Big Lots stores can be found throughout the entirety of California, providing home goods to millions of people every year. As with many stores, customers rely on Big Lots to offer them deals from the moment they walk through the door. However, Big Lots, as well as all other big box stores, also owe customers safety from harm while shopping on their property. If you have been hurt in an accident at Big Lots, you may wonder what options you have moving forward.
Our attorneys at Maison Law have diligently assisted those injured in accidents at big box stores over the years. We understand how overwhelming it can be to face an accident, especially when you are unable to afford to pay the bills associated with an accident on your own. We are here to provide you with the resources you need at this time. Please contact us for more information on how we can assist you with your claim.
Reasons for Accidents at Big Lots Stores
Big Lots is a prime location for many different types of injuries with merchandise stacked everywhere and large parking lots to access. Around every corner, there are opportunities for accidents to occur. Some reasons for accidents that occur at Big Lots stores include:
- Liquid spills inside or outside the store that lead to slip and fall accidents
- Debris scattered across aisles that lead to tripping accidents
- Broken handrails causing falls
- Discarded merchandise in stores causing tripping
- Potholes, cracks, and other damage to the sidewalk or parking lot
- Merchandise falling off shelves onto individuals below
- Inadequate lighting leading to trips or crimes
Though Big Lots is supposed to keep all customers safe from harm, this does not always happen. A spill could go undetected for hours even though employees are supposed to look out for them. A crack in a sidewalk could go on ignored, causing many trips before a serious accident occurs. Property owners must constantly be on the lookout for dangers and properly maintain a premises so accidents can be prevented at all times.
Proving Premises Liability Was Present in a Claim Against Big Lots
If you can show that the property owner was negligence, you can bring a premises liability claim against Big Lots. Here are some ways that a property owner can be proven as negligent:
- The property owner knew about a hazard on the property but did nothing to warn about or address it.
- The property owner created a hazard present on the property.
- There was a hazard on the property that the property owner should have reasonably known about but did not.
If you can prove that one of these aspects has been met, you can bring a successful claim against Big Lots. As long as you were present on the property as a customer of Big Lots and you were not legally trespassing in any way, you have many rights and options under California law.
Bringing a Claim Against Big Lots Following an Accident
It can be a time-consuming endeavor to sue a big box store like Big Lots for injuries that you have suffered from an accident on their property. This is why, after an accident, you should start gathering evidence immediately that can be useful in your claim. Here are some steps that you can take to get a jump start on your claim against Big Lots:
- Always seek immediate medical attention for your injuries, even if you only believe that they are minor. If you wait too long, the insurance company will claim that your injuries are not severe and you could miss out on financial opportunities later on down the road.
- Request copies of your medical records, insurance billing, statements from your doctor, and anything else that you think could help your claim.
- Take pictures and videos of the accident scene and the injuries you have sustained.
- Interview witnesses at the scene and collect their contact information.
- File an incident report with Big Lots to inform them of the accident. They will not be able to deny the accident due to a lack of records.
Moving forward with a personal injury claim with the help of an attorney can help you achieve the best results during this difficult time in your life. An attorney will be able to guide you on filing deadlines you do not want to miss, as well as how best to determine who is liable for your accident. You should be able to focus on healing as a lawyer handles the stressful parts of your case for you.
Contact a California Big Box Store Injury Lawyer
At Maison Law, our California big box store injury lawyers are prepared to handle every aspect of your case after an accident at Big Lots. We believe that you have every right to hold a responsible party liable for the harm that they have caused you in the event of an accident. Big Lots’ insurers will try to offer you much less than you deserve in financial support and we will protect you from lowball offers. Please do not hesitate to contact us today for a no-obligation and confidential case review.
