As an owner of a small business establishment in a location like New Orleans, you probably know that if a person slips and falls inside your business premises, you will likely face a lawsuit.
Perhaps you've got a thriving company with high profits and a huge following. You may be making good sales and planning to open a second store, but if you lose a liability case, all of that can fall apart.
Therefore, you need to be aware of some general rules pertaining to the potential liability for slip and fall accidents that might occur at your place of business.
Businesses That Are At Risk Of Personal Injury Litigations
Some types of companies are more likely to be responsible for personal injury by way of the goods or services they offer than others.
Whether it happens to customers, staff, or third parties that happen to be at the wrong spot, personal injuries lead to litigation and settlements that can cripple a company if it is not properly covered.
Businesses that appear to be in these situations include:
Transportation And Travel
Businesses that operate vehicles will be exposed to a high level of personal injury liability in the event of a serious accident on the part of the driver of one of these vehicles.
Medical Practice
Serious injuries and accidental death arising from medical malpractice represent the second- largest component of the caseloads of most law firms specializing in personal injury. In fact, medical errors are the third-leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer in the United States.
Clubs And Bars
There are several ways clubs and bar owners can be held liable for personal injuries. Poor security is one example, as most clubs and bars are required to provide some form of on-site protection at all times.
Retail Outlets
Businesses that depend on customers to be present physically on their premises in order to carry out transactions are at risk of personal injury liability.
Amusement Parks
Whether it's wild animals in a zoo, thrill rides in a theme park or operations that oversee extreme experiences such as bungee jumping and skydiving the risk of serious injuries are exceptionally high in this industry.
In the event of injury occurring at your premises, you may face costly lawsuits or medical bills that can wipe out a large chunk of your cash.
So how do you go about taking steps to reduce your business liability?
How To Reduce Business Liability Caused By Personal Injury Claims
Put Preventive Measures In Place
This first tip sounds a bit obvious but it's very important to do all you can to prevent accidents from happening.
This covers stuff like mopping up spills immediately, placing wet cones at the affected floor areas and fixing any damage as soon as possible.
Taking immediate action when you see something wrong can do a great deal for your business and reduce the likelihood of accidents happening.
Invest In Business Liability Insurance
Just as vehicle insurance protects you against a number of personal injury lawsuits in the case of a car accident, general liability insurance is insurance that can cover your business from claims of personal injury that occur at your store or place of business.
Consult With A Specialized Law Firm
One of the best ways to protect yourself from claims of personal injury would be to contact a law firm specializing in these kinds of claims, to learn more about how to avoid being caught in one.
You’d be surprised at how easy it may be to find firms like these. For example, businesses in Louisiana can get in touch with Lafayette Personal Injury Lawyers, who specialize in personal injury claims in the Lafayette area to seek advice on how to avoid or minimize business liability caused by personal injury.
What To Do When A Customer Is Injured By Your Product
When a product is potentially dangerous, has a hazardous manufacturing flaw or lacks adequate warning signs, consumers may be hurt.
And then you may be responsible.
But generally, these injuries don't happen on your premises, so you might not hear about them immediately.
The injured customer may disclose the matter directly to you or you may hear about it through their lawyers.
You'll need to first contact your attorneys and follow their advice. You should also investigate the matter right away as well. Check out your products and recall defective products if necessary or recall them to protect other customers from getting hurt.
From then onwards, it is generally in the hands of the lawyers and insurers.
Final Thoughts
Accidents can happen and will happen, and when it does, it is up to you to decide what to do. If the injured party is your employee or a client, taking the right measures after an incident would help mitigate your liability as a business owner.
