Ways to Protect Your Business Against Slip-and-Fall Accidents

Thousands of people are injured each year when they slip and fall. If this type of accident occurs in your place of business, you may be liable for some or all of the injuries. This can put a huge strain on your business, especially if you are a smaller business or one that is barely staying afloat. Fortunately, a slip-and-fall accident does not have to be the end of your business. Here are a few ways you can protect your business against slip-and-fall accidents.

Install Cameras

When you have a business, it is important that you take precautionary measures to limit your liability against slip-and-fall claims. Installing cameras is a way that you can help protect yourself from frivolous claims or see exactly what happened. Having a security system that records all aspects of your business can help to determine any sort of liability that you have in a slip-and-fall case, if any, why the slip and fall occurred, and what liability the injured party may have. All of this can be used to determine fault, which, in turn, can affect how much you may have to pay if someone is injured after claiming to have slipped and fallen in your business.

Use Doormats

One of the simplest ways to protect your business against slip-and-fall claims is to use doormats. Having mats placed at the door will allow customers to wipe their feet on the mat, helping to remove moisture and oils that can cause their shoes or your floor to become slick. However, when you select a mat, it is important to select a non-slip mat. If the mat is not a non-slip or does not have grips designed to hold it in place, it can bunch up as people walk across it or wipe their feet. This can become a tripping hazard. A non-slip mat is designed to stay in one place, helping to reduce the chances of a slip-and-fall accident occurring without creating a different hazard.

Select a Floor Material That Isn't Slippery

One of the reasons why customers and employees may slip and fall in your place of business is because the floor is slippery. Certain types of flooring, such as glossy tiles, are more slippery than other types of flooring, such as epoxy or carpeting. If the floor is more slick, it is more likely that a customer or employee can slip on these floors, even if there is no moisture present. Their shoes may have wearing tread, or the floors may be a bit slippery after being cleaned. If you have any control over the flooring, try to select a type of flooring that has some grit or texture to it. In addition to preventing slip and falls, textured floors typically withstand traffic better and hide dirt better as well, both of which are pluses for high-traffic business areas.

Purchase a Business-Liability Insurance Policy

Despite your best efforts, you cannot prevent all slip-and-fall accidents from occurring in your business. Some things are truly accidents and cannot be prevented. However, this doesn't mean that your business has to suffer because of an unfortunate accident. Purchasing a business-liability insurance policy helps protect you and your business. A business-liability insurance policy is much like an auto-insurance policy except for your business. If your business is involved in an accident, you may have to pay your deductible amount, but that is it. The injured person's medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering are paid from the insurance company, just like your auto insurance would pay for the damages done in a car accident. Always talk with a professional to determine how much coverage you need based on the type of business you have and your business's worth.

If someone slips and falls at your business, they may be able to file a personal-injury lawsuit against your company. If this occurs, you will want to consult with a defense personal-injury attorney to best defend your company against the lawsuit.