Tips for Protecting Your Business from Personal Injury Liability
As a business owner, you likely have contractors, employees, clients, customers, and other individuals visiting your property regularly. It is your obligation to ensure that your property remains a safe environment to conduct business and sell goods or services. Unfortunately, work accidents can happen anywhere, and many of these accidents involve injuries. A personal injury lawsuit can absolutely devastate a business, so it is important to reduce your potential personal injury liability as much as possible.
Focus on Preventing Accidents Rather than Responding to Accidents
You probably take a great deal of pride in your business and want your property to be a safe, secure, and comfortable environment for everyone who visits it. It is crucial for business owners to take preventative measures to avoid customer or employee injuries. However, potential injury-causing hazards are not always easy to spot. You should walk through your property and identify any defects or conditions that could present a danger. Look out for the following conditions:
Inadequate lighting
Fire hazards
Trip hazards such as buckled carpets, rugs, or mats
Weather-related hazards such as slippery floors or icy walkways
Parking lot defects
Uneven concrete on walkways
Electrical hazards such as broken appliances or power sockets
Manual handling hazards
Chemical hazards such as toxic cleaning products
Contagious illnesses spread by coworkers
Inadequate security measures
Regularly Discuss Customer Safety
Being proactive about potential injuries is the first step, but then you must ensure that your property remains hazard-free. One of the best ways to keep up to date about the conditions on your property or properties is to talk with your employees. Regularly communicate with workers about potential safety issues through meetings, training, and informal conversations. Remind employees to eliminate the accumulation of clutter as much as possible and to keep walkways clear. Most importantly, work with a business lawyer to create an employee handbook that clearly states employee expectations when it comes to cleanliness and safety.
Make Sure You Are Properly Insured
You are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance as an employer in Connecticut, but you are not required to carry commercial liability insurance. If you do not have commercial liability insurance, it is very likely that you could be held personally liable if an accident happens at your place of business. An experienced business attorney familiar with Connecticut law can help you identify potential risks, evaluate your insurance needs, and establish an appropriate amount of protection based on your unique circumstances.
Contact a Fairfield County Business Law Attorney
Owning your own business can be a dream come true for some people. With that ownership comes a responsibility to employees as well as clients or customers. Maintaining a clean and safe environment is key to preventing accidents on your property. To learn more about reducing potential injury liability or for other business law needs, contact The Law Offices of Peter V. Lathouris, LLC. Schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced Stamford, CT commercial and business law attorney by calling us today.
Sources:
https://www.shrm.org/ResourcesAndTools/hr-topics/risk-management/Pages/Common-Office-Hazards.aspx
http://www.smallbizviewpoints.com/2012/12/29/9-tips-for-protecting-your-business-from-outrageous-personal-injury-claims/