{"id":2214,"date":"2023-11-01T22:03:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T22:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wolflawpllc.com\/?p=2214"},"modified":"2024-02-13T16:55:02","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T16:55:02","slug":"wet-sign-required","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wolflawpllc.com\/blog\/premises-liability\/wet-sign-required\/","title":{"rendered":"Wet Sign and Store Caution Signs Required by Texas Law"},"content":{"rendered":"

Texas law does not specify any particular type of warning \u2013 such as a wet sign \u2013 as necessary for a store to use to warn customers of a wet floor.\u00a0 What the law does require is that stores keep their premises free of unreasonable risks.<\/p>\n

Reasonable Care for Premises Liability Exposure<\/h2>\n

Stores and other business establishments owe their customers certain legal duties<\/strong><\/em>. Persons who go to a store are considered invitees of the business<\/a>. The owner or operator of the store has a duty to warn invitees of any concealed dangerous conditions that are actually known or could be discovered after reasonable inspection. A store also has a duty to keep its premises reasonably safe so customers will not be injured while shopping. Stores must take reasonable care<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 to reduce or eliminate the risk of harm that an average person would consider appropriate.<\/p>\n

A store has a duty to keep its premises reasonably safe so customers will not be injured while shopping.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Warning persons about hazards on the premises is recognized as reasonable care, as long the warning is sufficient to prevent harm<\/em>. As a practical matter, stores often use bright yellow signs that say \u2018wet floor\u2019 or \u2018caution\u2019. They may even include a picture of someone slipping and falling so people are aware of the particular type of risk posed by the danger. But when is a store liable for a customer injury<\/a>? Does displaying a wet sign absolutely absolve a store from liability if someone slips and falls on a wet floor? The answer depends on the facts and circumstances surrounding the premises liability accident.<\/p>\n

When Wet Signs or Store Caution Signs are Not Sufficient Warning<\/h2>\n

A warning sufficient to protect a property owner or operator from liability for injuries sustained by customers communicates enough information so that the person who sees it understands the risk and can make an intelligent decision about their personal safety.<\/p>\n

A wet sign must be clearly visible and able to be perceived in time for the person nearing the danger to avoid it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A wet sign must be clearly visible and able to be perceived in time for the person nearing the danger to avoid it. It must be appropriate for the danger warned of and not misleading. The following are instances where a wet sign or other store caution sign may not<\/em><\/strong> be considered adequate to prevent liability for injuries:<\/p>\n