Five Illinois Black Friday Shopping Injuries to Watch Out For

It’s only a week till Black Friday, the official kick-off of the holiday shopping season. It may seem worthwhile to brave the crowds to save $100 on a flat-screen TV or to get free slippers with your pajama purchase, but is it really a bargain if Black Friday injuries leave you owing thousands in medical bills?

Each year, news stations report on Black Friday incidents like the 2008 Wal-Mart stampede that left one man dead and caused a pregnant woman to miscarry. But these kinds of injuries are relatively rare. Most Illinois Black Friday injuries are far less exciting. Here are the top five ways that Black Friday shoppers get hurt in Gurnee:

1. Assault and Battery: Are you planning to shop for great deals at a midnight door-buster sale? Bring a friend. Thieves hang out in dark parking lots looking for potential victims who are distracted by armloads of bags and heavy shopping carts.
    
2. Slip and Fall Injuries. Stores will be overrun with shoppers and it will be hard for employees to keep the aisles clear. If it's raining or snowing, there’s an additional slip and fall danger from wet floors and icy sidewalks. Don’t let the great bargains keep you from watching where you are going.
    
3. Car Accidents: Mall parking lots aren’t just full of drivers looking for parking spots, they are also full of distracted pedestrians. Use extra care when driving and walking in parking lots during the Holiday shopping season.
    
4. Falling Objects: Extra holiday merchandise means shelves are crowded. The object you want may be stored above your head. If it falls, it could cause a head or neck injury. Don’t try to reach a heavy object. Ask for assistance.
    
5. Shopping Cart Injuries: Large or heavy objects can cause shopping carts to become unbalanced and tip. This is especially dangerous if there is a small child in the cart or walking beside it.
    

No deal is worth the price of an injury. If you are injured in an Illinois Black Friday incident, contact the personal injury attorneys at Hupy and Abraham. You may be eligible for monetary compensation for your injuries. Call 866-625-2299 to schedule a free consultation.