When you enter a store or other business, you likely want to make a purchase or contract them for certain services. You don’t go there intending to get hurt.
Sadly, when companies don’t prioritize cleanliness and facility maintenance, the public has higher risk levels for getting hurt when they visit. Slip-and-fall injuries are a common reason for people to bring claims against businesses.
If someone slips, trips or falls while visiting a shop, they probably expect that the company will pay for their costs. When do you have the right to ask for compensation after you get hurt because you slipped and fell in a business?
The circumstances that led to your fall affect your rights
Many slip-and-fall injuries occur because of poorly maintained or dirty facilities, but some of them are the responsibilities of the people who get hurt.
If you tried to drift your cart around a corner by turning it abruptly and jumping up to ride on it, you are likely responsible for your own injuries if you fall in that situation. The same is probably true if you visit a business while under the influence of drugs and fall because your chemical impairment made you dizzy.
However, if the circumstances around your slip-and-fall incident show a lack of maintenance or neglect on the part of the business, you may be in a position to ask them for compensation.
The consequences of your slip and fall also affect your rights
If you fell and were embarrassed publically, it’s natural to be upset. Still, the business probably doesn’t have any responsibility for your feelings or bruised ego if there was no injury. On the other hand, if you fall and break your thousand-dollar smartphone, if you suffer a head injury or if you break a bone, you will have verifiable losses.
You need to show that the slip-and-fall had some kind of consequence for you, such as medical bills, property damage or lost wages because you couldn’t work. In a situation where you can show both potential negligence on the part of the company and verifiable losses for you, you could potentially file a premises liability insurance claim.
If the company doesn’t have coverage or if the insurance company tries to fight you, you may need to file a civil lawsuit to get the compensation that you deserve.
