Your business could be on the hook for the damages related to an injury that someone suffers on your property if you do not take the proper precautions. Under Nevada law, a premises liability lawsuit may be brought against you if you owed duty of care to a person who is lawfully on your property. However, in order to be a valid claim, the plaintiff must demonstrate that you own the property and that you committed some kind of negligence that led to the injury.
The best way to prevent these costly and time-consuming claims is to mitigate the risk of one ever getting filed. Having an awareness of the conditions that lead to such suits is key. For example, the following circumstances may be considered dangerous:
- Wet floors
- Defective equipment
- Electrical cords carelessly strewn across floors
- Damaged or poorly maintained stairwells
You should ensure that your property is in the best possible condition at all times. A key part to a premises liability claim is demonstrating that the owner either knew or should have known about the problem area. To address this, your business should have a policy regarding basic maintenance, which includes regular cleanings and inspections.
Further, if there are any situations that could lead to an injury, you need to take the steps to make repairs and alert any employees or guests to the danger. Workers should know what to do in the event of a spill, such as cleaning up the mess promptly and marking wet spots with a cautionary sign.
Keep in mind that your duty of care only extends to people who are invited into your business. If a trespasser is injured, he or she will not receive the protection of the law.
While this information may be useful, it should not be taken as legal advice.
