In a few days millions of people across the country will be hitting their local mall in an attempt to score great Black Friday deals. In the past several years, stories of trampling incidents and other shopping safety hazards have grabbed headlines. Often these stories are met with disbelief and a sense of gratitude that such incidents are rare.
But shopping injuries are more common than many people think. Sometimes those hazards are caused by a property owner's negligence, whether it's a failure to properly mark wet floors or an unstable display that could fall and hurt shoppers.
Some common examples of injuries that pose a risk to shoppers are:
- slip and fall accidents caused by wet floors, icy sidewalks, torn carpets or escalator malfunctions
- head and body injuries due to falling objects, retail display malfunctions, out-of-reach objects or other mishaps
- falls caused by shopping carts getting jammed or tipping over
- overcrowding injuries, such as trampling or getting elbowed or hit by an overzealous fellow shopper
- parking lot injuries, which can be caused by failure to remove ice or snow, or by cracked or improperly designed parking lots and sidewalks
The owners of property where these injuries occur may be held liable for any damages. Store owners are expected to exercise reasonable care to ensure the safety of their patrons. Later this week we'll talk about stores' legal responsibilities and the elements of a successful premises liability claim.
If you or a loved one has sustained an injury due to a property owner's negligence, consider speaking with a personal injury attorney with experience in premises liability matters. They can help you review your case and pursue any appropriate compensation for your injuries.
Source: Findlaw.com, "Shopping Injuries Overview"
To learn more about premises liability claims, please visit our website.
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