Balconies and decks can be attractive features at businesses and rental properties. Tenants may pay premium prices for rental units with a deck or balcony attached. Businesses like restaurants and nightclubs can attract customers with outdoor spaces, especially if they offer a view.
However, decks and balconies are also a safety concern. Elevated outdoor spaces typically need railings to prevent people from falling. They also require regular maintenance to ensure that they can support the weight of visitors. If businesses or landlords fail to adequately maintain balconies or decks, people could end up seriously hurt.
Deck collapses can prove fatal
When a deck or balcony collapses, everyone present at the time is at risk of severe injury. The higher the elevation, the greater the risk of severe injury. The people on the balcony or deck aren’t the only ones who are vulnerable. Anyone nearby when a collapse occurs could also end up hurt. They could get struck by falling objects or people.
Businesses and landlords typically need to establish the maximum weight that a deck or balcony can support and ensure that everyone using the space knows the limits. They also need to regularly inspect the balcony or deck, especially if it is more than 10 years old. Material replacements and reinforcements may become necessary as the deck or balcony ages.
Ensuring that a balcony or deck is safe is critical for property owners and businesses. With exceptions for inclement weather and tectonic activity, most balcony and deck collapses occur due to negligent facility maintenance. They create liability for the business or property owner.
Pursuing a premises liability lawsuit successfully can help those hurt by poor facility maintenance recoup their losses. Landlords and businesses who have failed to maintain decks and balconies are likely to be held liable should a collapse occur.