Slip and fall accidents can happen in unexpected places, even inside the double doors of a business. These incidents can lead to painful injuries, mounting medical bills, and questions about legal responsibility.

If you slip and fall inside a business because of tracked-in melted snow, ice, or rain, you might be able to sue, but you need to know what the law says about the business owners’ responsibilities. For a clearer understanding of your case, consult an experienced Michigan slip and fall injury lawyer at Fieger Law.

How a Slip and Fall Can Happen Inside a Business with Double Doors

Slip and fall accidents can occur in the entryways of commercial buildings due to several contributing factors, such as:

  • Snow accumulation. During snowy weather, customers and employees entering the building may bring in snow on their shoes and clothing. The snow, once inside, melts and can result in hazardous, slick areas on the floor.
  • Inadequate maintenance. Failure by business owners to address melted snow, such as neglecting to place floor mats or mop up excess moisture, can increase the risk of slip and fall accidents.
  • Lack of warning signs. If a business owner fails to place warning signs alerting patrons to slippery conditions, they may be liable if someone slips and gets injured.

If a business owner’s negligence leads to your slip and fall accident, you could be entitled to compensation. Contact Fieger Law to understand your legal rights and pursue a claim.

Common Injuries from a Slip and Fall Inside a Business Lobby

Slipping and falling on melted snow inside a business’s double doors or lobby can lead to various injuries, with the most frequent being:

  • Sprains and strains. These happen when muscles or ligaments are torn or stretched during the fall. Victims may experience pain, swelling, and limited mobility in the affected area.
  • The impact of the fall can cause bones to break. Fractures can range from minor hairline cracks to more severe breaks requiring surgery. Broken bones can lead to excruciating pain, the need for immobilization through casts or splints, and potential long-term complications.
  • Back and neck injuries. Slip and falls can result in injuries to the back and neck, such as herniated discs, whiplash, or damage to the spinal cord. These injuries can be debilitating, causing chronic pain, limited mobility, and even paralysis.
  • Head injuries, including concussions. If a victim’s head makes contact with the ground during the fall, it can lead to concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Even a mild concussion can have lasting cognitive and neurological effects, affecting memory, mood, and daily functioning.
  • Soft tissue injuries. Slips and falls can cause soft tissue injuries, such as contusions, lacerations, and abrasions. These injuries can result in signiciant pain, bruising, and the potential for infection if not properly treated, in cases where the skin is broken.

If you’ve sustained severe injuries from a slip and fall caused by a business owner’s failure to manage slippery conditions in their entryway, contact a slip and fall attorney at Fieger Law. Our team will evaluate the extent of your injuries and assist you in pursuing the compensation you deserve.

What Are Business Owners’ Responsibility to Customers?

Business proprietors are legally bound to keep their property safe for customers and other visitors. They are required under premises liability law to carry out duties that include:

  • Regular inspections. Regularly inspect their premises to identify and rectify potential hazards, such as slippery floors due to melted snow that could lead to slips.
  • Warning signs. If an immediate remedy to a dangerous situation isn’t possible, business owners are required to display warning signs. These signs are necessary to alert customers to potential dangers, such as slippery surfaces.
  • Reasonable care. Business owners must take appropriate actions like removing salt melt buildup or mopping wet entranceways to keep customers and employees safe.

A slip and fall injury lawyer from Fieger Law can help if you have suffered an injury from a failure of a business owner to ensure their floors are safe to walk on. We can investigate your claim to help prove negligence and win you a fair settlement.

Can You Sue for a Slip and Fall Inside a Business’s Lobby in Michigan?

In Michigan, you have the right to pursue legal action if you slip and fall in a business’s double doors or lobby, provided specific conditions are met. To establish a case, you must demonstrate:

  • Duty of care. The business owner had a legal obligation to ensure the safety of their building.
  • Breach of duty. The business owner failed to uphold their duty of care, such as by not removing tracked in snow or water that could cause a slip and fall accident.
  • That breach of duty directly caused the accident and your injuries.
  • You suffered actual harm as a result of the slip and fall, such as physical injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

On July 28, 2023, Michigan overturned its open and obvious doctrine, which previously shielded business owners from liability if a visible hazard could have been avoided by the injury victim. Under the old rule, proving owner negligence was challenging when the danger was apparent to a reasonable person, which sometimes included wet floors.

Under the new interpretation, if a business owner should have foreseen a hazard that could lead to an injury, they may still be held liable. After a slip and fall on a commercial property, contact our skilled attorneys at Fieger Law. We can help you seek fair compensation under Michigan’s recent changes for slip and fall cases.

Win Compensation with Fieger Law

Slipping and falling on melted snow inside the double doors or lobby of a building can result in severe injuries. It’s the duty of business owners to keep their premises safe, and neglecting this can provide you with a legitimate basis for a lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries.

 

Contact Fieger Law for a free consultation to discuss your case. With extensive experience in premises liability law, our team can help you build a strong claim and win the compensation you deserve.