What if Someone Is Injured on My Business Premises?

Last Updated: 

October 26, 2022

Online Business Startup

If someone is injured on your business premises, you may be liable for their injuries. Business premises liability insurance protects your company if a visitor to your business is injured and sues. It also covers other types of claims related to visitors to your business. If you own a small local business or work from home, you probably don’t think about these things too much until something goes wrong. But it’s better to be prepared and know what could happen than be caught off-guard in a bad situation. It would be best if you become informed about different risks associated with working at home or running a small business so that you can take steps towards protecting yourself against potential lawsuits.

It Would Be Best if You Had Business Premises Liability Insurance

If a visitor to your business is injured on your premises, you might be held responsible for paying their medical bills and any other losses they suffer. Your business liability insurance can help cover those costs. A standard business insurance policy usually doesn’t cover these types of accidents, so most small businesses need to get a separate policy. In most cases, this insurance policy is relatively affordable.

What Does Business Premises Liability Insurance Cover?

Business premises liability insurance provides coverage for injuries that occur on your business premises, including injuries caused by animals on your premises. Business premises liability insurance also covers property damage on your business premises. Depending on the policy type and the coverage you’ve selected, business premises liability insurance may cover a few, some, or all situations. Because the details of this type of insurance vary greatly from one policy to another, it’s a good idea to read your policy carefully to understand what it covers.

Slip and Fall Accidents Due to Unclean Premises

Business owners are expected to maintain their premises in a safe condition. If someone slips and falls on your premises and sues you for their injuries, you could be liable for those damages. In this case, business premises liability insurance may provide coverage for the lawsuit. It may also cover any medical bills or other losses the person who slipped and fell suffered. If your insurance company decides not to pay for the slip and fall accident, you may want to consult a personal injury lawyer in Pendergrass. You may be able to file a suit against the person who slipped and fell.

An Animal Owned by Your Business Injures Visitors

As with accidents caused by unclean premises, you may be held responsible if a visitor to your business is injured by one of your animals. In this case, business premises liability insurance may provide coverage for the visitor’s medical bills, as well as any other losses suffered as a result of their injuries. Sometimes, however, the insurance company may decide that you are partly or entirely to blame for the accident. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, the company may deny the full amount that the visitor is seeking in damages.

Someone is Injured Because of Faulty Property

You may be held responsible for their injuries if someone is injured on your business premises because of faulty property. Business premises liability insurance may cover these types of accidents. It may also cover any losses suffered by the injured person, such as medical bills. As well, it may cover any legal fees related to the lawsuit. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, the insurance company may deny the full amount of the claim. If so, you may want to consult an attorney. You may also want to contact your insurance company to see if you can increase the amount of coverage you have.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

Since you can’t control what other people do or how they behave, the best way to protect yourself is to be prepared. Here are a few things you can do to lower the risk of encountering a problem:

  • Hire a contractor- If you’re renovating or building on your premises, hire a contractor for the job. This will ensure that the contractor follows all necessary safety protocols and that any problems with the premises are fixed.
  • Manage your risk- Keep an eye on your visitors to ensure they stay safe. This will help you spot potential hazards and fix them before they become serious problems.
  • Keep your premises clean and tidy- Cleaning and maintaining your premises regularly will help you avoid most problems related to uncleanliness.
  • Insure your business- Protect yourself against potential risks by insuring your business.

Conclusion

Business premises liability insurance covers accidents that are not your fault. Protecting yourself against these accidents is important by purchasing the appropriate insurance. You can protect yourself further by managing your risk and keeping your premises clean and tidy. Doing this will likely reduce the risk of encountering a problem in the first place.

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