A slip and fall injury can occur at any time to anyone. From customers to employees, accidents happen. Yet, this type of mishap is one of the most preventable. So when someone slips on spilled liquid or trips and falls on a curb at your place of business, who is responsible?
Ultimately, it depends on the case, but for the most part, the business is liable. Therefore, you must take measures to limit your liability and prevent a slip and fall accident at your business.
Slip & Fall Prevention
Proper slip and fall prevention means more than clutter-free walkways and wet floor signs. If you want to get serious about accident prevention, follow these tips:
- Conduct daily safety surveys to identify common culprits such as wet or greasy floors, loose mats, torn carpeting, lousy lighting, clutter, cables or wires, and uneven floors.
- Promptly attend to any problems by putting up warning signs and taking steps to eliminate the hazard quickly.
- Maintain all floors and walkways consistently, using the recommended cleaning products and methods. Fix all uneven surfaces if possible by
recoating or leveling the floor, or illuminate (or otherwise identify) areas that can’t easily be leveled. - Train your employees in slip and fall safety, and set guidelines on how employees should report problems and respond to customer injuries or dangerous situations. Install secure handrails near all stairs and balconies.
- Take care of your outdoor areas, including sidewalks and parking lots. Potholes, snow, and ice all create potential problems. If necessary, hire snow and ice removal professionals to make sure it’s handled promptly.
- Record all of your efforts by keeping reports of your daily safety inspections, maintenance work, and how you dealt with any slip and fall accidents.
Coverages that Protect You Best
If you want to protect your business in the event of a slip and fall accident, carrying the appropriate general liability limits is a must. General liability protects against injuries to a third party caused by you or your employees.
Does your business have employees? If so, you should have a worker’s compensation policy in place. Work comp is a business liability insurance that protects workers under state laws. It provides medical care, death, disability, and rehabilitation benefits for employees who are hurt or die while on the job.
Additionally, a commercial umbrella policy adds an extra measure of protection if the liability exposure exceeds the limits of the base policy.
What Happens if You Aren’t Covered?
A slip and fall accident could spell big trouble for your business. Let’s say a customer falls and breaks an arm. They then sue you because of the injuries. Without the right liability coverage, you could find yourself paying for medical bills, lawyer fees, court costs, and much, much more. It also means that if you don’t have the cash flow to cover the expenses, you could face the possibility of closing your doors.
The Bottom Line
You’ve worked hard to get where you are today. We would hate for you to have shut your doors due to a slip and fall accident. To learn more about how we can help you protect your business, give our business liability experts a call at 860-684-5270 or visit us here – our insurance specialists are standing by to assist you with your policy!