Slip-and-fall accidents happen all the time in Pennsylvania. When these accidents occur in a store, the owners of the establishment may be liable for the victim’s injuries. To prove that a business is at fault, the victim of a slip-and-fall accident must show that the business was responsible for a hazardous condition on its premises.
Premises liability
Every property owner owes a duty of care to their guests. In the case of a restaurant or grocery store, the store owner is responsible for anticipating and preventing hazardous conditions that could lead to a slip-and-fall accident. Some common hazards that can cause slip-and-fall accidents in stores include:
• Spills
• Uneven surfaces
• Debris
• Poor lighting
• Broken stairs
• Chipped tiles
• Newly mopped floors
There are times when a hazardous condition like a newly mopped tile floor can’t be prevented. However, store owners must anticipate potential accidents and mitigate risks by placing signage around a hazardous area.
Unknown hazards
When a store owner is facing a personal injury claim for a slip-and-fall accident, they may try to argue that a hazard was unknown to them. However, store owners can still be held liable for hazards in their store that they didn’t know about. For example, a store owner that doesn’t hire enough staff to inspect the aisles isn’t off the hook for clutter and spills. Another example is a store owner that never inspects their parking lot to see if repairs are needed.
Compensation for slip-and-fall accidents
If you fell inside of a store or in a store parking lot, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the storeowner. Plaintiffs often seek compensation for their medical expenses and loss of income.