Falls in retail stores are fairly common. While some only cause bumps and bruises, others result in serious injuries such as broken bones, back and neck injuries, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries.
Do you know what to do in this situation? If a fall causes a serious injury to you or a family member, you will need help to get the necessary medical care and compensation. Fighting the retail establishment on your own will be difficult.
Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents can happen anywhere, but they often occur in places such as:
- Grocery stores
- Discount stores
- Warehouse and big-box stores
- Home improvement stores
- Gas stations
- Parking lots
In these types of places, shoppers may be at risk for falls caused by spills, slick surfaces, uneven surfaces, potholes, pavement cracks, objects on the ground, falling objects and torn or bunched up floor mats. Any of these issues can cause a person to fall and injure themselves.
Premises liability cases are challenging
Slip-and-fall and trip-and-fall accidents are part of an area of law called premises liability. In premises liability cases, an injury victim can sue the property owner if their negligence caused the accident. Property owners – private, commercial and public – are responsible for keeping their property safe for visitors. If an issue arises, they must fix the problem or clearly warn of the problem.
These cases, however, are rarely straightforward. Property owners and their insurance carriers will fight injury claims. In general, you must prove that the owner knew of the danger or should have known but did not take steps to address it.
Pursuing a premises liability claim on your own is difficult. The store and its insurance company will have attorneys protecting their interests. Most people need a lawyer on their side to fight for their right to compensation.
