Nevada Wet Floor Sign Law

Slip and fall accidents from wet floors can lead to serious injuries. Unfortunately, these types of incidents are all too common on commercial properties. Property owners have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. However, there are instances where slippery floors are unavoidable, for instance if they have been recently waxed. If there are wet floor signs in place when you fall, you may be wondering if the property owner can still be held liable. 

What is Nevada’s Wet Floor Sign Law?

Nevada has set clear guidelines that business owners must adhere to when it comes to wet floor signs, under what is referred to as premises liability. In order to avoid responsibility for a slip and fall accident, a premises owner must warn others of the wet or slippery floor if they are unable to immediately fix the issue. Otherwise, they may be held accountable for injuries that occur due to a dangerous condition they knew about or should have known about. 

Duties of Nevada Property Owners

Of all types of property owners, businesses owe the highest duty of care to their patrons, meaning their premises must be kept reasonably safe from dangers. That involves: 

• Inspecting the premises to discover potentially dangerous conditions of which the owner/occupier does not have actual knowledge; and,
• Taking reasonable precautions to protect invitees from foreseeable dangers. This may include performing proper maintenance, blocking off a dangerous area, or posting warning signs of any hazards. 

Wet floors are a foreseeable danger, which is why companies use a wet floor sign to give warning. 

The Sign Alone May Not Be Enough

The presence of a wet floor sign does not necessarily exhaust a property owner’s obligations toward the public. There are many factors that an insurer or jury will consider before determining an owner’s degree of fault in a slip and fall accident. For example: 

• How long was the floor wet before the owner went to get the sign?  
• How long did it take the owner to get the sign?  (Did he or she immediately return or conduct some other type business prior to placing the sign)
• Could the owner have had an employee warning patrons of the slippery floor until the sign was set up?  
• If it was raining, was there a mat available? 
• How long had the sign been there without the spill being cleaned up? 
• Could it be reasonably expected that customers may try to walk across the wet floor? 
• Was the sign noticeable? Was the facility poorly lit? 

These are only a few of the questions that may be considered when deciding whether a wet floor sign would have or did make a difference. Depending on the circumstances, a jury will be who determines if the business owner acted reasonably. If an owner is found liable, a slip and fall claim can include compensation for your medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.  

Speak to a Las Vegas Attorney

Seek medical treatment promptly after suffering an injury from a slip and fall accident. Then contact Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers as soon as possible, to consult with an experienced slip and fall attorney. That way, you will make sure your rights are protected and the evidence in your case is collected before it disappears. Our Las Vegas office can be reached online through our contact form.