Soon, the snow will begin to melt and winter temperatures will give way to warmer weather. When you own a business, whether it's a restaurant, hair salon, florist or store, you have a responsibility to your customers during any sort of weather.
Am I Responsible?
Yes, you are responsible for damages caused to others while visiting your business or using your products. A consumer who comes to your establishment and is injured may decide to take legal action against you. It is within his right, since you must take every mean within your control to ensure that there is no danger. If a customer has an incident and informs you of the situation, be prepared to contact your insurance broker (you will have to use your liability insurance, if you have one).
Even while Leaving my Store?
In fact, if you own the parking lot, you are responsible for it just as you are for your shop. An ice patch is therefore a danger that must absolutely be treated to prevent bad falls. To avoid this type of situation, it is important to maintain your property, especially in winter.
The Parking Lot
During the winter, make sure that your parking lot is cleared of snow and especially ice. This will help you minimize the risk of your customers falling. Salt can be spread in and around high-risk areas, including those where ice is visible and those where it is not. Other incident drivers include cracked asphalt and lack of light.
In the Event of a Fall
Document the incident with as much information as possible! Photos, a description of the cause(s) and circumstance(s) will become useful when the time comes to use them. The more information you produce, the better. If you can’t come physically come to your business location to take photos, you can send an employee or a third party. Concerning the injured person, don’t forget to ask for their contact information and to do the same for the witnesses of the incident. Once these documents have been gathered, it will be easier to present them to your insurer and the lawyer who will be retained to defend you.
What Does Liability Insurance Cover?
If the fall prevents the person from working, is unable to carry out daily activities and suffers a trauma, the amount can quickly increase. That’s why choosing the right coverage is vital to the financial health of your business.
As we offer insurance that is adapted to your business, we can advise you on the best coverage specific to your case.
