Canadian Business Law Today 1st Canadian Edition By Nancy Breen Solution manual
Unknown to Elaine, a bottle of lotion had fallen onto the sidewalk and the contents had leaked onto the walkway in front of the table. As a pedestrian crossed in front of her store the floodlights came on suddenly and the pedestrian, briefly blinded by the lights, slipped on the spilled lotion. Elaine came running out of the store as a man helped the woman who had fallen to her feet. Elaine heard the woman tell the man she was okay, only a bit shaken, and that it was her own fault for not looking where she was going. The rain had spread the lotion even further on the sidewalk so Elaine quickly got a mop and cleaned up the mess. Meanwhile, the woman who had fallen limped off muttering about the bright spots floating in her eyesight.
If you were responsible for advising Elaine at the time of this accident, what risk management actions would you recommend she take? (LO 1.3)
The purpose behind this question is to encourage the students to review the potential legal fallout from the fact situation and then, having read the chapter’s material on risk management, to come up with practical steps that could be taken by the business owner at the time of the accident that would assist with any legal issues.
Some examples of actions that students might recommend are:
- have the business operator encourage the woman to come into the store, get her a chair to sit on and a glass of water to drink,
- get the woman’s name and contact information,
- call a paramedic if necessary,
- take photos of the scene in front of the store and note the time, weather conditions, light conditions,
- take a photo of any injuries the woman might have, if she consents,
- if the woman is okay after some time has passed, have her sign a release or statement to that effect,
- take names and contact information of any witnesses who may have seen the woman slip and fall.