June 29, 2023 | Reading Time: 6 min Customers go to stores to pick up essentials, shop for gifts, and buy groceries. However, they could unexpectedly suffer a slip and fall accident due to walking hazards in the store, like wet or slippery floors, loose floor tiles, or wires splayed across the floor. These walking hazards can cause a person to lose their balance and fall, colliding with the hard ground.
Slip and falls that happen in stores can result in severe injuries like shoulder injuries, back and neck injuries, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Slip and fall accident victims can experience significant economic and non-economic damages, such as medical bills, lost earning potential, and loss of enjoyment of life.
They can pursue compensation for damages by filing a slip and fall accident with the property owner, property manager, or an employee for their negligence that caused the slip and fall accident.
Causes of Slip and Falls That Happen in Stores
A slip and fall accident occurs when an unexpected walking hazard causes someone to fall to the ground, suffering an injury from the harmful impact with the hard floor. This type of personal injury accident can happen in multiple locations, such as a sidewalk, private home, restaurant, or workplace.
Stores are one of the most common locations where slip and fall accidents occur. Customers flock to stores to buy food, everyday items, and material possessions. Large crowds can create walking hazards by causing damage to floors, knocking things over, or causing water spills. The hustle and bustle of a busy store can lead to people not paying close enough attention to where they are walking, causing them to miss a walking hazard that can result in a slip and fall accident.
The following are some store walking hazards that can cause a slip and fall accident:
- Wet floors from food and liquid spills
- Merchandise on the floor that fell from shelves
- Wires running across the floor
- Loose or broken floor tiles
- Torn carpets
- Winter conditions like snow or ice outside of the store
- Parking lot potholes
- Broken or missing steps
- Poor lighting
Common Slip and Fall Accident Injuries
Falling to the ground can result in slip and fall accident victims suffering serious, life-altering injuries. Most stores have hard linoleum floors that provide no cushion for someone who falls down. A slip and fall accident in a store can expose a victim’s muscles, tendons, ligaments, vertebrae, and bone to harm, leading to severe physical injuries.
The following are some common slip and fall accident injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Bone fractures
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Broken tail bone
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee injuries
- Facial injuries
- Internal injuries
Slip and fall accident victims can suffer damages that can affect their physical health, finances, and quality of life, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. They can pursue compensation for these damages by filing a slip and fall accident claim with the at-fault party.
Property Owners Liable for Slip and Fall Accidents at Stores
Before filing a slip and fall accident claim, the victim must determine which party’s negligence caused the accident. In most cases, the property owner is held liable for damages in a slip and fall accident claim because they own the property and are responsible for ensuring it’s safe.
If there is a walking hazard at a store, the property owner must ensure the walking hazard is fixed to prevent victims from suffering slip and fall accidents. Failing to do so can leave them liable for damages in a slip and fall accident claim.
Property managers who run stores on a daily basis can also share liability for similar reasons. They are in charge of the store’s daily operation and should instruct employees to fix walking hazards that can expose customers to harm. If a preventable walking hazard is left unfixed, the property manager could share liability for damages.
Slip and Fall Accidents at Stores Caused by Employee Negligence
Employee negligence can also cause store slip and fall accidents. They can make mistakes, such as spilling water, knocking over merchandise, or leaving objects on the floor, which can cause slip and fall accidents. If they make one of these mistakes and fail to fix it, they can be held liable for damages in a slip and fall accident.
They can also share liability if they do not fix an issue their property owner or manager requests them to fix. For example, a property manager may ask an employee to mop a wet floor sign to ensure no one slips on an ice spill. Employees who fail to do so can share liability in a slip and fall accident claim.
Why Should You Hire a Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer?
After a slip and fall accident, a victim can file a slip and fall accident claim to pursue compensation for damages. However, this process can be complex for victims to handle alone. They do not have experience handling slip and fall accident claims and can make mistakes affecting their ability to recover fair compensation.
Their best chance of getting the most money possible to pay for their damages is to hire a slip and fall accident lawyer. They will know how to handle each step of the process effectively and can ensure mistakes cannot harm your settlement value. An experienced slip and fall accident lawyer can file the proper paperwork, gather evidence to prove the at-fault party’s liability, and negotiate a fair settlement with their insurance company.
Contact Cellino Law for Help With Your Slip and Fall Accident Claim
The slip and fall accident lawyers at Cellino Law have experience helping victims of slip and fall accidents at stores like Big Lots, Bath & Body Works, and Aeropostale. If a property manager, property manager, or employee fails to fix a walking hazard that causes a slip and fall, you could file a slip and fall accident claim to pursue compensatory damages. Our slip and fall accident lawyers can help assess your damages, determine the liable party, negotiate a fair settlement, and represent you in court. Contact Cellino Law today for a free slip and fall accident case evaluation by calling us at 888-888-8888 or leaving a message on our online contact page.
Content checked by the personal injury attorney Ross Cellino. As a family man and a trial attorney, I pride myself on winning cases and serving the community. With over 35 years of experience, I understand the function of a jury, how juries arrive at conclusions, and the role that the jury plays in administering justice. I know how to win cases. You can find us in Manhattan, Buffalo, Melville, Rochester, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens and other locations throughout New York.