Maison Law helps anyone that’s been hurt at a California Home Depot. Of all the different types of accidents that can happen there, among the most common is a trip over some merchandise. It’s frustrating, because these accidents are usually entirely preventable. Still, when you get hurt, you have options. Our team can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Should You Hire a Lawyer?
Even though you can handle minor accidents alone, more serious injuries from a tripping accident at Home Depot can mean you need legal help. After all, you’re just as likely to be hurt from one of these accidents as anything else there. So, here’s how we can help you in these situations:
- Determine fault – We identify who is responsible for the accident.
- Negotiate for you – We communicate with Home Depot or their insurers to get you a fair resolution.
- Explain your legal rights – We make sure you understand your options under the law.
- Evaluate your damages – We figure out the financial support you deserve.
- Provide support and assistance when you need it – We simplify the process for you and your family.
Again, it’s extremely unfortunate to get hurt while you shop at a Home Depot. That said, it can certainly happen and might require you to hire a lawyer. Still, you need to know how to properly respond and protect yourself.
What Do You Need to Do After a Tripping Accident at a Home Depot?
Just because there’s always the risk of tripping and falling at Home Depot doesn’t mean that you should have to deal with the consequences on your own. While it’s true that you have a certain level of responsibility to pay attention to your surroundings, it’s ultimately up to Home Depot to keep you safe. So, when you trip over merchandise or something else and get hurt, it becomes important to do a few things:
- Get medical help – Make your health a priority by getting immediate medical care. Even minor injuries could have serious underlying issues that need professional attention. Home Depot staff can give you first aid, but more serious injuries will need an ambulance.
- Report the incident – Inform Home Depot staff about what happened and ask for an incident report. Include details like when and where it occurred and what caused it. This report notifies the store and helps them take corrective actions. Remember to keep a copy for yourself.
- Gather evidence – Take photos or videos of where the accident happened, focusing on any hazards and your injuries. This evidence can be crucial for supporting your claim.
- Talk to witnesses – Get contact information from anyone who saw what happened. Their statements may be important if you decide to take legal action.
- Document your injuries – Keep track of your injuries with photos and notes on how much pain you’re in and any difficulties you have. This information shows the extent of your damages.
- Keep evidence intact – Don’t change anything at the accident site or try to fix hazards. Hold onto the clothes and shoes you wore during the incident–they could be needed as evidence later on.
Obviously, you never want to get hurt. Yet, when it does happen, taking these steps are very important in forming the foundation of your potential claim. From there, though, you have to think about establishing responsibility for the accident.
Who’s Responsible For a Tripping Accident in Home Depot?
If you’ve spent any amount of time at Home Depot, you’re probably pretty aware of how easy it can be to trip over merchandise. However, what separates a random accident from a legal action is “negligence.”
This is also the legal standard for “liability”, or the legal responsibility for covering your injuries and other damage from the accident itself. At the same time, it depends on the circumstances. So, Home Depot won’t be completely liable for these accidents–though they are primarily responsible for not ensuring a safe environment or promptly addressing reported hazards. Depending on the circumstances, liability could be shared by:
- Individual Home Depot employees
- Maintenance or security personnel
- Product manufacturers
More to the point, it’s vital to look at why these accidents happen in order to better nail down liability. Most of the time, they happen because of:
- Poorly organized aisles
- Uneven surfaces
- Poorly stored or stocked items
- Crowded shelves
- Lack of warning signs
- Poor lighting
- Negligence by employees
In California, you must file a claim for damages within two years of the accident. Missing this deadline may prevent you from receiving financial support for your injuries. This can make recovery very difficult.
How Can You Recover Damages After a Tripping Accident at Home Depot?
After establishing liability for your tripping accident at Home Depot, our team is ready to guide you through the process of seeking your “damages.” This typically involves either filing an insurance claim or pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, or sometimes both.
These are the main options you have for recovering damages, but these damages are going to be dependent on your injuries and other unique circumstances about your case. That said, there are a few general categories of damages in these types of cases:
- Medical expenses – These damages cover any current and future medical bills related to your injuries.
- Lost wages – These cover any income you lost due to the accident and recovery period. It can also be extended if your injuries result in a long-term disability affecting your ability to earn income.
- Property damage – These cover any repair or replacement costs for any belongings damaged during the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life – This covers any diminished quality of life experienced due to your injuries.
- Pain and suffering – This is financial support for physical pain and mental anguish caused by the accident, you can also get separate damages for emotional distress.
Remember, these damages are going to be unique to your own case. This means that it’s important to keep records and evidence to show what kind of injuries you’ve had and how it’s impacted your life. That also means it’s important to know what kind of injuries can happen in these accidents.
Common Injuries in a Home Depot Tripping Accident
With so much merchandise and other tripping hazards at a California Home Depot, it’s rather unsurprising that these accidents happen so much. Even if you’re staying alert, sometimes it’s out of your hands. This makes potential injuries all the more frustrating and serious. Usually, these tripping accidents result in injuries like:
- Concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Back or spinal injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Torn ligaments
- Muscle strains
- Cuts and bruises
Like any accident, your injuries could vary. You could have one of these, or multiple. Thus, it’s important to make sure you get medical care right away. After that, reach out to our team for support.
Free Consultations For Tripping Accident Victims at a California Home Depot
When you trip over merchandise at a Home Depot, you can get seriously hurt. Worse, your injuries are likely the result of someone else’s negligence–and was probably entirely preventable. In these situations, it’s important to have the right legal help. Maison Law and our team of California Home Depot injury lawyers will be there to support you after these accidents. Contact us today for a free consultation.
