If you are meandering down the aisles of the grocery store or walking to the bathroom at your favorite restaurant and you slip on spilled liquid or trip over a loose object, it could result in a serious injury.
Your injury may require extensive testing, medical care and ongoing treatment. You may need to miss time from work or lose your ability to work entirely. These costs can become substantial, and you should not have to shoulder them personally when you were not responsible for the accident.
Businesses are liable in the event of negligence
When accidents occur on private property, it becomes necessary to determine whether or not it was due to negligence. Courts determine whether negligence was a factor in your injury based on whether there is evidence that the business did know or should have reasonably known about the foreign substance that posed danger to their customers.
Perhaps you are embarrassed by the commotion the accident has caused and you’d rather get out of there as quickly as possible. While this is understandable, it’s important to know that businesses are required to carry insurance in the event that someone sustains an injury on their premises.
When you are a patron of a store, restaurant, marina or other privately-owned entity, you have a right to the expectation of safety. Business owners and employees must do all they reasonably can to ensure that walkways are free of obstructions, slippery substances and other dangers that could lead to a slip, trip and fall accident. If your injury is the result of negligence on the part of the business, you may qualify for a personal injury case.