Businesses earn millions, sometimes billions, of dollars from customers purchasing their goods and services. But, to facilitate those purchases, business owners have a duty to keep their businesses safe. Unfortunately, business owners sometimes put profits over people. They fail to quickly clean up spills, pay to have ice and snow removed from sidewalks and parking lots, among many other issues. When they fail to keep their customers safe, serious injuries often result, and those injured customers have recourse through a premises liability lawsuit.

For an injured customer to win this type of lawsuit, the customer must prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence. This means that it is more likely than not that the business owner is liable.

To do this, the customer must show that they have damages (injuries, losses, etc.). Next, they must demonstrate that the business owner actually knew (or reasonably should have knew) about the danger, and that the owner failed to use reasonable care to protect the customer from that danger. Finally, the customer must show that it was this failure by the business owner that caused the customer’s damages.

If this were not complicated enough, there are several affirmative defenses that business owners can use to avoid liability. This means that, even if the injured customer proves their case, the business owner will nonetheless not be held responsible.

Those injured by a business’s negligence by failing to keep their businesses safe have recourse. Premises liability lawsuits can hold these business owners accountable and get victims the compensation they need to put their lives back on track.