Liability Prevention Tips
Loss prevention specialists warn that many public and private properties are crawling with potential liabilities. Slippery floors, dimly lit areas and broken locks contribute to the billions of dollars paid in civil judgments every year to employees, customers and tenants. Mitigating these risks starts with recognizing hazards and then taking responsibility to fix them. Correcting those problems protects your employees, customers and family members while minimizing your financial obligations. Insurance carriers often work with business and home owners in furnishing liability prevention tips.
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Falls
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Falls represent one of the greatest liabilities to any business owner. A customer who is hurt in a fall typically receives a $60,000 to $100,000 claim settlement, according to the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. website that references research by the National Floor Safety Institute. A business owner should inspect her property daily for any torn carpet, poor lighting or other hazards. She also should place warning signs near known risks, immediately remedy those dangers and document those improvements.
Dogs
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Average settlement for a dog bite victim in 2007 was $24,511, according to the American Family Insurance website. Nearly 80 percent of people who are bitten by dogs know the animal. Avoid playing aggressive games with your canine, and always consult a professional trainer if your dog growls or nips at people. Aggressive behavior indicates the dog requires socialization coaching. Never leave your dog alone with children, because animals sometimes exert dominance toward smaller people.
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Attractions
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A homeowner is responsible if a child sneaks into a backyard pool and drowns, according to the Legal Zoom website. Civil courts consider pools to be attractive nuisances that naturally entice children. The owner must demonstrate that he took special precautions to reduce any harm to children, even if those kids are guilty of trespassing. Two liability prevention tips for pools are erecting a fence around the swimming area and installing a locked cover.
Landlords
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An apartment owner should develop a security plan to ensure tenants' safety, crime prevention specialist Chris E. McGoey writes on the Crime Doctor website. Jurors often side with renters whose units are burglarized because landlords rarely demonstrate that they took any reasonable preventive measures to protect their occupants. McGoey suggests a landlord ask each renter to test each lock before moving into the apartment and then ask each tenant to sign a statement that the locks work. Installation of deadbolts also thwarts criminals as well as costly litigation.
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References
- Nationwide: Slip and Fall Accidents Are No Laughing Matter
- American Family Insurance: Beware of Dog Bites: Tips to Keep You and Your Children Safe
- Legal Zoom; Attractive Nuisances: How to Avoid Liability for Dangerously Tempting Objects; Ann MacDonald
- Crime Doctor; Premises Liability: Apartment Landlords Can Defend Lawsuits; Chris E. McGoey
- Photo Credit Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
