Another common commercial insurance claim is liability, as you are responsible for the safety of customers and/or clients as soon as they step foot on your commercial property. Say you own a restaurant and an employee forgot to put a “Wet Floor” sign up after mopping, causing customers to trip and fall on the way to the restroom. This is a business owner’s worst nightmare, as they could be sued if proper action were not taken to remedy the situation (or if the customer was upset enough). The same goes for business owners who have a sidewalk outside their front door — while some opt to hire a snow removal crew to clear the sidewalks in the winter, others assume the responsibility themselves. If an employee doesn’t do a thorough job of removing snow and ice from the sidewalk and a customer were to slip and fall, the business owner would be held liable for the incident.

To avoid dealing with liability claims such as these, it is best for business owners to follow health code regulations closely and keep hazardous situations under control. If something spills, clean it up immediately. If the environment is difficult to navigate and poses a danger to customers, clear the area and make sure you are complying with fire code regulations. If you experience a significant amount of snow storms (like we do in Alberta), hire a snow removal crew to keep your drive and sidewalks clear at all times. Though these steps are merely precautionary, they can save you from having to deal with liability claims down the line.