Slip and Fall Shopping Injuries Are More Common Than You Think
The holidays are just around the corner and so are slip and fall shopping injuries. With the increase in pedestrians on the go combined with bad weather conditions and property owner negligence, these accidents are bound to happen at the busiest time of the year. With that said, slip and fall shopping injuries can happen any time of year and for many different reasons.
Slip and fall accidents are not limited to icy conditions in parking lots and store entrances. They can occur inside of a place of business as well when employees are not quick to clean up spills, when warning signs are not displayed spill areas, or when things are carelessly left on the floor by other shoppers and employees.
In fact, these types of injuries are more common than many people realize. There are thousands of injuries and personal claims filed around the country annually due to slip and fall shopping injuries.
Shopping Related Injury Types and Causes
Slip and fall shopping injuries are injuries that occur inside of any large or small shopping center, mall, store, or retail establishment. Injuries vary from minor to moderate and severe, depending upon the circumstances leading up to the fall, the fall itself, and the health condition of the injured party.
Injuries that commonly occur in shopping centers and retail stores include:
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Sprains
- Herniated & Bulging Discs
- Broken Bones
- Head Trauma
- Neck Injury
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Death
Death from a slip and fall is usually a result of severe head trauma or a fatal neck injury.
Common causes of slip and fall shopping injuries include:
- Wet Floors (read more about wet floors slip trips here)
- Torn or Ripped Carpeting
- Uneven Flooring
- Poor Lighting
- Escalator Malfunctions
- Store Displays
- Overcrowding
- Poorly Maintained Parking Lot
- Poorly Maintained Store Entrance
Filing a Shopping Injury Claim
Serious injuries that occur in or on store property are clearly reported right away, due to the necessity for immediate medical attention. But, if an individual has suffered a minor or moderate injury, the injury should be reported to the manager of the store immediately. The individual should then seek medical help for the injury and consult with an attorney to find out their rights and the store owners responsibility in preventing the injury.
Store owners are legally responsible for exercising reasonable care of the store’s premises to prevent shopper injuries. They are responsible for the safety of anyone that enters the property and are expected to keep the store tidy, spill-free, well-lit, secure, maintained, and to make any necessary repairs of flooring, stairways, and parking lots that could affect the safety of shoppers in a timely manner.
If an injury was due to the negligence of the store and/or its employees, the store owner may initially deny responsibility and claim the injury was due to the shopper’s carelessness. With an experienced attorney on your side when filing a shopping injury claim, you’ll have help every step of the way to fight the store owner and to prove negligence.
If you were injured while shopping due to the negligence and carelessness of a store owner or the store’s employees, contact a personal injury right away to find out if you have a case. For more details about shopping mall injuries and claims, read our shopping mall trip and fall lawsuit blog.