisles to provide electrical supply to displays or freestanding refrigeration units. In many cases, trip-and-fall hazards are signs of negligent facility maintenance.
Negligent maintenance could be grounds for a lawsuit
People who trip and fall can break bones or hurt their brains. They may have medical expenses and lost wages to address. Injured visitors hoping to take legal action against a business or property owner must prove the other party is at fault for their injuries.
Establishing that the property owner or business was negligent is often a key component of a premises liability lawsuit. In a legal setting, negligence essentially involves doing something that a reasonable person recognizes as unsafe.
Both careless conduct and a failure to act can constitute negligence. In trip-and-fall scenarios, leaving obstructions in walkways is something that most reasonable people recognize could result in people tripping.
Pursuing a trip-and-fall premises liability lawsuit could help people pay for their medical costs and recover their lost wages. Those hurt in a trip-and-fall scenario can sometimes hold businesses and property owners accountable. Unsafe property conditions can influence a visitor’s legal options after they trip and fall.