If you’re interested in business law, you’ve probably heard this term before: negligence. It’s what all business owners need to avoid, and what attorneys have to prove in order to file an auto accident, personal injury, or injury to children lawsuit.

But what does negligence really mean, in practice? Here’s a quick guide for any small business owner.

In product manufacturing

All companies have an obligation to keep their consumers safe. Some products are inevitably dangerous (like vehicles, kitchenware, and power tools), but if those goods aren’t as safe as they possibly can be, that’s negligence. Any consumer injured by a product can sue through a product liability attorney.

Personal injury lawyers will work hard to prove negligence on the part of the manufacturer or seller whenever a malfunctioning product causes an injury. Cutting corners in production, false advertising, and unclear warnings are all examples of negligence in manufacturing.

As a small business owner, it’s important to take all possible safety measures to avoid negligence in manufacturing.

On the road

When you drive a car, you’re responsible for the other drivers on the road. This especially applies to commercial vehicles.

Drunk or impaired driving (including texting), carelessness, and driving an uninsured vehicle are all negligent acts. Business owners need to take special care that their commercial vehicle operators are never negligent on the road — that can result in serious injury and a semi-truck accident lawsuit in Northern California.

In the office or workplace

A preventable accident in the workplace that causes serious injury is never acceptable. If an employee is ever hurt while doing their job, professional legal teams will have no problem proving negligence on the part of the company or employer.

That’s why it’s so important to implement strict safety regulations and take all possible precautions in the workplace!