Slip & Fall tenant injured while walking on grass to dumpster

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Slip & Fall tenant injured while walking on grass to dumpster

Deanna McCormick
Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes

I found out last evening a tenant of 6 years fell taking a shortcut tot he dumpster, he went down a grassy hill and the grass was damp / wet so he slipped,  instead of walking the paved driveway, last Friday at noon.. result he broke his leg in 2 spots and needed surgery. He was kind of embarrassed about the situation.

 I'm not sure if I should report to my insurance agent.. But i'm thinking this a this point might be good idea. Tenant didn't seem like it was something he'd push..

But wonder what your thoughts are or if you've dealt with something similar..

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BreAnn Stephenson
Insurance Agent · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2010 · 90 posts · 53 votes
9y

Hi Deanna!

Glad that you seem to have a good relationship with your tenant. I would still recommend reporting the incident to your insurance agent just in case something were to arise in the future. That way they would have on record some basic details including the fact that you reported the incident in a timely manner to them... which, in some cases, can affect the ability to have coverage down the line depending upon the specific details of your policy. At this point you aren't filing a claim, simply putting them on notice that the incident occurred.

I hope that nothing comes of this though since it sounds like he was the one who took the unpaved route. Oops!

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  • BreAnn Stephenson
    Insurance Agent · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2010 · 90 posts · 53 votes
    9y

    Hi Deanna!

    Glad that you seem to have a good relationship with your tenant. I would still recommend reporting the incident to your insurance agent just in case something were to arise in the future. That way they would have on record some basic details including the fact that you reported the incident in a timely manner to them... which, in some cases, can affect the ability to have coverage down the line depending upon the specific details of your policy. At this point you aren't filing a claim, simply putting them on notice that the incident occurred.

    I hope that nothing comes of this though since it sounds like he was the one who took the unpaved route. Oops!

    2Reply
  • John Mocker
    Insurance Agent · Norwalk, CT · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    Deanna,

    BreAnn is correct, you should report it.  Depending on your Insurance policy and the State Laws that apply, you could jeopardize coverage by failing to report it.  Some policies require notification within a set time from you becoming aware of a situation that could lead to a claim.  Late reporting could allow the company to deny the loss. 

    The Medical payments coverage of your policy may apply to the loss.  It is used to pay medical bills up to a small limit ($1,000 to $5,000) normally.  It is intended to keep the small losses from becoming lawsuits.   It does not require you to be at fault. 

    If you make your agent aware of the potential loss, they may be obligated to report it by their contact with the company.   I still think it is a good idea to discuss it with the agent but I wanted to let you know that there is a possibility that they have to report it even if you chose not to. 

    1Reply
  • Jay J.
    ., OH · Member since 2015 · 361 posts · 127 votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Deanna McCormick:

    ..he went down a grassy hill and the grass was damp / wet so he slipped,  instead of walking the paved driveway, last Friday at noon.. result he broke his leg in 2 spots and needed surgery...

    Damn..  you must have some crazy hills..

    :-)

    1Reply
  • JD MartinBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
    9y

    I would probably report it and document everything while it is still fresh - take pictures of the real walkway & the shortcut, etc. Time is your biggest enemy if something does result in a claim, because memories become fuzzy real fast and evidence gets erased. Your hill might be nice and smooth, but 6 months from now there was a huge pole sticking out of the ground that was complained about for months but no one ever did anything about it. Just as an example :)

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  • Deanna McCormick
    OP
    Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    I'll take photo's this evening of the area, and I did a recap on the conversation and emailed it to myself as a incident type of report. I'll give my agent a call and give him the info. 

    Thanks ya it is crazy I tried to download a photo of the yard I took last spring but can't get it to load.. It's a gentle enough slope hill that we can use a garden tractor on to mow and go length wise so gradual grade. 

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  • Deanna McCormick
    OP
    Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    I notified my agent he said to send him a recap of the conversation with the tenant, that he would put in my file. No claim started but this would document that I complied , and if anything was questioned in the future I had a good recollection of what was originally said. So I did just what my agent advised. He basically told me the guy "wouldn't have a leg to stand on" if he tried to file a claim. 

    Thanks all for your comments.. 

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  • Tyler Ansell
    Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2015 · 293 posts · 175 votes
    9y

    I would definitely get it on record, we had a slip and fall come back 2 years later and want settlement...

    1Reply
  • Deanna McCormick
    OP
    Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    @Tyler Ansell,, yup you never know..that's why we have insurance. 

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