Personal injury lawsuits are mostly about negligence. If you own a business or a property and are concerned about someone getting hurt and suing you, one of the first things you can do is make sure you have a good insurance policy. With good insurance coverage, the only other thing you have to do is be aware of what happens on your property.
Your property should always be clean and well maintained. For interior areas, the floors should be clear of debris and not slippery. When they are slippery during cleaning, post obvious signage to warn anyone passing by. Outdoor property areas should be kept clear of snow, ice, and debris. Uneven surfaces on walkways and parking lots and other tripping hazards should be repaired as quickly as possible.
You must also take action immediately when you learn about a problem. If you realize it snowed the night before, make sure a deicer is used on sidewalks and someone is shoveling the snow off the walkways. Clean up accidental spills and other messes as soon as possible. For issues that will take time to repair, block off areas and post clear signs warning passersby of any hazards.
Keep track of all repairs done on your property or action that was taken following a problem. If someone does happen to get injured on your property, document the incident as accurately as possible along with witness statements and information. In these types of claims, you will most likely have to deal with the alleged victim’s personal injury lawyers to reach a settlement if you’re found responsible.
If you do happen to go to court over an injury that occurred on your property, all of your logs, actions, and insurance policies should help you. It is usually only in the case of clear negligence that you are made responsible for damages, especially punitive damages. It is possible to wade through such a battle on your own, but having an attorney on your side should make it less stressful.