Business Owners: Snow, Ice and the Slip-and-Fall Claim

Slip-and-fall injuries are one of the most common general liability claims a business sees, and winter is when they spike. A customer slips on an icy walkway, a delivery driver falls on the loading dock, a visitor goes down in a wet entryway. Medical bills and legal costs add up fast, and a single claim can follow your account through several renewals.

If you hire someone to plow or salt

• Get a written contract. It should say when they come out (for example, at two inches of snow), what areas they cover, and that they will hold you harmless for their work.

• Get their certificate of insurance before the first storm, and make sure their general liability is active.

• Ask to be named as an additional insured on their policy, so their insurance responds first for areas they were responsible for.

• Watch for "no-liability" clauses that push all responsibility back to you. Send the contract to us before you sign.

If you handle it yourself

• Keep a simple log: date, time, what was cleared and salted, and who did it. A dated log is one of the strongest things you can have when a claim comes in.

• Put down mats inside the entrance and replace them when they are soaked.

• Fix outdoor lighting so walkways are visible early in the morning and at closing.

• Make sure anyone shoveling or salting for you is covered under your workers' compensation.

If you rent your space

Check your lease. Many leases make the tenant responsible for the sidewalk in front of the business, even when the landlord handles the parking lot. Knowing who is responsible for what avoids an argument after someone gets hurt.

If you want us to look over a snow removal contract, a lease, or your liability limits before winter, call us at 732-655-6200.