Keeping their premises safe is not something even the famous can neglect. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper is being named in a lawsuit filed by a New York interior designer, who claims that she fell through a hole in the floor of his new home.
The designer, Killeen O’Brien, says the accident occurred in the anchor’s newly purchased house, which used to be a fire house. The fireman’s pole had been removed, but the hole remained uncovered. O’Brien says she fell though the hole, a fall of close to 17 feet. She is naming Cooper, as well as Cary Tamarkin, who is the developer of the property, in the lawsuit.
A 17 feet fall is no laughing matter. Injuries sustained in a fall this high can be serious, or as O’ Brien’s lawsuit says, even fatal. Injuries in such falls range from broken bones, head/brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and even death.
You don’t expect to trip, slip and fall in someone else’s property. Property owners are required to keep the premises safe and well maintained to prevent injuries and accidents. Keeping a property safe doesn’t mean that a visitor or guest is not expected to exercise reasonable care for themselves on the premises. However, it does mean that the property owner must take reasonable care to safeguard the property.
Here are a few things you can do to avoid coming up against an Atlanta premises liability lawyer.
- Make sure that walking surfaces are slip resistant and free of obstructions. For instance, shopping aisles must be from free of cartons and boxes lying unattended on the floor.
- Make sure that walking surfaces are free of grease and water spills. If you’re a retailer, must make sure than any accidental spills are cleaned up as quickly as possible.
- Provide firm and strong handrails and guardrails for support.
- Waking areas must be well illuminated
- Stairways must be well it.
- Care must be taken to stack merchandise safely to avoid these falling on top of shoppers.
- Snow and ice must be removed from the steps and front of buildings or commercial premises.
