Yes, as a business owner, you may be liable for injuries that happen on your commercial property. It is very important to understand this liability and the steps you can take to respond to potential litigation.
That said, you are not necessarily responsible for every single accident that happens on the property or every person who gets injured. There are a few different issues to keep in mind that could create this liability.
The owner created the hazard
First of all, you may be liable if you created a dangerous condition or a hazard. An example would be if you constructed a staircase but failed to install the proper banisters or built the staircase at a slope that was not in line with building code requirements. If someone slipped and fell, you could be responsible.
The owner failed to fix the hazard
Next, if there is a hazard on the property that you failed to rectify, then you may be responsible, even if you did not create it. For instance, maybe there is torn carpeting at the top of the stairs that creates a significant tripping hazard. If you simply ignored the danger and did not replace the carpet, you could be liable if someone trips and falls.
The owner should have known the hazard existed
Finally, you may claim that you did not know there was a hazardous condition to begin with, so you could not fix it. You may still be liable if it existed for so long that you should have known about it. By failing to properly inspect your property, you could be accused of negligence.
If you are facing an injury claim, it can have a major impact on your business financially, and on your company’s reputation. Be sure you know exactly what legal steps to take.