Injuries Can Happen Anywhere
Nobody expects their visit to the store to include an injury. But the reality is that accidents of the slip or trip and fall type are particularly likely in a large retail store. People are frantically searching for clothes, inventory can be strewn around, and there may not be enough staff to spot hazards.
The chances of these types of accidents are minimal when management practices prioritize customer safety. In the event of a serious accident that has been caused by negligence on the part of an employee at the store, you should consider filing a personal injury claim against the company or specific employees working there.
Damages You Might be Entitled To
There are several components to a personal injury claim. Your attorney will advise you how much you can claim for each component and help you determine what damages you are entitled to. What you can claim may depend on the state you are claiming in.
- Punitive damages are a specific payment that may be awarded if the degree of negligence is considered excessive. The payment helps to warn the defendant and society at large that this sort of behavior is not tolerated.
- Property damage is quite easy to calculate. It is the payment to replace or repair anything material like your clothes, a broken camera, a watch, or even damage to your car in a parking lot.
- Medical costs are quantifiable and any medical receipts you collect are important as evidence. Other components that are not so easy to quantify are any future expected costs. For example, if you have suffered brain damage as a result of a fall, you may need life-long support, and the cost needs to be estimated and included.
- Any earnings that have been lost because you could not go back to a job straight away will be an important part of the claim. Like future medical costs, it is important to calculate or estimate the loss due to future lack of earnings if your injuries preclude you from ever returning to work or you lose your job.
PI Claims May be Harder to Win Than You Realize Without Professional Legal Help
A personal injury claim could be a sensible option if you are faced with mounting medical bills and are incapable of going back to your job because of an injury at a store.
However, claims can be complex and there needs to be sufficient evidence of a link between an employee’s or manager’s negligent actions and your own specific injuries. You will find that a competent and experienced personal injury attorney will be able to assess your accident circumstances and give you an honest opinion about your chances of success.
*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 Homegoods, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
