It easy to suffer an injury while shopping, especially if the company has not properly maintained the premises to ensure customer safety. If you suffered an injury while shopping at Walmart, or any other store, you might be able to file a personal injury claim against the multinational retailer.
The Debilitating Slip and Fall**
A Florida Consumer was in her 30s in July 1996 when she was shopping at the Hallandale Walmart in Florida and was walking along the soap aisle when she slipped and fell on body shampoo that had been spilled in the floor. When she fell, she went backward and hit her head on a shelf. During the fall, she twisted two vertebrae in her neck and her head became locked toward the right.
The plaintiff had to undergo four surgeries, including a spinal fusion, and was unable to work for 33 months. The court ruled in plaintiff's favor and awarded a judgment totaling $1.3 million.
The plaintiff's personal injury attorneys argued that Walmart was negligent by not cleaning up the spill before an accident happened.
Eight Walmart employees testified in court, and the testimony varied from one employee to another so a clear picture of what happened was not clearly painted, according to the personal injury attorneys. According to Biz Journals, one Walmart employee claimed to have seen shower caps in the floor in the vicinity of where the body shampoo was spilled but none of the other employees saw them there.
The Severity of the Injuries
The judgment was a significant amount, but that pivoted on the severity of the injuries. The plaintiff had to undergo four surgical procedures and was out of work for almost three years. She will wear a bite plate 22 hours a day for the rest of her life and will suffer from TMJ continuously.
The judgment was based on the long-term impact that the accident will have on the plaintiff as well as the pain and suffering, ongoing medical expenses, and loss of wages she experienced.
The accident was life-altering for the plaintiff and her condition would likely be an ongoing, chronic condition.
Consult with a Personal Injury Attorney
While you may be able to collect all the necessary documents and file the right paperwork, a personal injury case is still a complicated process that often requires legal help. Many cases go to court or may require arbitration, which are two things that an experienced, effective personal injury attorney can easily handle, but a regular person may find challenging due to lack of experience.
If you were hurt at Walmart, or any other store, and it appears to you that they were negligent, you may want to seek out an experienced personal injury attorney.
**Case Taken From Bizjournals: bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/1999/06/14/newscolumn5.html
*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 Walmart Stores, or another party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
