Businesses in Chicago have a responsibility to keep their employees safe while at work, and laws such as workers’ compensation are in place to protect employees who are injured on the job. Such companies also have a duty to ensure customers are safe while shopping or otherwise visiting their establishments. While some accidents may be just a freak occurrence, there are other times when those in charge fail to act reasonably and injuries happen as a result. Such negligence can make a company liable for injuries and property damage that occur to the customer.
While you are shopping and visiting businesses, you should always take the lead on your own safety. It is important to watch where you are walking, be aware of your surroundings, and be aware of what other people around you are doing. Businesses have a responsibility however, to provide you with a safe and secure shopping experience.
Slip and fall injuries are among the most common that shoppers may experience at a business establishment. These are often caused by wet floors, which during the winter months can frequently occur due to snow and water being tracked into a business on people’s boots and shoes. Businesses need to make a reasonable effort to offset these conditions by using appropriate mats at entrances and through regular mopping. Stairs and sidewalks outside a business need to be well-lit, especially at night, and should be kept free of snow and ice to ensure safe passage. Many cities including Chicago, have specific ordinances that relate to the shoveling of snow.
Large cargo and merchandise needs to be properly stored. Many businesses keep heavy objects on top of shelves, and these need to be stored in a way that ensures they cannot fall onto customers. It is up to the business to make sure that shelves and displays are secure and free from damage or defects, and to train employees to properly store items and make sure they cannot fall. If employees in a store use ladders, forklifts and other machinery on the sales floor, then it is very important that proper safety procedures are followed to keep these machines away from customers.
If proper steps are not taken to avoid injuries, and injury or death occurs, then the property owner or business may be liable under the law. Determining negligence and liability can be quite complicated, which is why you need an experienced Chicago slip and fall injury lawyer on your side. Call Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC today if you or someone you love has been injured while shopping at (312) 243-9922.
