How Can I Protect my Business from Personal Injury Accidents in New Jersey?

While businesses in the state of New Jersey gear up to reopen after months of temporary closures, it is important to remember to keep the grounds of your business safe. This is because a hazardous property can cause accidents and injuries to occur to those who visit it. When this happens, injured parties can pursue legal action against a negligent property owner under premises liability law. Continue reading to learn more about property owner liability. 

What are the Three Legal Classes of Visitors?

When dealing with premises liability law, there are three different classifications of visitors:

  • Invitee: A person who comes onto a premises by invitation. This does not have to be in writing. The invitation is to transact business for a mutual benefit. 
  • Licensee: A guest who comes onto a property for personal reasons instead of business or commercial reasons. For example, having a guest over to your home for dinner. In terms of businesses, those who come onto the property are usually invitees, not licensees.
  • Trespasser: Individuals who come onto a property without invitation and normally violate trespassing laws. This may be a burglar or customer who refuses to leave when asked to. Business owners do not have a legal duty to keep trespassers safe, however, they cannot purposely cause them harm. 

What are Common Causes of Injury Claims?

There are several different ways a personal injury accident can happen on business property, including:

  • Slippery surfaces: Rain, snow, ice, spills, wet or waxed floors, etc. can cause slip and fall accidents. 
  • Faulty stairs and escalators: Broken railings, slippery steps, and mechanical failures can cause stairwell and/or escalator accidents.
  • Falling merchandise: When objects fall off shelves, it can cause injuries to employees and customers.
  • Physical obstacles: Any poorly placed electrical cords, protruding furniture, floor mats or door moldings, door stops, fallen merchandise, etc., should be taken care of immediately.
  • Inadequate lighting: Without proper lighting, hazards that would be visible, such as curbs, physical obstructions, steps, potholes, etc. can cause visitors to become injured.
  • Parking lots: Accidents can be caused by concrete car stops, potholes, misdirected cars, uneven pavement, poor signage, construction, criminal activity, etc. 
  • Sidewalks: Broken, cracked, or uneven sidewalks can cause injuries. Business owners generally do not have to tend to government-controlled sidewalks. However, they may be liable for sidewalks adjacent to their business. 
  • Food poisoning: Customers can be made sick due to poor food handling, poor storage, or the transmission of disease from employees at food-service locations. 

Contact our Firm

If you have been injured as a result of a personal injury accident and wish to speak with an attorney, contact the Law Office of Christopher T. Howell, Esq. today.