If there is a spill or wet floor, you expect to see those yellow signs pop up in the store or business. But are they required by law? Many times, these establishments want to notify their customers and employees of a potential risk. If they fail to do so, it can be an issue of premises liability.
Do stores have to put out wet floor signs? The lawyers at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC have an answer for you.
Wet Floor Sign Laws
When wet floors pose a slip hazard to customers, businesses and stores use these signs to alert visitors of the risk. However, there is no specific law mandating the use of these signs.
However, commercial establishments have a legal obligation to maintain safe conditions for their visitors under premises liability laws. Under this duty of care, these establishments are responsible for alerting customers of hazardous conditions like wet floors.
Sometimes, businesses use other methods to notify customers of these slippery surfaces. For instance, some establishments use orange cones to mark wet areas or tape to cordon off wet sections. Additionally, they may have an employee stationed near the wet area to warn customers. All of these methods serve as an effective way to fulfill this duty.
If there is no warning about a wet floor, and someone slips and falls, it could lead to a slip and fall claim. These types of claims fall under the umbrella of premises liability law. For that reason, commercial establishments need to take reasonable steps to warn their customers about wet floors to avoid potential legal claims and ensure the safety of their visitors.
How Does Premises Liability Factor in These Cases?
Premises liability holds property owners responsible for maintaining safe conditions on their premises. They have a duty not to have hazards, like a wet floor, that could harm visitors. Whether it’s due to a spill, freshly mopped area, or rainwater tracked indoors, slippery surfaces pose a risk to visitors. Slips and falls are common accidents in stores and businesses.
All property owners must address any wet floors immediately and take steps to prevent slip-and-fall accidents.
If someone is injured due to a wet floor, they could seek compensation through a premises liability lawsuit.
Injuries from Slips and Falls
Slip and fall accidents stem from slippery surfaces like wet floors. They can even lead to fatalities, as the National Safety Council noted that 46,653 people in the U.S. died from falls in 2022.
Bruises, scrapes, and cuts are common occurrences in these accidents. However, there could be more severe injuries, such as wrist, arm, ankle, and hip fractures. These injuries can cause pain and limited mobility and require extensive medical attention.
Falls are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries, ranging from mild concussions to severe brain damage. Even minor head injuries should be taken seriously and evaluated by a medical professional.
Falling can impact the back and spine. Sometimes, spinal cord injuries may result in paralysis or long-term disability. Also, neck strains, whiplash, and other neck-related injuries can occur during a fall.
If you experience a slip and fall, seek medical attention promptly to assess the extent of your injuries and receive appropriate care. In cases where the business owner or employees should notify you of those dangers but did not, you may be able to pursue a legal claim.
Suing for Slip and Fall Injuries
If you slip and fall due to a wet floor, you may have legal grounds to file a lawsuit against the store. However, you and your legal team will need to demonstrate a few things.
First, you must show that the business was aware of or should have been aware of the wet floor. For example, there must be evidence that the store (or their employees) saw the spill and failed to address it.
Also, there could be proof that a wet area was present for an extended period without any action being taken. For instance, surveillance footage or eyewitness accounts can help to back up these facts.
After that, you need to prove that the store failed to provide adequate warning. Once again, a wet floor sign could come into play here. If the store didn’t use or misused any warning signs, they could be liable for your injury.
Your legal team must also demonstrate that your injury resulted from slipping on the wet surface. You will need to provide evidence that the wet floor caused your injury and not any other factors.
While a business is not required to place a wet floor sign on a slippery surface, it is required to protect customers from these risks. Failure to do so could make it liable for a premise liability lawsuit. Consulting with a skilled slip and fall lawyer can help you understand your options.
