Premises Liability
Note: This was featured as part of our Wednesday segment on Charleston’s 105.5 The Bridge with Box in the Morning. You can catch us every Wednesday morning at 8:50 am ET for the latest law tips and legal news. You can listen to the segment below:
According to Expert Law, Premises liability is defined as the body of law which makes the person who is in possession of land or premises responsible for certain injuries suffered by persons who are present on the premises.
This time of year everyone is busy. Between work, school, holiday events, and holiday shopping; everyone is out and about. Unfortunately, when there are more people around, you are more susceptible to an accident because of the additional traffic and pedestrians. The important thing to remember before you leave your house is to be more aware of your surroundings. Holiday traffic can be frustrating, but it’s important for you to acknowledge this before you leave your home, so you won’t become a victim of your own anxiety and stress.
Places to be more aware:
- Parking lots – This time of year, parking lots are congested with more vehicle and pedestrian activity. There are more people trying to find parking spots, more pedestrians walking through the lot into the store and back out to their cars, and more blind spots than usual. Keep an eye out for children running through the lot and for pedestrians walking the aisle behind your car when you back out. This is especially true at night, when most people are finding the time to get out to shop after work hours.
- In the Store – With extra traffic a store may not be able to keep up with overturned displays or spills. Be on the lookout for extra obstacles that could obstruct your walk or cause a serious fall. If you find a potential risk before a store associate, it’s a good idea to notify a store representative as soon as you are able.
- At holiday social events – The same applies for holiday events, which include parties, plays, or work events. Heavy traffic can cause personnel to be otherwise occupied and not able to quickly respond to spills or obstacles which may cause injury. If you find a potential risk, notify the host immediately of the problem.
Make sure to get into the holiday spirit before you leave the home. It is inevitable that you will run into extra traffic during your holiday excursions. Everyone has the same intent and is just like you, trying to get from A to B as fast as they can. Just remember this is the hustle and bustle of the season and won’t last forever. We encourage everyone to be careful and have a merry injury-free Christmas!
Additional Resources:
http://www.expertlaw.com/library/premises_liability/premises_liability.html