.png)
Whether you go in to a store to pick up a specific item or for a little “retail therapy,” you never expect to leave the store injured. Yet stores are common places for slip and fall accidents to occur.
If you’ve been hurt, then it is important to know about the potential causes of slip and fall accidents in stores, it is essential to understand who may be liable for your injuries, and it is vital to take action quickly to make sure that your rights and potential recovery are protected.
How Slip and Fall Accidents Happen in Stores
Some of the common causes for a slip and fall in a retail setting are…
- Wet floors. Many retail stores have a large square footage of floor covered in tile. When these tile floors are wet they become very slippery. When the wet floors are not properly marked with warning signs or dried immediately, the slick surface has the potential to become dangerous for shoppers.
- Ripped carpets. Retail stores that sell clothing often have the floor covered in carpet. Carpet can become frayed, torn, ripped, or lifted up at the edge. This defective carpeting can trip customers, causing them to fall and become injured.
- Low lighting. It is the store’s responsibility to supply adequate lighting for their patrons. Having insufficient lighting makes it hard to see obstructions and wet floors.
- Cluttered walkways. If there are boxes or debris in walkways then customers may trip and fall.
Some of the common injuries associated with retail slip and fall include…
- Broken bones. Falling on hard surfaces such as concrete or tile can cause severe trauma to the body. Often this leads to fractured bones and related muscle and joint injuries.
- Head injuries. Slip and fall injuries may cause head traumas. Falling on the head can cause serious brain injuries such as a concussion, a coma, or amnesia.
- Facial, dental and eye injuries. A fall could result in a serious, disfiguring, and permanent injury to the teeth, mouth, eyes, or face.
If you’ve suffered an injury then you may have the right to recover damages.
But First You Need to Know Who Is Liable and What to Do Next
When a property owner or store manager knows of a hazard for customers and fails to take care of it or warn customers about it—or even when the person in charge should have known of the defect—the store may be responsible for seeing that you are compensated for any injuries.
If you have been involved in a slip and fall, you need the counsel of an experienced slip and fall lawyer. Do not talk to the store owner or the insurance company before consulting with an attorney who can advise you of your rights and help you protect your recovery. To learn more, please start a live chat with us now and find out how you can schedule your own, free consultation.
