Let’s begin by looking at a common scenario. A person goes shopping at the local grocery store. As she is moving through the frozen food section, she sees a caution sign indicating that the floor is wet and slippery. The shopper makes sure to be careful as she passes the sign, but she slips anyway, falls and breaks her leg.
Does the presence of the warning sign mean that she cannot file a premises liability claim to acquire compensation for her injury? In our California legal practice, we have encountered many injured victims who believe that such a sign prevents them from seeking this solution. They come to us looking for other answers and are surprised when we suggest a premises liability action.
The truth is, just because a caution sign is present does not necessarily mean the victim cannot seek a remedy under premises liability law. In our scenario from above, let’s say that the woman let her caution down after passing the sign because she thought she was no longer in danger. If the spill was so large that it extended well beyond the sign, she may still be able to file a claim.
The visibility of caution and warning signs may also be a factor in successful premises liability claims. For example, if a “caution, wet floor” sign is tucked into an out-of-the-way position and a victim falls, he or she may file a claim because the sign was not visible.
The point of this post is to encourage victims to explore the available legal remedies for their negligent injuries even when it seems as if the odds are against them. The law is always on your side when someone else’s negligence has caused you harm. Continue exploring our blog and website for further information.