A duty to inspect is a legal obligation to make reasonable checks for dangerous conditions so hazards can be found and fixed, or at least warned about, before someone gets hurt.

In practice, the scope of that duty depends on the property, the risk, and who is expected to be there. A grocery store may need regular walkthroughs for spills, while a landlord may need to check stair rails, lighting, or ice buildup. On a work site, it can include looking for exposed wiring, unstable surfaces, or equipment hazards. The standard is usually reasonableness, not perfection: the question is whether a careful owner, occupier, or business would have inspected often enough and closely enough under similar circumstances.

For an injury claim, this duty often becomes the center of a premises liability case. If a hazard existed long enough that a reasonable inspection would have caught it, that can help show negligence and notice. In Wyoming, weather can make that issue sharper. Ground blizzards, extreme wind, and repeated freeze-thaw conditions may require more attention to entrances, walkways, and parking areas, especially when conditions change quickly.

A claim can also be reduced if the injured person shares blame. Under Wyoming's comparative fault law, Wyo. Stat. § 1-1-109 (2024), recovery is barred if the injured person is 50% or more at fault.