What are the liability risks for a business owner in Pennsylvania if a customer slips and falls on their property?

As a business owner in Pennsylvania, if a customer slips and falls on your property, you may face liability risks. The legal concept that governs these incidents is called premises liability, which holds property owners responsible for injuries that occur on their property when caused by dangerous conditions that they knew or should have known existed.

Under Pennsylvania law, business owners owe customers a duty of care to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This includes regularly inspecting the property for potential hazards, promptly addressing any hazards that are identified, and adequately warning customers of any dangerous conditions that cannot be immediately resolved.

If a customer slips and falls on your property, they may be able to bring a legal claim for damages against your business. Damages may include financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses related to the injury. The amount of damages that may be awarded depends on a variety of factors, including the severity of the injury, the length of recovery time, and the impact of the injury on the customer's life.

There are some limitations or exceptions to liability in Pennsylvania. For example, if the hazard was open and obvious, the customer may be found to have contributed to their injuries, which can reduce or eliminate the business owner's liability. Additionally, Pennsylvania has comparative negligence laws, which means that if the customer's own negligence contributed to their injury, their damages award may be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to them.

To protect your business from these liability risks, it is important to take proactive steps to maintain a safe premises. This includes regularly inspecting the property for hazards, promptly addressing any hazards that are identified, and adequately warning customers of any dangerous conditions before they can be resolved. Also, make sure to obtain appropriate insurance coverage for your business, such as general liability insurance.

In the event of a slip and fall incident, it is important to document the incident thoroughly and preserve any physical evidence, like video footage or photographs. You should also contact your insurance company and legal counsel as soon as possible, who can help navigate the legal process and defend your business against potential legal claims.