A new report that’s been released has found some interesting information: Many businesses in California have dangerous flooring. As these businesses create plans to keep customers and employees safe from falls, they often don’t think about the state of their flooring. Read on to learn more about the study, completed by the risk management firm CNA, and then reach out to Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 if you’ve been injured in slip and fall accident.
According to the study, as many as half of California businesses aren’t meeting minimum standards
The study found that about half of the businesses they tested had flooring that didn’t even meet the minimum friction standards accepted as necessary to prevent slip and fall accidents. In other words, any flooring that’s used for commercial purposes is required to have a DCOF (which stands for dynamic coefficient of fiction) of at least 0.42. The study also looked at insurance claims for slip and fall accidents between 2010 and 2016 and found that there was indeed a trend of frequent falls of low severity.
Some businesses pose a greater risk than others
There were two types of businesses at higher risk for slip and fall accidents than others: Retail stores and real estate businesses. About 40% of claims coming in for slip and fall accidents in those two types of businesses happened on either walking or working surface. About one-third happened on parking lots. Another 27 percent happened on a business sidewalk and fewer than one percent occurred on office flooring.
Head injuries are rare but they do happen
The study looked at head injuries related to slip and fall accidents. They found that they happen more frequently, and are more seriously, in general liability claims compared to in workers’ compensation claims. The recommendation of CNA is that companies take this report seriously and install flooring that’s anti-slip. This will lower the chance of an accident on their property.
CNA also suggests that companies test their flooring in wet conditions to find out how it holds up. They also recommend that companies only clean their floors with cleaning products made specifically for their specific type of flooring. They estimate that if business owners follow these tips, they can reduce the chance of a slip and fall by as much as 30%.
If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property then you may be eligible for compensation
Have you been injured due to damaged flooring or flooring that was slippery? Were you at someone else’s home or business when the injury took place? If so, you may have grounds to file a premises liability lawsuit. This could entitle you to recover damages for medical costs, pain and suffering, and lost income – amongst others.
To find out if you have grounds for a case, reach out to Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707. We will give you a free legal consultation and can let you know what your options are. We’ll also provide our best advice on how you can proceed. Call today to get more information.
