Shopping malls offer a convenient way to shop, but unfortunately, accidents can happen. People can slip, trip and fall, which can cause serious injury. When an accident occurs, who’s liable for damages? Here’s what you need to know.
What is a slip-and-fall?
Slip-and-fall accidents can result from a variety of factors, including wet floors, uneven surfaces, or poorly maintained walkways. To establish liability, it’s important to identify who had the duty to maintain a safe environment. In a shopping mall, potential parties include the mall management, individual store owners, maintenance contractors, and even the injured party themselves.
Premises liability
Premises liability refers to the legal responsibility that property owners or occupiers have for injuries or accidents that occur on their premises. It is based on the principle that those in control of a property must maintain a reasonably safe environment for visitors and guests. Property owners, landlords or businesses can be held liable if someone is injured due to unsafe conditions on their premises. These may include slippery floors, uneven walkways or inadequate security. The extent of the duty owed to visitors can vary based on factors like the person’s status (e.g., invitee, licensee, trespasser), whether the property owner or manager knew about the hazard and the nature of the property. If you’re injured in a slip-and-fall accident, it’s important to seek legal counsel as soon as possible.
Here are some of the potentially responsible parties:
- Mall management: Shopping mall management has a duty to maintain common areas, including corridors, restrooms and food courts. This duty involves regular inspections, prompt cleanup of spills, and addressing potential hazards promptly. If a slip-and-fall occurs due to negligence in maintaining these spaces, the mall management may be held liable.
- Store owners: Individual store owners lease space within the mall, and their responsibilities extend to the immediate vicinity of their stores. This includes maintaining safe entryways and storefronts. If a slip-and-fall happens in front of a store due to the owner’s negligence, they might be deemed liable.
- Maintenance contractors: Some shopping malls contract out maintenance services to third-party companies. In such cases, the maintenance contractor may bear responsibility if the slip-and-fall resulted from their failure to uphold safety standards during their duties.
When slip-and-fall accidents happen, seek medical attention immediately. Then call the Law Offices of Tim Misny to learn more about your legal options.
Talk to an Ohio personal injury attorney today
The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your slip-and-fall claim. If you or a loved one were injured due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at 800-556-4769 so that I can evaluate your case right away.
