Slipping and falling can be frightening, even though many people consider slipping and falling to be minor. The fact is that you fall on a level surface, from a height or on an uneven surface, such as stairs. This can lead to broken bones, neck or back injury or even traumatic brain injuries that could cause you to miss work and incur significant medical bills. When the fall occurs in a store, you may be concerned with who is responsible for your lost wages and medical bills. According our slip and fall attorneys, you may be eligible for a premises liability claim.
Duty to Maintain Safe Premises
When you visit a store, you are considered an invitee, which is someone who is invited onto property for business purposes. A property owner owes the highest degree of safety to invitees, taking every step available to keep them safe from dangers. They not only must repair and correct dangers as soon as they are aware of them, they must also inspect for and correct hazards where an invitee may be present. It is reasonable to expect that the owner of a store to make sure a broken tile is repaired as soon as possible. If you trip over that tile and are injured, you may be able to file a liability claim if you can demonstrate that the owner knew or should have known the broken tile existed. However, if you slip on water that was spilled by a customer, it may be more difficult to collect on a claim because the owner may not have been aware of the spill.
Common In-Store Slip and Fall Accidents
There are many ways that an accident can occur in a store that could lead you to slipping or falling. You could slip on ice or snow in the entrance that has not been cleared or trip over a floor mat. Display items may not be secured properly on shelves and can fall in front of you, causing you to trip. If the lighting is poor, you may not see a spilled drink which could lead you to slip. Regardless of the cause of your fall, the store owner has a high level of responsibility to keep his store safe so that you do not suffer an injury.
Factors Considered in Any Store Slip and Fall Accidents
There are many factors to consider after slipping and falling in a store. If the owner knew the condition existed, you may be able to file a claim against them. For example, if a customer spills a drink in the aisle and informs an associate at the store of the spill, but the spill is still there an hour later, the owner may be liable for any injury you sustain. However, if the customer spills the drink and you slip just a few seconds later, the owner may not be held responsible. You will need to prove that you were unable to avoid the unsafe condition and that you used reasonable caution to protect yourself from injury.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury after slipping and falling in a store, contact the slip and fall attorneys at Lundy Law today to see if you are eligible for a premises liability claim. You can arrange for an initial consultation by calling 1-800-Lundy Law or completing the form on our website.
