A gorgeous snow day has come and gone. A layer of sleet has formed on your property's pavement. Someone slips and gets hurt. Who is liable?
According to the premises liability law, you are. The law holds landowners and tenants responsible when someone gets hurt on your property as a result of a dangerous condition.
Do you know how common slip and fall accidents are?
What you will learn:
Are Slip and Falls actually Insurance Problems?
While we may sometimes laugh at each other when we hit the deck, slip and falls can be pretty serious accidents.
According to a study by the National Safety Council (NSC), slip and falls account for almost one million injuries and fatalities in the U.S. every year, making them serious insurance problems. Just take a look at this graphic:
Slip and fall injuries are primarily caused by a slippery surface, explaining the spike in insurance claims during this time of the year.
While your homeowners insurance policy probably covers this liability, we want to help you identify slip and fall trends (and how to avoid them) to minimize the risk of someone getting hurt on your property.
These trends are based on a 2015 report by the National Safety Council.
3 Slip and Fall Trends to Avoid.
Trend: Failing to warn visitors of walking hazards
Remedy: What makes black ice so dangerous is that it is almost invisible, especially at night. A simple caution sign or verbal notice can make a big difference.
Trend: Improperly de-icing walkways
Remedy: The most effective way to de-ice your walkways is to thoroughly shovel away the snow before it forms into ice overnight.
Trend: Reliance on rock salt to de-ice walkways. It is only effective when temperatures dip below 15 degrees fahrenheit.
Remedy: There are many alternatives to rock salt, including sand, stone grits, calcium and magnesium chloride, etc.
