• Home
  • Get A Quote
  • Customer Service
  • Refer a Friend
  • About Us
  • Location Map
  • Employee Directory
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
 
CALL US AT 352.332.0180
Home
  • Home
  • Get A Quote
  • Customer Service
  • What We Offer
    • Auto Insurance
    • Business Insurance
    • Commercial Auto Insurance
    • Contractors Insurance
    • Home Insurance
    • Renters Insurance
    • Boat | Motorcycle | RV
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Secure File Area
    • Refer a Friend
    • Important Links
    • Insurance Glossary
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Location Map
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Newsletter
Auto Insurance PERSONAL AUTO
Auto Insurance COMMERCIAL AUTO
Homeowners Insurance HOME
Business Insurance BUSINESS
Toy Insurance TOYS
Contractors Insurance CONTRACTORS
Home > Blog > Your Liability Every Time Someone Enters Your Facility
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2017

Your Liability Every Time Someone Enters Your Facility

Your Liability Every Time Someone Enters Your Facility

One sure-fire way for a business to get sued is if a visitor - a customer, vendor or anyone else - injures themselves while on your premises. 

While you may already do all you can to keep employees and customers safe, you are likely still exposed to being sued if someone injures themselves in one of your facilities. 

Although the most common situation that comes to mind is the slip and fall accident, your liability for injuries sustained on your property extends far beyond such injuries. 

What you need to know
It doesn't matter if you own your building or rent an office as once someone steps inside, you have a duty to makes sure they are safe. 

Someone who injures themselves in an office that is rented will likely go after both the landlord and the tenant (you), but if they are in your offices, you will likely be the main defendant. Also, many landlords have clauses in their contract that require tenants to assume full responsibility for maintaining safety in the areas they rent. 

Besides someone slipping and falling on your premises, there is a host of other liability risks that you may face, including: 

  • A visitor or an employee assaulting another visitor.
  • A visitor being injured by machinery or equipment.
  • Hazardous material that is seeping from your grounds into adjacent property or making neighbors sick.


Typically, if someone is injured on your property, in order to hold you liable, they need to prove negligence on your part and show that:

  1. You knew a dangerous condition existed, or could exist.
  2. You had a reasonable amount of time to repair the danger, but failed to do so.
  3. The dangerous condition was the direct and proximate cause of their injuries.
  4. They didn't know the condition existed, or if they did, couldn't avoid it.
  5. Their reckless conduct didn't contribute to the injury.
  6. They didn't agree to assume the risk or indemnify the owner from injuries.

While most commercial general liability insurance policies will cover many of the expenses of a premises liability lawsuit, lawyers' fees alone can be expensive. 

How to protect visitors and your firm
First, you should purchase a basic commercial general liability insurance policy. Typically, a basic policy covers up to $1 million in damages for less than $1,000 in premium.

Besides that, you should do the following to make sure your facilities are safe:
Inspect the facility - Form a committee with employees from each department to inspect all areas a visitor might enter. Look at individual workspaces and the overall facility. Doing this can help you detect potential risks before they injure someone. 
Make corrections - Once you find an unsafe condition, you must correct it immediately. If that's not feasible, shut that area down until it can be addressed. 
Post a warning - If you detect or know of a dangerous situation, you should put up a warning sign that alerts employees and visitors to be careful and avoid the hazard until you can fix it. This even includes posting a "wet floor" sign after an area has been mopped. 

Remember: If it's your premises, whether rented or owned, it is your responsibility to keep your visitors safe. It's not only common sense, but can also save you a lot of money and grief if you can avoid an accident and an expensive lawsuit.

Thank you for visiting the Partners Insurance Agency blog. We hope you found our content helpful and informative.

Posted 12:00 PM

Tags: business liability, business insurance
Share |


No Comments


Post a Comment
Required
Required (Not Displayed)
Required


All comments are moderated and stripped of HTML.

NOTICE: This blog and website are made available by the publisher for educational and informational purposes only. It is not be used as a substitute for competent insurance, legal, or tax advice from a licensed professional in your state. By using this blog site you understand that there is no broker client relationship between you and the blog and website publisher.
Blog Archive
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016

  • insurance(99)
  • homeowners insurance(44)
  • auto insurance(40)
  • business insurance(29)
  • home insurance(11)
  • boat insurance(8)
  • workers compensation(8)
  • insurance claims(8)
  • liability insurance(7)
  • flood insurance(6)
  • liability(5)
  • additional insured(5)
  • commercial liability insurance(4)
  • d&o insurance(4)
  • umbrella insurance(4)
  • hurricane preparedness(4)
  • commercial auto insurance(4)
  • renters insurance(4)
  • insurance discounts(4)
  • teen drivers(3)
  • vacation rental insurance(3)
  • business owners policy(3)
  • tria(3)
  • small business insurance(3)
  • insurance coverage(3)
  • water damage(3)
  • summer safety(3)
  • workplace safety(3)
  • commercial insurance(3)
  • commerical insurance(3)
  • covid-19(3)
  • uber(2)
  • non-owned auto insurance(2)
  • drunk driving(2)
  • employee fraud(2)
  • terrorism risk insurance(2)
  • business owners insurance(2)
  • insurance liability(2)
  • freezing pipes(2)
  • halloween safety(2)
  • auto accident scams(2)
  • holiday safety(2)
  • natural disasters(2)
  • contractors(2)
  • moving(2)
  • dog liability insurance(2)
  • forced-placed insurance(2)
  • claims process(2)
  • buisiness insurance(2)
  • general liability(2)

View Mobile Version
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Carriers
logo, company name
text, logo
Carriers
logo
icon
logo, company name
PIA

Resources

Home About Us Get a Quote Customer Service Contact Us
a drawing of a face

Contact Us

icon
  • 4040 W Newberry Road Suite 950
  • Gainesville, FL 32607
  • Office: 352.332.0180
  • Fax: 352.378.5820
© Copyright. All rights reserved.
Powered by Insurance Website Builder