How Are Property Owners Responsible For Slip And Fall Accidents?

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When you suffer from a slip and fall accident due to someone else's negligence, it opens up the possibility of a slip and fall lawsuit to receive compensation for your injuries. However, you likely have questions about how other property owners are responsible for an accident when it takes place on their property. 

What Situations Are Property Owners Response?

One thing to keep in mind is that residential property owners are treated a bit differently than commercial property owners. While each has the same duty of care to keep a property safe from potential slip and falls, the expectations are much higher for commercial property owners. They invite people to come to their property to run the business, so they are expected to take more steps in order to keep people safe. 

For example, a commercial property owner would be responsible for shoveling the snow on the sidewalk next to their business and breaking up the ice that can be slippery. As a residential property owner, you may not need to keep the sidewalks perfectly clear as if you owned a business, but you must not create conditions that would make the conditions more dangerous for a slip and fall. This means not putting downspouts in a place where water drains across a sidewalk.

How Fast Do Property Owners Have To React To Hazards?

Business and residential property owners are not expected to keep their property free of hazards at all times. There is a reasonable window of time given to property owners to react to bad weather conditions in order to prevent slip and fall accidents. If someone suffered a slip and fall during the middle of a snowstorm, that would not give the property owner enough time to make the property less hazardous to others. The property owner must put in reasonable effort to try to prevent an accident.

How Do You Prove A Slip And Fall Case?

It is best to work with a lawyer to help get the proof you need for your personal injury case. For example, things like documenting the weather conditions at the time of the slip and fall can be a huge help. You may be able to use photographs or security camera footage to show what the weather conditions were like so that it cannot be denied. You'll also need to seek medical attention to document the injury and how it was caused by the accident.

For more questions about your slip and fall, schedule a consultation with a lawyer.


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