09/24/2026
⚠️ WHO IS RESPONSIBLE WHEN YOU FALL AT A BUSINESS?
Businesses and property owners have a responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe for customers and visitors.
But simply getting hurt at a business does not automatically mean the business is responsible.
The circumstances surrounding the fall matter.
A business may be responsible when it:
• Knew about a dangerous condition and failed to correct it.
• Should have known about the danger because it existed long enough that a reasonable inspection should have discovered it.
• Failed to fix the dangerous condition within a reasonable amount of time.
• Failed to adequately warn customers about a known hazard.
• Failed to reasonably inspect or maintain the property.
Dangerous conditions can include things like:
✔️ Wet or slippery floors�✔️ Spills in stores or restaurants�✔️ Broken or uneven flooring�✔️ Uneven sidewalks or parking lots�✔️ Poor lighting�✔️ Loose handrails or steps�✔️ Dangerous stairways�✔️ Clutter or obstacles in walkways�✔️ Poorly maintained entrances and exits
📸 WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AFTER A FALL?
Evidence can disappear quickly. A spill can be cleaned up. A broken step can be repaired. Surveillance video can be overwritten.
If you're able, take pictures and video of the exact condition that caused you to fall before it changes.
Report the incident to the business and make sure an incident report is created. Get the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed what happened. Seek appropriate medical attention and document your injuries.
Most importantly, don't assume the business will preserve the evidence simply because an accident was reported.
In premises-liability cases, what the business knew, when it knew it, and what it did about the danger can make all the difference.