When you plan an afternoon out to run errands or go shopping, you don’t usually portend any sort of danger. However, among all the personal injury claims made in the United States, shopping-related injuries are one of the most common. Accidents like slip and falls or orthopedic injuries are common shopping injuries that occur at a store due to store owner negligence. If you were recently injured on a shopping trip, it is important for you to understand the law so that you may best protect your rights to being compensated for your damages.
Continue reading to learn what you need to know about shopping- how to get started on learning your eligibility for pursuing legal action against a negligent property or store owner.
Shopping Injuries and Accident Claims
Going over budget is not the only risk shoppers take when they visit a store. Shopping accidents are a common occurrence, and they happen under all sorts of different circumstances. In the case that a store owner was negligent by not taking the proper actions to maintain a safe premises or warn consumers of any potential hazards, an injured shopper could make an accident claim against them. Shoppers are not the only ones granted this civil right; workers, staff, and guests are also protected against such negligence.
Types of Shopping-Related Injuries
Shopping-related injuries describes a broad range of personal injuries that take place in a retail establishment, such as a mall or department store. These types of accidents increase in frequency during high shopping seasons, like Black Friday, Christmas, Labor Day sales events, and Memorial Day weekend sales.
One of the most common types of shopping-related personal injury accidents is slipping. Slip and fall accidents can cause serious muscular and orthopedic injuries, both of which can have long-lasting consequences. Neck, shoulder, hip, knee, and back injuries are common traumas suffered in a slip and fall accident, while more serious injuries include spinal injuries, head injuries, and broken bones. In the most serious of cases, shopping injuries can lead to wrongful deaths.
Slip, trip, and fall accidents are not the only type of shopping related accidents seen across the country. Additional types of shopping related injuries include crushing or blunt force trauma caused by a heavy falling/tipping object, or even trampling accidents caused by overcrowding. Shoppers are often injured in parking lot accidents as well due to poor lot design, poor lighting conditions, negligent maintenance, and failure to remove snow and ice.
Liability for Shopping Injuries to Consumers
So, when is a store owner responsible for a shopping accident that causes injury? The basis of all personal injury claims is proving negligence. Under premises liability law, a store owner has a legal duty of care to ensure that their premises is reasonably safe and free of any relatively foreseeable hazards. If a store owner fails to uphold this duty by not taking the proper actions to keep their premises safe or neglects to warn shoppers of a possible on-site hazard, they can be held accountable for the victim’s damages and losses.
To be successful in a personal injury claim, an injured shopper and their legal team would need to prove that:
▷ The store owner was (or should have been) aware of the hazardous condition.
▷ The store owner failed to provide routine inspections and maintenance on the premises.
▷ The shopper would not have been injured had the premises been free of hazardous conditions.
▷ The injuries suffered by the shopper were caused by the dangerous condition.
▷ The shopper suffered damages because of the accident.
Also, you should note that an entity leasing the property, as well as companies hired to manage and maintain the property can also be potential defendants in a slip and fall case.
Your Next Step as a Shopping Accident Victim in Indiana
It is important to retain professional legal counsel right after an accident has taken place. You could be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, hospital bills, pain and suffering, lost paychecks from time off work, and much more. Be sure to choose a skilled personal injury law firm in Indiana for trusted legal advice regarding your claim.
Not sure which personal injury law firm can help you recover the maximum settlement for your shopping accident claim in Indiana? Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to speak with us about scheduling a free consultation with an experienced premises liability personal injury attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana. We represent clients throughout the state and can hold meetings via phone, internet, or in person.
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