Retail establishments generally need a constant stream of customers in and out of their facilities to remain solvent. Proper facility maintenance and regular cleaning are both necessary to ensure customer safety. Unfortunately, not all business owners and managers make the right decisions about facility maintenance.
Unsafe property conditions can lead to a variety of harmful incidents, including trip-and-fall incidents. There are a number of common tripping hazards that businesses should be aware of, and effectively address, that could otherwise be indicative of negligence, including the three below.
1. Electrical cords
The cords that provide power to devices ranging from LED lights and televisions to refrigeration units are a common tripping hazard. Business owners should secure cords behind shelving whenever possible or should cover them appropriately to prevent people from tripping over them.
2. Unsecured rugs
Placing rugs at the entrance of the stores is critical for customer safety. Otherwise, the dirt and water people track in from outside could lead to a slip and fall. Unfortunately, a rumpled or curled rug could pose a tripping hazard that causes the same type of incident the company wants to prevent.
3. Unshelved merchandise
Maybe a child wandered through the store and moved items off the shelves and onto the floor. Maybe a staff member was in the middle of stocking a shelf when a customer asked for help. Merchandise left on the floor in a store can lead to people tripping and sustaining major injuries.
Establishing that negligent facility maintenance was an issue in an injurious incident can help people pursue premises liability lawsuits. Trip-and-fall incidents are often the result of negligence on the part of those running retail establishments, and those hurt may have the right to request compensation accordingly.