Your Responsibility to Protect Customers and Social Guests During the Holidays

By Thomas Greer | January 26, 2015

As the holidays rapidly approach, many people neglect to focus on the duty owed to their customers and social guests. However, in Tennessee, a business owner or host owes a duty to warn customers or social guests of dangerous conditions that the person knows or should know of. Many people decorate their homes and businesses during the holiday season. However, many of these activities and decorations could present harm to a host’s social guests or a business owners’ customers. Below are examples of some seemingly harmless decorations and activities that could prove fatal if not properly installed and cared for:

  • Christmas Trees:  While many people enjoy the tradition of a decorated live Christmas tree in their home or business, a neglected tree could be deadly.  Improperly cared for Christmas Trees account for hundreds of fires a year.  If the tree is not watered properly, it becomes dry and highly susceptible to catching on fire.  It is important that a business or home owner water the tree regularly and remove any portion of the tree that appears dry or dead.  It is also important to not place the tree near a heat source.  Placing a tree too close to a heat source, like a fireplace, will cause the tree to dry out quicker, and increase the chance of catching on fire.
  • Holiday Lights:  Many home and business owners enjoy lighting up their property with thousands of lights during the holiday season.  However, owners’ failure to pay attention to the condition of their lights could result in serious injuries to customers or social guests.  Lights are usually reused each year.  As a result of this reuse, lights can get frayed wires, broken sockets, and excessive wear and tear.  Additionally, some owners tend to overload electrical outlets with the lights.  Be sure to check to see if the wires are warm to the touch.  If they are, the lights should be immediately unplugged.
  • Holiday Decorations:  When a home or business owner is deciding on what holiday decorations to put up, it is important to consider fire hazards and whether the decoration obstructs a customer or social guests’ path.  It is important that business owners and hosts only use nonflammable decorations and trees to ensure all customers and social guests remain safe.  Additionally, make sure the decorations are clear of any exit or entryways and that the decorations are safe for guests and customers to walk near and be around.
  • Candles:  With the increase of technology, the danger of candles can be completely eliminated.  Many retailers offer electronic candles that look and smell like regular candles, but are instead flameless and battery-operated.  However, if these are not an option, make sure to use a stable candle holder and to keep the candles away from anything that could fall into the flame and catch fire.  Also, be sure to keep candles no where near a live Christmas tree.  The most important safety tip regarding candles is that you should never leave a room or fall asleep with a candle burning.

As you enjoy your holiday season, make sure that your customers and social guests are protected against injuries by following the above tips. These are not just good ideas, these are your duties as a host or business owner in Tennessee.

If you have been injured as the result of a business or property owners’ neglect, you may be able to obtain payment for your injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other injury related expenses. Contact a Memphis personal injury lawyer today at Bailey & Greer at 901-680-9777 to help get you on the road to recovery.

Posted in Library, Premises Liability