Gerald entered the rental store with hopes of renting a trailer and a large mower. His grandson was coming from out of town to help him clean up some of his property that weekend. Gerald wanted the mower to be ready. Gerald had recently sprained his ankle and was in a walking boot. He was not quite used to it yet and dragged that foot a bit. He shuffled into the store. Gerald looked around for a store employee to help him. While his eyes were occupied in this pursuit, his foot caught a corner of a rug that had folded back at some point in the day. He fell to the floor catching himself with his hands and knees. At first, Gerald thought he was OK, just embarrassed. He turned away the store employee’s offer of assistance. A few hours later, his knees and back started to hurt, and he had to seek treatment. He ended up requesting an insurance claim be opened with the rental store’s carrier. The matter is under investigation. Not every fall can be prevented, but there are steps you can take to reduce their frequency. Trips and falls can happen due to wrinkled carpeting, worn rugs, uncovered cables, obstructed views, poor lighting, clutter, uneven walking surfaces, wet, icy, or oily surfaces, lose or unanchored rugs, and other hazards.
ARA Insurance recommends that you inspect your store and property often for any potential hazards and make any needed corrections.
For more information on how to stay safe and protected at your rental business, give our insurance team a call or visit ARAinsure.com.