Unfortunately, many accidents are waiting to happen at home as well as in business establishments. These can be anything from tripping hazards like uneven flooring to dangerous equipment like improperly safeguarded machinery or chemicals. You need to take steps to protect your family and employees by eliminating these hazards before someone gets hurt. Being aware of various premise liability hazards and how to fix them prevents injury and potential legal issues. An Antelope Valley personal injury lawyer can verify this.
Why Preventing Premise Liability Hazards is Important
Within the realm of premise liability law is the understanding that property owners can be liable for injuries that took place on their land or in their home, whether the owner caused the damage or not. Injuries that a property owner can be forced to pay for include injuries sustained directly on the land and those that occur off their land if the area was open to the public.
Examples of Premises Liability Issues
Several types of precise liability hazards can be avoided. Suppose you’re having your friend house-sit while you are away. She needed to go into the shed to look for a tool to make a minor repair. Because she is not familiar with the layout or spacing of your property, she doesn’t intuitively know to leave herself an extra inch when walking from the outside to avoid getting caught on the additional building materials stored nearby. In this case, she gets scraped to the point where blood is drawn. Over a few days, she ended up with a bacterial infection that landed her with a hefty medical bill.
The key to avoiding the above scenario and others like that is to ensure that all walkways and door openings are cleared of objects with a wide berth on both sides. Never expect others to judge the distance the same way you do or remember the quirks with workarounds you may automatically perform. Ideally, there would be no workarounds for anyone to accomplish.
- Exits should be marked and clear of debris
- Walkways and hallways should be clear of objects, stray materials, and garbage
- Building supplies should be kept under tarps, in sheds, or in other out-of-reach places
- Sidewalks should be kept in good condition
- Tree branches and shrubbery should be pruned away from entering parking spots or doorways
- Oil-based spills should be cleaned with a degreaser
Avoiding Possible Premise Liability Problems
Set aside some time to walk through your property with an eye for detail. Look at all the potential hazards and determine how to fix them. There are many problem areas that can be addressed.
Stairwells and steps should be clear, well-lit, and have sufficient guard rails Never allow a construction crew to leave without securing nails, tools, broken glass, and other remnants to safe places. Always highlight potential hazard areas with yellow warning signs, tape, cones, or other brightly-colored, hard-to-miss signage.
The Right Premise Liability Lawyer Can Help
Consulting with a premise liability lawyer will give you a more in-depth look at all the areas a property can be fortified to avoid injury. The lawyer can also help you draw up liability waivers for products, services, or participation in an activity. These are especially helpful for sporting and recreational vendors such as archery or shooting ranges, go-kart racing, and sky diving operators.
Staying safe for yourself, your family, friends, customers, vendors, and employees is the top priority. Going a bit overboard with warnings, signs, and education where common sense should prevail always goes a long way to preventing accidents. Never hesitate to speak to a premise liability lawyer for more information.
