Shopping and routine errands are typically considered pretty uneventful activities. However, if the store has not implemented proper safety measures, a serious accident could occur. If you slipped and were injured due to the negligence of the store owner or management, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering.
Unexpected injuries can be traumatic. If you were hurt in a slip-and-fall accident, you may feel overwhelmed by the steps that must be taken to pursue a claim or lawsuit against the store. Nevertheless, the experienced and passionate legal team at Judd Shaw Injury Law can help you get the restitution you deserve.
Our attorneys have recovered over $240 million in damages for New Jersey personal injury victims. Having a dedicated personal injury lawyer on your side can ease your stress and bring you peace of mind. Our legal team can work to help you establish the facts of your case and navigate your legal options.
Contact Judd Shaw Injury Law at 1-866-909-6894 or complete our online form to get a free case review. Our personal injury attorneys have years of experience fighting for New Jersey accident victims – and with our No Fee Guarantee®, you won’t pay us anything unless you get money for your claim.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Injuries
When you enter a retail store, you have the right to expect that the space is well-maintained and free of potential hazards. Many slip-and-fall accidents occur due to the store management or staff failing to quickly remedy such problems.
Potentially dangerous conditions that can lead to a slip-and-fall include:
- Liquids spilled on store floors
- Lack of clear signs or warnings of a hazardous area or substance
- Debris and unsafe materials left in store aisles
- Fraying or loose carpeting and rugs
- Uneven or broken floor tiles
- Display racks improperly placed in aisles or walkways
- Merchandise falling from overhead shelving
- Broken or missing handrails on stairways or other passageways
- Loose or broken grab bars in restrooms
- Poor lighting conditions
- Poorly maintained or icy entrances and sidewalks
The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) states that slip-and-fall accidents account for over 1 million emergency room visits annually. Regrettably, many of these visits could be avoided if property owners and management would keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition.
If you have sustained injuries in a slip-and-fall accident in a store, you may be able to sue the store owner or management for negligence. Store cases, though, are often complicated. It is likely in your best interest to reach out to a personal injury lawyer experienced in such matters as soon as possible.
Steps to Take If You Slip and Injure Yourself in a Store
If you have slipped and hurt yourself in a store, there are steps you should take immediately. Taking these actions will help you to establish the legitimacy of your case and prove the negligence on the part of the store property owners or management.
Make sure to:
- Seek medical care right away. Even if you do not think that you are seriously injured, it is best to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a fall. You should get your injuries examined and treated. A medical exam will also serve as documentation of the accident and evidence of the extent of your injuries for when you pursue a personal injury claim later on.
- Identify what caused you to slip and fall. Proving what triggered your slip is critical to successfully pursuing your claim. It could have been wet or sticky floors, uneven flooring or some other hazard left in the walkway. Whatever it may have been, do your best to identify it.
- Take pictures and/or video of the situation and conditions. If at all possible, take pictures or recordings at the scene of the accident. Photograph the location where you slipped and fell as well as any hazardous conditions that caused your accident. Often, accidents caused by spilled liquids or other temporary conditions are quickly cleaned up or removed.
- Request security camera footage. Many stores have security surveillance cameras that may have caught your accident on tape. Such videos can provide significant supporting evidence that there were dangerous conditions that caused your fall, and that store owners or management should have been aware of them.
- Get the contact information for anyone who witnessed the accident or the resulting conditions. It is important to get the names and telephone numbers of anyone who witnessed the accident, including people who came along after the fall but can attest to the conditions following the accident. These eyewitnesses can support your story in the event that the owner or management tells a different version of events in an effort to avoid liability for your injuries.
- File an accident report. You need to alert the property owner or manager as soon as the accident happens. The store manager should fill out a formal accident report, and you should receive a copy. They may attempt to resolve the issue or make compensation on the spot. It is in your best interest to consult an attorney before agreeing to anything. Additionally, the accident report will ensure that the store cannot later claim that the incident did not occur.
- Contact a personal injury attorney. The store has someone looking after their best interests, so you need someone to look after yours. An experienced lawyer can guide you through the claims process and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
Taking these steps will help to preserve evidence and establish a stronger, more compelling case as you move forward with your personal injury claim.
Proving Negligence in a Slip and Fall Case
Retail stores have a duty of care to everyone who enters their premises. This means that the store has an obligation to do everything reasonably within their power to avoid anyone being injured while on their property.
If you slipped in a store and wish to successfully prove negligence against the store owner or management, you will need to establish the following:
- That there was a hazardous condition that existed on the store premises
- That the store owner or management knew, or should have known, that the hazardous condition existed
- That he or she failed to remedy or adequately warn of the hazardous condition
- That, as a result of not acting to correct the hazardous condition, you were injured
The premises of a store include more than the main retail space. It also includes dressing rooms, restrooms, parking lots and walkways. If you slipped and were injured due to a hazardous condition in any of these areas, you may be able to attain compensation for your damages.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney for Help
A slip-and-fall accident can be life-altering. In addition to physical pain and suffering, trying to navigate the insurance and legal system can be frustrating and exhausting. Even so, you do not have to bear this trying experience alone. The personal injury attorneys at Judd Shaw Injury Law are eager to help ease this process for you.
If you have slipped and got hurt in a store, please contact us as soon as you can. When we take on your case, our attorneys will be committed to helping you resolve it and get the amount fair for the pain and suffering you have endured.
Contact us at 1-866-909-6894 or complete our online form to get a free case review. A member of our legal team is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Working with us is risk-free, with our No Fee Guarantee®, you won’t pay us anything unless you get compensation for your claim.