Damage Control When it comes to protecting customers, you'd better cover all your bases.

When a customer falls on the ice in your parking lot, you knowyou may be liable for his or her injuries. The same goes forsomeone hurt when precariously stacked boxes tumble over or forsomeone who breaks an ankle because no one warned him or her aboutthe slippery floor. The law expects businesses to correct any knownhazards or warn customers about them. But what if one of yourcustomers is injured in a fight with another customer? What if acrime occurs in your business's parking lot? Your potentialliability in these cases may surprise you.

Steven C. Bahls, dean of Capital University Law School inColumbus, Ohio, teaches entrepreneurship law. Freelance writer JaneEaster Bahls specializes in business and legal topics.