This blog has talked about the fact that individuals who enter into property owned by another as an invitee or licensee are owed a duty by the property owner regarding the safety of the premises. This means making sure that reasonably foreseeable causes for injury are removed or warned about. When this doesn’t happen and a person is hurt on the property, the owner may end up being liable for the injuries. But what commonly might cause this to occur?
One of the most common accidents that create the potential for premises liability is the ‘slip and fall.’ This generally happens when a customer or other guest loses his or her footing due to some condition on the property and is hurt in the resulting fall. In Connecticut, winter weather can be the culprit in many of these accidents, as ice and snow may create slippery surfaces that may not be apparent to individuals on the property.
Another common cause of these types of incidents is items left in walking areas in stores. Whether boxes waiting to be unpacked or items discarded by employees or other customers, property owners and their employees need to avoid being negligent by being sure that aisles and other paths commonly used by guests are clear of obstacles. Similarly, if carpeting is used as a floor covering, torn or loose edges may create a hazard for people traversing that area of the property.
One other problem that might not seem as obvious is that of insufficient lighting. Sometimes this is coupled with one of the above problems to make it more likely that someone falls by not seeing a dangerous floor condition, and being injured.
As always, whether or not a property owner can be held liable will depend on the facts of each individual case, and nothing should be taken for granted. However, Connecticut residents who have been injured by falling on another’s property should consider determining if they have the legal right to compensation.
