Why are slip-and-falls among the top premises liability claims?

Premises liability is an umbrella term that refers to the risk a person or business assumes by letting other people onto their property. In theory, any sort of injury or incident on a property can lead to premises liability claims against the owner or manager of the property.

Generally someone making a premises liability claim needs to show that negligence or misconduct contributed to their injuries. They also need to have verifiable losses, whether those losses are property damage or physical injuries. That may be one of the reasons why slip-and-fall injuries are among the most common premises liability claims.

Slip-and-falls often leave people with severe injuries

Someone doesn’t have to fall down a flight of stairs to suffer serious injuries when they slip on the floor. Falling directly backward might mean suffering a head injury. Trying to stop the fall might mean when someone breaks an arm or dislocates their shoulder. Roughly a million people every year go to the emergency room because of slip-and-fall incidents that require immediate medical attention.

Proper maintenance practices can prevent most slip-and-falls

In addition to causing serious injuries, slip-and-fall incidents are probably the most preventable kind of accident that can occur. It often only takes clean and dry floors to prevent a fall from occurring.

Unfortunately, many companies have employment practices that keep staff levels so low that spills, leaks and puddles in the entranceway due to rain might go unattended to for hours, endangering every visitor to the facility.

Understanding what makes a premises liability claim actionable can help you decide how to respond after you slip and fall in a public place.