If you slip and fall while out and about in a Maryland store, you want the owner and employees to take care of you. Do you know the proper procedure for responding to customer falls?
Chron explains what steps business owners should take when a customer takes a tumble in their store. If you fell recently, determine if you could have a legal case because of negligence.
Assistance
Fallen customers who sustain injuries must receive immediate medical help. Employees should help the person get comfortable while waiting for medical help, and they should address visible bleeding.
Inspection
Visibly injured or not, store owners should inspect the slip-and-fall site. They must determine whether a hazard triggered the fall, such as loose cords or frayed carpeting. Sometimes, store owners do not bear responsibility for dangerous conditions. For instance, if a customer tracked in rain or snow from outside and fell in a store, the slippery conditions may exist outside the business owner’s responsibility.
Report
A business owner could need to create an incident report for a fallen customer. The form should note the customer’s name and contact information, the reason for the fall and whether the person sustained injuries. The report could also list witness names and contact info and where the injured person received medical care. Much like a police report in a motor vehicle accident, incidents report serve as official descriptions of customer falls.
Professional help
To protect themselves and their legal rights, some business owners secure legal representation. If an injured customer contacts the store, she or he may speak to an attorney instead of the owner.
By understanding premises liability from both sides, you better understand how to build your case. Hopefully, you have a better idea of how to protect your legal rights.
