5 personal injury laws every small business owner needs to know

Friends, if you run a business, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the legalities and technicalities behind personal injury claims for business.

This is mandatory if the injuries were caused by faulty equipment or employee negligence. We'll cover some serious personal injury laws every small business owner should know. Doing so will help them comply with applicable employment laws.

5 personal injury laws every small business owner needs to know

Every business wants to keep its employees and customers safe at its facilities. By understanding these laws, you can better understand the measures you can take to increase workplace safety. This will protect you from dealing with personal injury claims that could put your business in financial straits.

1. Premises Liability Law

Everyone who steps onto your business premises, whether an invitee or a licensee, is your responsibility. It doesn't matter whether you own the facility or rent it; You have to bear full responsibility. Even trespassers have some coverage as per the premises liability law.

If you rent the property, your landlord may face lawsuits for negligence. However, keep in mind that the primary responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the business owner.

Also, some landlords may add provisions to rental contracts that oblige tenants to take full responsibility for the safety and security of the property. This means that you will have to deal with your expenses even if your landlord is sued. There can be different situations which may come under premises liability, such as:

• Equipment or objects causing harm to a person
• Guest or employee assaults another guest
• Hazardous substances from your property
• Slip and fall incidents

In short, you have to take relevant steps to prevent such situations. Failing to do so means that a personal injury lawyer can hold you liable for injuries or damages.

2. Product Liability Law

Another essential law that business owners need to be aware of is personal liability law. This holds the manufacturer liable if any injury or damage is caused by their product. The basic principle of the law is to ensure that businesses or manufacturers do not sell products that are harmful to consumers.

Still, there is a possibility that temporary accidents can happen, which could give rise to product liability claims. As a business owner, you should be aware of your right to protect yourself and your business from unreasonable expenses.

A product liability claim blames a defective product for damages or injuries. The plaintiff may allege that the defective product was the cause of the injury for a variety of reasons, such as:

• The manufacturer failed to mention the risks of using the product
• The manufacturer was aware of the dangers but did not warn consumers
• the manufacturer/distributor did not indicate that the product was not safe for use

Victims can file a claim for product liability against the manufacturer or distributors. Most states allow them to file a claim against both for responsibility for these damages or injuries.

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3. Workers' Compensation

While customers or visitors may occasionally visit your premises, the vast majority of those employees are present at the workplace. Therefore, this puts them at a higher risk than the customers of getting injured. Businesses must have a workers' compensation insurance policy.

Workers' compensation is a mandatory insurance policy that businesses must have in most states, even if they have a single employee. This insurance policy covers employee medical bills and lost wages if work-related injuries occur on business premises.

Not having workers' compensation insurance means that the business owner must pay for all of the employee's expenses. The high cost of medical treatment and lost wages can put a severe strain on a business's finances.

4. Representative Liability

Finally, vicarious liability law is also something that business owners should be aware of. Although business owners cannot injure themselves, they are still liable for the actions of their employees.

The business owner is liable if an employee injures another person at the business facility. The principle of vicarious liability is that the employer is liable for the negligent actions of the employee.

Therefore, they will be liable to pay for damages or any injuries caused by the actions of their employees. It is best to provide proper training and supervise employees to avoid vicarious liability.

5. Wrongful Death

Wrongful death also falls under a personal injury claim in which family members sue an entity for an incident related to negligence. Family members of a person who dies due to the negligence of either party can file for this claim.

For example, a business owner hires someone to perform repair work on the premises. The person may cause an accident through negligence, which may result in the death of the worker. In such cases, the family members of the employee have the right to file a wrongful death suit.

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They can file for compensation from the business owner for their pain and suffering. Plaintiffs can receive various compensations for various damages due to wrongful death claims, such as:

• Parental care and devotion
• Pain and sorrow
• Medical expenses
• Loss of consortium (the relationship between a partner and a parent)
• Loss of partner
• Funeral expenses

Final thoughts:

A clear idea of these laws will help protect your business from personal injury claims. You can take relevant measures to keep your employees, visitors and customers safe. Beyond that, it is best to consult with a personal injury attorney to learn the local municipal and state laws.