A Restaurant Owner’s Guide to Navigating Slip-and-Fall Liability Risks This Winter

Restaurants and bars often see a welcome uptick in foot traffic during the holiday season. But increased traffic comes with heightened insurance risk. More guests during periods of inclement weather means more opportunities for slip-and-fall incidents. Based on NEXT’s data, we see slip-and-fall incident claims increase by 25 percent during the winter months.

These accidents tend to occur in familiar trouble spots: slick entryways, icy sidewalks and poorly maintained parking lots. Holiday parties often amplify the risk, as guests tend to drink more and wear less practical footwear, factors that increase the chances of slipping on slush or tripping over wet floor mats."

Meanwhile, slip-and-fall claims are growing more expensive to settle, driven by rising medical costs and increased attorney involvement, particularly in litigious markets like New York City. 

So, how can restaurant operators protect themselves?

You can’t control the weather or a claimant’s legal tactics, but you…