Spring is in the air, and with it come slippery floors in nearby shops. With customers wearing wet shoes, it can seem impossible to navigate potentially hazardous areas of the store.
When you enter a store, you hope that the owner and their staff have watched for new hazards that could make your shopping trip dangerous. Unfortunately, there are times when the staff does not notice a risk or do not know what action they should take to fix it.
Here’s how you can keep yourself safe from slips this spring.
What to watch for
Part of preventing a fall is knowing the conditions that can lead to one. It can be easy to trust that stores and other public areas will have safe footing, but that is not always the case. You should watch for conditions, such as:
- Rain or melting snow outside
- Hard surfaces like tile and linoleum
- Entries with no mats or rugs
When you are more aware of the conditions that lead to a slip-and-fall, you can prevent a severe injury.
When should stores know?
Often, customers have more empathy and grace for when stores should mark or remove hazards. However, keep in mind that stores and other public places are open to the general public and have a greater obligation for dealing with risks.
When places that are open to the public do not maintain a safe environment by either removing hazards or clearly marking them (such as with cones or signs), they neglect their duty to the people who could fall. During times like spring, when customers tend to track in wet slush from outside, staff should make routine checks for unsafe footing.
If you or someone you know has had a slip and fall injury in a store, it is essential to talk to a knowledgeable attorney about how to move forward.