Few people would ever think a visit to a store was going to end with being carried out on a stretcher, but that’s what happens from time to time. Serious injuries can become prohibitively expensive because they involve the twin burdens of medical bills and lost earnings.
Stores are responsible for the safety of anyone who visits them, but occasionally, a potential hazard is ignored. That’s when an accident might occur, leading to injuries that are not the fault of the injured. State laws allow seriously injured victims to claim compensation against the person, people, or business that is at fault.
A personal injury claim can help to recover those injury costs and is more likely to be successful if you hire an experienced accident attorney to help pursue the claim.
What Can Go Wrong in a Store?
The potential dangers in an arts and crafts store are similar to many other stores. These dangers should be noticed and minimized if there are good management practices in place. Some examples of what could go wrong are listed below.
- Shelves collapse in front of a customer, causing a trip hazard;
- The entrance to a store is slippery because snow, ice or a rainwater puddle was not removed or cleared up promptly, even though the store remains open;
- Faulty lighting makes it difficult to see what is on the ground;
- An overuse of polish makes the store’s floor too slippery;
- Cleaning material or excess water are on the floor without being mopped up or pointed out to unwary customers;
- Items being stacked on shelves were left on the floor, creating a trip hazard.
A Personal Injury Lawsuit Example
If you hold on to the handrail of a staircase in a two-floor store, but the rail suddenly breaks, you could fall down and break one of your limbs. This is potentially the sort of accident that could be blamed on the store’s management. It could be argued that they either knew that the handrail needed repairs and did nothing about it or had not inspected it for a long time.
In either case, this could be grounds for a successful claim against the store management. Conversely, if the handrail broke suddenly and there were no earlier signs of any stress in the rail, the claim may not succeed.
Making a Claim Against a Store? Find an Attorney First!
The above example is an illustration of how difficult some personal injury cases can be. The defendant and in particular, the insurance company representing the store, will do all they can to deny liability. That’s not to mention the fact that as the injured party, it can be hard to even know how to start a claim.
This is where an experienced slip and fall accident attorney can make all the difference. For a start, the attorney will be able to provide an opinion about the chances of a successful claim and then, if legal action is recommended, will be able to pursue the claim vigorously on your behalf.
*Disclaimer
The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Hobby Lobby, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
