Hobbsr: When to Sue a Business for Negligence

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

When to Sue a Business for Negligence

Businesses that open their doors to the public also open themselves up to lawsuits. The law places a great deal of responsibility on stores, shops, and small business owners to provide a safe environment, as well as safe products, to their customers, and when a business fails to meet that responsibility, it could be liable for any injuries that occur.

Here are three common types of business negligence, and when you can sue:

Bad Food

Liability for restaurants and other food vendors primarily centers on the food itself, and businesses in the food and beverage industry can be held responsible for food poisoning and food contamination. The difficulty with some food poisoning lawsuits is proving that you're sick due to food contamination and that it was a particular restaurant's food that made you sick. Therefore, suing a restaurant for negligence after food poisoning generally happens when many customers have been sickened.

Bad Floors

All businesses are also responsible for maintaining clean and safe space for customers. Slippery floors or bathrooms, unlit hallways, or crowded shopping areas can all be hazards to patrons, and the business owners can be liable for a slip and fall on their premises. Additionally, businesses may also be responsible for injuries outside of their stores as well. If the store owners or employees knew about a dangerous condition on the premises and failed to fix or clean it, they could be sued for negligence.

Bad Folks

All businesses are responsible for hiring, training, and supervising their employees, and can be held accountable for the negligent acts of their staff if they occur within the scope of employment. And some businesses could also be responsible for the acts of their customers. Bars, restaurants, and other businesses that serve alcohol can be liable if they over-serve patrons and it results in injuries.

The best way to know if you can file a negligence lawsuit against a business is to consult with an experienced consumer injury attorney. Many are happy to talk about your case for free.

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