7 Ways to Prevent Slip and Fall Lawsuits

Were You Injured After a Slip, Trip, and Fall?

Running a business can be a stressful endeavor. Managing your employees, dealing with clientele, and coordinating with your suppliers can be enough of a hassle. The last thing you need to worry about is a lawsuit.

Sadly, thousands of businesses are sued each year due to slips and falls, and these lawsuits can cost businesses a lot of money. Falls are the second most deadly cause of accidental death in the world. While a skilled Los Angeles lawyer to defend slip and fall claims can help your case, it’s best to avoid any accidents on your property altogether.

The average slip or fall claim costs around $50,000, and you surely have somewhere better to spend that money. Still, despite your preparation, there’s a chance that a fall will happen at your business, so if you follow these seven precautions, then you’ll be much more likely to avoid paying huge Los Angeles slip and fall settlements.

Keep the Elderly in Mind

According to the National Floor Safety Institute, one-third of adults over 65 experience a fall every year in the United States. The elderly are at a much higher risk of serious injury and death from falling, so ensuring that your location is safe for seniors is important. Wall railings, carpets, and rounded corners can make a world of difference when someone falls, but even if you can’t implement such changes, it’s still essential to ensure that pathways are clear of obstruction. Try to identify your highest-risk areas and develop a plan to mitigate the dangers that these areas present.

Document and Report

Whether a hazard is big or small, you need to document it. Your business should have a standard procedure for reporting hazards, dealing with them, and providing evidence that the problem has been rectified. By doing this, you establish a history of safe business practices. If a lawsuit ever arises, then having a documented record of your business’s safety efforts may work in your favor.

Be Kind

Even if you do everything right, there’s always a chance that someone will slip and fall at your place of business anyway. It’s not ideal, but you have to put on a brave face and look forward when adversity strikes. If someone falls at your place, then you should try to be kind to them. Show genuine concern for their wellbeing. If they think that you’re cold or uncaring in the wake of their accident, then they will be more likely to sue. Kindness doesn’t cost much, but it could save your business a ton of money in the long run. Even if you still end up getting sued, the community will remember your reaction, and they’ll have a more positive image of your business because of it.

Signage and Proper Employee Training

One of the best ways to avoid falls is to regularly train your employees to follow the best workplace safety practices. Your janitorial staff should be trained to clean messes in a safe, efficient manner, and every employee should know to put up signs and report any spills or slipping hazards as soon as they’re noticed. Ladders must be handled safely, and your employees should wear non-slip footwear if their job duties allow it.

In 2014, 798 workers died from workplace falls, and over 261,000 workers had to miss at least one or more days of work. If there is a death at your workplace, then you’re likely to get sued. Even if there’s an injury and you somehow don’t get sued, you’ll likely still have to pay workers’ compensation.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Whenever there is an accident, you should always contact your insurance company as soon as possible. The sooner they know, the quicker they can react. Many details and minutiae can quickly become muddled or lost, so insurance companies typically send out an agent right away. They can help you better understand the ins and outs of your predicament and get you ready for the next steps.

Cameras

Unlike in a criminal case, when you’re being sued, the burden of proof is primarily on you. You have to prove that you are free of negligence and wrongdoing, and the best way to do that is with video evidence.

Many people have tried to fake falls for an easy payday, but their chances of pulling this scam off are much lower when they’re caught on camera. Even if there is a legitimate fall, a camera can help keep facts straight by helping you refute any exaggerated claims or guesses. The best thing you can do is retain the services of a slip and fall lawyer in Los Angeles to protect your business and help reduce the settlement owed to the defendant.

Reach Out to Qualified Legal Professionals

You never know if someone is going to sue after falling in your place of business. To schedule a free consultation with the best personal injury attorney in Los Angeles, call our offices at 323-999-3500 or email us at contact@gutierrez.legal.