Many slip and fall accidents take place in commercial buildings, such as grocery stores or other places of business. The business can be held responsible for your accident if one of the following is true:
The owner or an employee caused the hazard that led to the accident. If the premises owner or one of its employees spilled the substance that caused you to slip, or otherwise created an uneven or dangerous walking surface, this is an element of fault.
The owner or an employee knew about the hazard and did not correct it. If you can demonstrate that someone was aware of the dangerous condition but did not take action to repair the problem, this is a clear example of negligence.
The owner or an employee should have known about the hazardous condition. This last case is the most difficult to prove, but is a common category under which most slip and fall cases are negotiated. The standard for negligence in this area is that a reasonable person caring for the property and taking reasonable precautions would have noticed the hazard prior to the accident.