When a business owner opens his doors to the public, he also opens himself up to potential liability for a slip and fall injury. Premises liability law makes a business owner responsible for certain injuries suffered by persons who are on the premises and are injured due to an unsafe condition present there.
What is a Slip and Fall?
Slip and fall is a term used to describe an injury in which a person slips or trips and falls and is injured on someone else’s property (premises) due to a dangerous condition such as:
- Torn carpeting
- Uneven flooring
- Poor lighting
- Narrow, slippery stairs
- A wet floor
Under North Dakota law, landowners and occupiers must exercise “reasonable care” to prevent the occurrence of dangerous conditions on their land. An injured plaintiff who brings a lawsuit for premises liability must prove that the business owner had actual or constructive knowledge of a dangerous condition in time to correct it, or that the owner was able by the exercise of ordinary care to discover the condition but failed to do so.
Maintaining Safe Premises
Some of the things an owner can do to promote safety and help prevent a slip and fall accident on his property include:
- Clean up all spills immediately.
- Secure electrical and phone cords out of traffic areas.
- Use non-skid slip mats on potentially slippery floors.
- Arrange furniture to provide open walking pathways.
- Install handrails on both sides of open staircases.
- Ensure that lighting (both indoors and outdoors) is adequate.
- Periodically check the condition of his property and repair damages immediately.
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident due to an unsafe condition, contact the slip and fall lawyers at O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys online, or call 701-235-8000 (toll-free 877-235-8000) today.
Photo couresty of adpeoplein0/Pixabay
