The holiday season may be over, but that doesn’t mean the stores are empty. In fact, malls and shopping centers can be just as busy during the first month of the year as they were in the last. People return and exchange items, and often, they’re redeeming gift certificates and gift cards.
Unfortunately, these customers can return home with more than presents. Sometimes, they come back with injuries because the business didn’t show due care to ensure all its customers were safe while on the property.
Slip and Falls in Retail Stores
Slip-and-falls happen more commonly in Phoenix retail stores than people think. Liquid may be spilled on a floor, and employees may not clean it up as quickly or as thoroughly as they should. Employees may leave obstructions in the aisles that can be tripped over, such as stepladders or boxes of inventory.
When retail stores are more than one floor, things like elevators, escalators, and stairs may be faulty or broken. If someone falls or suffers a worse injury because of the disrepair, the business owner may also be held responsible for failing to maintain these fixtures.
What Injuries Can You Suffer?
Slip-and-falls may sound minor, but they can lead to very serious injuries. Even a puddle on a floor or a small freezer leak in a grocery store can have long-term consequences. Broken bones, sprains and strains, back injuries, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries are all possible.
When the person visiting the store is elderly, he or she is at greater risk for sustaining serious injury. Seniors’ bones are typically more brittle, and a person’s advanced age can make injuries take longer to heal and create additional complications.
In addition to the long and painful recovery time, injuries can also be expensive to treat. You may need to spend a lot of time in the hospital, which can lead to medical bills piling up. If your injury disabled you in some way, your home may need to be outfitted with ramps for wheelchairs and to make it more accessible until you regain full function. Adding insult to injury, you may not be able to work for a long time after the fall. This can add to the financial burden and family stress.
The good news is you don’t have to face your injuries alone, and you may be entitled to compensation from the retail store.
There Is Help for Retail Accident Victims
Retail store owners have a responsibility to ensure their visitors are kept safe while they are on the property. When you are there to conduct business, such as to make a purchase, the retail store has a stronger legal obligation to ensure you are kept safe. If they fail to do so, they can be held liable for providing compensation to help pay for your injuries.
At Breyer Law Offices, P.C., we’ve helped many slip-and-fall victims claim the compensation they’re entitled to. When one of our clients was visiting Desert Ridge Marketplace, she fell on an unexpected step, breaking her left fibula and requiring multiple surgeries. After a brief investigation, we found out the defendant had already received multiple complaints about the step. After mediation, we were able to get our client a settlement to pay for the necessary treatment.
Another client was using the restroom in a hotel. Upon exiting the bathroom, she slipped on spilled coffee and hit her head. Immediate injuries included dizziness and short-term memory loss, while her long-term injuries included ongoing vertigo. The hotel was found liable because the front desk clerk was informed about the spill, and another guest even offered to clean it up. The hotel clerk insisted they would take care of it, but they didn’t do so quickly enough to ensure our client was not hurt. We got her the settlement she deserved, as well as helped in reducing her medical bills.
A seemingly small trip to a retail store, hotel, or other place of business can quickly result in serious harm. Victims should know there are steps they can take to recover money for both their injuries and their inconvenience. Anyone injured in a slip-and-fall in a place of business should contact Breyer Law Offices, P.C. There may be compensation for your injuries, and our premises liability lawyers can help you get it.