Shopping injuries can happen anywhere from a grocery store to a mechanic shop. Have you ever seen a puddle of water on the floor of a grocery store? Have you ever slipped on a grape in the produce section of a grocery store? These are all too common situations in which shopping injuries occur when patrons visit the local store. Unfortunately, every year hundreds of shoppers are badly hurt from these very situations.
There are many factors that can cause a store to be a factor in shopping injuries. These factors include foreign substances on the floor such as spills from broken containers, merchandise stacked in an unstable way, damaged flooring, poor lighting and lack of adequate warning signs in the appropriate places throughout the store. These situations often cause shopping injuries such as tripping, slipping and falling, resulting in severe injuries to the shoppers. If the store has any one of these factors, the store can be a very dangerous place for its customers.The law says that the owner of any public business establishment has certain responsibilities toward the customers that are invited to the establishment to conduct business. Among these, the business must:
- Use reasonable care to ensure the safety of those invited to the place of business
- Use all diligence to correct any dangerous conditions once the owner is made aware of them
- Warn any potential customers who may face injury because of any known hazardous condition
Finally, the law also recognizes that even though a business owner may not be aware of a dangerous condition on the business premises, there are times when (according to common sense) the owner SHOULD have known about the dangerous condition.
When a shopping injury causes a customer to be hurt in a store, medical bills usually grow, and dealing with the store and/or its insurance company can be a large headache. The insurance company may be slow in paying your medical bills or worse, it may argue that the accident was your fault! If you are without an attorney, getting relief can seem impossible.
If you have suffered a shopping injury, we understand that your medical bills are growing and that you need immediate financial help. You will need an aggressive attorney that knows how to vigorously pursue your rights in order to maximize your recovery. At Ogletree, Abbott, Clay & Reed, L.L.P., we have the knowledge, experience and resources to help you. Or, if you prefer, email us and we will contact you right away. Call today and let us help you with your shopping injury claim.
