New Jersey retail shoppers might not know that the risk of slipping and falling is underestimated by many companies. A study has found that while companies are liable for the injuries that may occur on their property, many do not take enough or the right precautions that can help prevent slipping and falling.
The survey, conducted by New Pig, found that even though over 10 possible locations on company properties were observed to have a higher risk of slip and fall accidents, 46 percent of respondents believed that their own properties only had between zero and 3 hazardous locations. Furthermore, given that just under half of the respondents believed they had 3 or less locations with a higher risk for accidents involving slipping and falling, most the respondents did not place floormats in any other location than entranceways.
In addition, even though 92 percent of company representatives who responded to the survey stated that they put mats down in front of their entrances, 15 percent of accidents were actually related to the mats themselves being hazardous. Mats were sometimes folded over or raised in such a way that they caused accidents. Nonetheless, mats are important for all customer walkways, not just entrances, as long as they lie flat.
People who slip and fall while shopping at a retail facility and become injured as a result might not know how to move forward from that moment. They might want to meet with an attorney who has experience with premises liability lawsuits and who could assist victims in seeking appropriate compensation for their medical bills and other losses.