Injuries at a Retail Store

Retail store accident liability 

Retail store owners must maintain a safe environment for employees and customers. Depending on the municipality and its bylaws, store owners may be responsible for maintaining sidewalks adjacent to their building, public parking spaces, and the space inside their building. Suppose a business owner is aware of, or it’s reasonable that they should know about, a safety hazard in one of these spaces. If they don’t take steps to correct the issue, they may be liable if the safety hazard causes an accident. 

The store owner can take steps to mitigate their liability if they’re waiting for repairs. Suppose a bathroom sink leak causes water to spread over the floor. The store owner contacts their plumber, but the plumber is on another call and won’t be able to fix the pipe for a few hours. The store owner can place wet floor signs around the area, have an employee mop up the water, and caution shoppers about the safety hazard to prevent injuries. Suppose a shopper walks on the wet floor after seeing the signs warning them of a safety hazard. In that case, the store owner may not be liable for the shopper’s injuries.

Causes of retail store accident injuries

Several things can cause store accidents. Some of the common causes of store accident injuries include the following:

• Dog bites: Some stores allow pet owners and employees to bring their dogs into the store. This creates a liability issue for store owners because they may be liable if someone’s dog bites a delivery person or customer.
• Falling goods: Products can fall off damaged shelves. They may also fall if stacked too high, and someone bumps into the shelf with a motorized scooter or cart. Falling goods can cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI) if they strike a customer in the head. Boxes can also break when they fall, causing items that can pose a trip-and-fall hazard to spill on the floor.
• Fire hazards: Retail outlets must meet fire safety codes. These codes may require store owners to provide working fire extinguishers or install sprinklers. Store owners may be liable for injuries from fires if they fail to provide fire safety equipment. Store owners could also be responsible if they create fire hazards by storing flammable materials in unsafe places or block emergency exits.
• Inadequate security: Store owners may be liable for injuries from criminal acts. Suppose a store owner knows someone is attacking people in their parking lot. The store owner may be liable if they fail to increase security and warn customers of the danger. 
• Maintenance issues: When store owners fail to maintain a safe business site and lack of maintenance causes injuries, they may be liable for retail store negligence. Business owners must warn customers about property damage and take steps to complete repairs as soon as possible. 
• Wet floors: Falls send millions of people to emergency rooms each year. Wet floors can cause people to lose their balance and fall. Retail stores may deal with wet floors from product spills, leaking pipes, and overflowing toilets. Customers can also bring in water or snow when entering the building, causing water to build up at store entrances.

Retail store accident injuries 

People may suffer multiple types of injuries in retail store accidents, including the following:

• Slip-and-fall injuries: Slip-and-fall injuries can be severe and life-threatening. Common injuries from slip-and-fall accidents include broken bones and concussions.
• Spinal cord injuries: Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) vary in severity. Some SCIs cause permanent partial or total paralysis. In contrast, other SCIs may cause discomfort and limit the victim’s mobility but heal with treatment. 
• Traumatic brain injuries: TBIs include concussions and permanent brain damage. Severe TBIs may impair a person’s cognitive functions for the rest of their life. 
• Wrongful death: Severe retail store accidents can cause wrongful death if a person’s injuries are fatal. If a store owner is liable for injuries causing death, they may face a wrongful death lawsuit.

Compensation for retail store injuries 

Retail store accident victims may have grounds to sue the store owner. Determining liability can be complex, and several parties may be liable for your injuries. 

Your personal injury lawyer knows what to look for when investigating your accident. They use their legal knowledge to determine who’s liable and build your case. When you pursue a retail store accident lawsuit in Las Vegas, your attorney can seek the following damages:

• Economic damages: Economic damages are costs you can substantiate with bills, receipts, or pay stubs. You can seek reimbursement for lost wages, medical bills, transportation costs, and other expenses from your accident. In wrongful death cases, family members can seek to be reimbursed for funeral expenses.

• Non-economic damages: Non-economic damages offer accident victims compensation for how their accident affected them. Suppose you lost your spouse after a retail store accident caused their death. You could seek compensation for the loss of consortium. You can also request compensation for your pain and suffering.

How can a premises liability attorney help you after a retail store accident?

At Adam S. Kutner, Injury Attorneys, our legal team is standing by to answer your questions. We offer free consultations, so you don’t have to worry about paying legal fees before you get expert counsel. We’ll advise you of the statute of limitations for filing a premises liability lawsuit. When we take your case, we’ll ensure your case is filed before the statute expires. 

We’ll investigate your accident, gather evidence, and prepare the legal paperwork. We’ll negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company and advise you of your options every step of the way. If we can’t negotiate a fair settlement, we’ll present your case at trial. We aim to help you receive the financial compensation you deserve after your retail store accident.