Fall at Shopping Center Store
Going out to a shopping center store is a great way to enjoy some retail therapy or to go window shopping for items whenever you want. Unfortunately, this can also be a place where you can have a slip and fall accident that can have a negative impact on your quality of life. If you have a slip and fall accident that led to injuries, you need to file an injury accident claim and work with a personal injury lawyer to make sure that you get the money you deserve for your injuries.
Slip and Fall Accidents at A Shopping Center Store
Slip and fall accidents are common at shopping center stores, especially during busy seasons. There can be plenty of reasons for a slip and fall accident here, including:
- Poorly maintained parking lot or sidewalks
- Debris or other hazards in the aisles and shopping areas, including hangars or trash
- Wet floor
- Poorly maintained flooring, such as carpeting that’s sticking up or uneven tiles
- Negligent maintenance, including poor lighting or loose railings
- Faulty escalators or stairs
- Large crowds
- Slippery or highly polished floor surfaces
- Spilled liquids or foods
These are just some of the common reasons why people have slip and fall accidents at a shopping center store. Many of these issues are more common during busy shopping hours or seasons.
Common Injuries after a Fall at Shopping Center Store
Injuries can vary, depending on the type of accident that you had. Some can be minor, while others can be severe enough to significantly impact you for the rest of your life. Some of these common injuries include:
- Soft tissue injuries, such as bruises, cuts, scrapes, and contusions
- Spinal injuries
- Neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries or head wounds
- Fractures
- Knee and leg injuries, including torn ligaments
It’s important that you seek medical attention after your slip and fall accident. Refusing medical treatment will be noted by the manager and this could ultimately hurt your case. Plus, medical treatment will offer documentation of your injuries, which can be essential during your case.
Liability for Slip and Fall at Shopping Center Store
If you have a slip and fall accident at a shopping center, the first question is who is liable for your injuries. The answer is that it depends on a few things. First of all, it will depend on where you had your accident. Did you slip and fall in a store or on the mall’s common property? If you had a slip and fall accident within a specific store, they would be the ones liable for your injury. If you were injured in the parking lot, walkways, sideways, restrooms, or other common areas, then this is the responsibility of the people who own the shopping center.
Any slip and fall accident that occurs on public property will be subject to premises liability laws. If you can prove that your injuries were caused by the negligence of the owner or their management, they may be held responsible for your accident. There are a lot of things that you need to prove in order to win your case against the shopping center. These things include:
- The defendant leased, owned, or occupied, or at least controlled the property where you had your accident.
- The defendant was actually negligent in maintaining the property or remedying an issue within a reasonable amount of time.
- You were physically and emotionally harmed by the accident
- The negligence of the defendant is what is responsible for your harm.
If you had an accident in a store, you should contact the store first and you can then do a secondary claim against the owners of the shopping center. Anywhere outside of this you will need to file a claim with the shopping center. After your accident, it can be a good idea to get the contact information from anyone who witnessed your slip and fall so that they can make a statement for your case.
Proving Your Case
After you receive medical care, you should get a personal injury lawyer involved in your case as soon as possible. One reason why this is important is that this will be very beneficial for your case. The sooner that you get help from a lawyer, the sooner you can get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. This can also help you avoid problems like running into a statute of limitations. As soon as you contact a lawyer, the lawyer will look over your case and determine whether or not you have a claim.
You do have to prove that the shopping center or store is liable for your injuries. Under the law, the owners or people in control of the property are responsible for ensuring everything is properly maintained and any issues are remedied in a timely fashion. However, it is important to know that shopping center and store owners aren’t necessarily responsible for every slip and fall accident in their store. They have a responsibility to protect customers from foreseeable hazards, but they are not responsible for fluke accidents that could not be prevented at all.
A personal injury lawyer will let you know if you have a viable claim against the defendant for your injuries, then will move forward with your claim if you have one. They will take all of the evidence that you have compiled, then perform an investigation of their own to help build an even stronger case.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
The Injury Firm is an experienced company that has had years fighting for people who were victims of a slip and fall accident. This experience helps to get you the best settlement possible for your claim. If you don’t get a fair settlement offer, the team at The Injury Firm is ready and willing to fight for you in court. Slip and fall accidents can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life, potentially causing you financial hardship depending on the severity of your injuries. If you had a slip and fall accident at a shopping center, contact us to see how we can help you. For a free case evaluation call: 954-651-0000.