For some, big box stores like Walmart, Home Depot, and Costco are a necessity in everyday life. These stores offer a variety of products for consumers that can be bought in bulk to get a family through weeks around the home. Though these stores are significant in the lives of many, they can also pose a variety of dangers that you may not have ever considered previously.
If you were injured in a big box store in California and believe that it happened due to another party’s negligence, you have many options for recovery. At Maison Law, we believe that these stores have a responsibility to keep those who utilize their property safe from harm. You may be eligible to bring a premises liability claim depending on the circumstances of your accident. Please do not hesitate to contact us today for a no-obligation case consultation.
Common Causes of Accidents at Big Box Stores
There are endless types of accidents that can occur at big box stores, as they are filled to the brim with different areas to access and various types of products. However, some types of accidents are more common than others in these stores. These include some of the following:
Spills: Liquids spilling onto floors are all too common in big box stores where store products can fall at any given time. Many customers are busy looking at products that they will not notice a spill and could slip at any given time. For some, this could lead to simple embarrassment – while for others, it could lead to a dislocation, broken bone, or worse.
Debris: When debris is left scattered all over an aisle in a store, it could also lead to a trip and fall hazard. Merchandise is stacked up all over big box stores, which means that there is always a chance that it could fall and pose a hazard to those wandering through aisles to shop.
Merchandise Falls: If merchandise is placed incorrectly on a shelf overhead, it could fall onto a customer below.
Broken/Missing Handrails: Handrails could be broken or missing entirely from a stairway, which could cause a serious and tragic fall.
Malfunctioning Escalators: Because big box stores are so large, many will contain escalators to get to separate floors. When an escalator malfunctions, it could lead to devastating results.
Inadequate Lighting: Missing or malfunctioning lighting in parking lots and stairwells can make it difficult to see obstacles, which could lead to trip and fall accidents. It could also lead to an inadequate security claim if there was no lighting and a crime took place on the store’s property.
Defective Shopping Carts: A shopping cart with a defect could easily lose control and cause injuries to a shopper or another person inside the store.
Poorly Maintained Walkways/Sidewalks: Walkways and sidewalks should always be cleared of debris and maintained to proper standard so that trip hazards do not occur.
Dog Bites: Leashed dogs are permitted in many big box stores, especially Home Depot and pet stores like PetSmart. A dog bite could occur due to the negligence of an owner, leaving questions regarding liability for an injured victim.
Injuries Present in Big Box Store Accidents
Whether the injuries stem from a slip and fall, a piece of merchandise falling off of a shelf, or another reason, the injuries that stem from accidents at big box stores can be traumatic and life-altering. These include some of the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Broken bones
- Facial lacerations and disfigurement
- Permanent scarring
- Death, in the most severe cases
Depending on the injuries that you have suffered due to a preventable accident at a big box store, you may have a wide array of medical bills that are piling up against you. On top of this, you could miss time at work as you focus on your physical recovery. This can leave you in a desperate financial position, which is why it is crucial that you seek legal help immediately.
Determining Liability in a Big Box Store Claim
One of the first things that you need to determine after a big box store accident is who is liable for your accident so that you can bring a claim against an appropriate party. You must ask yourself some of the following questions:
- Were you injured in an accident due to dangerous conditions in the store?
- Should the property owner or another party have reasonably known about the dangers?
- Could steps have been taken to improve the dangerous conditions?
The property owner and the retailer itself owe all customers a duty of care on their property. If anybody breached this duty of care, then they could be held liable for the harm that you have suffered.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for some big box retailers to fight personal injury claims aggressively. For instance, Walmart employs an enormous legal team and insurance companies that make it difficult for victims of store-related accidents to recover the financial support they deserve. These insurance companies make it their goal to pay you as little as possible and try to pin the blame on customers in the event of an accident. This is why it is important that you have dedicated and knowledgeable legal help on your side if you have been hurt in one of these accidents.
Damages Available for You After a Big Box Store Accident
After you have been hurt in a California big box retailer accident, you have the right to hold one or more parties liable for the harm that you have suffered. You may be able to successfully recover some of the following damages with the help of your attorney:
- Medical expenses you have incurred
- Medical expenses you expect to sustain
- Lost income and future loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Therapy-related costs
- Loss of companionship
- Wrongful death damages if a life has been taken due to an accident
- Punitive damages, in some cases
To be successful in a California personal injury claim, you must be able to abide by strict deadlines as you file your claim. These are known as the statute of limitations, which are two years in California from the time that you discover your injuries. Do not miss these strict deadlines, as you could be barred from bringing a future claim if you do. As you work with a legal advocate, you can ensure that all deadlines are met and all aspects are handled smoothly in your claim.
Contact a California Big Box Store Injury Lawyer Today
Any time you step into a big box store, the property owner and retailer owe you protection from harm. If you have been hurt in an accident at one of these stores, you may wonder what options you have for recovery.
At Maison Law, our California premises liability lawyers have diligently assisted those who have fallen victim to big box store accidents due to no fault of their own. You have every right to hold responsible parties liable for the harm that they have caused you as you work on your physical recovery. We will provide you with necessary resources, as well as protect you from the big-name insurance companies. Please contact us for a no-obligation and completely confidential case consultation today to get started.
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