Maison Law represents people that have been injured in accidents at California big box stores like Tractor Supply. Stores have a responsibility to keep you and other customers safe while you’re shopping, but unfortunately there’s a number of different things that can happen that can leave you injured and facing numerous challenges. Our team at Maison Law is here to help you through this process. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Do You Need a Lawyer After One of These Accidents?
Obviously, nobody walks inside a Tractor Supply expecting to be hurt in an accident. Yet, there are a number of different hazards at these stores. In terms of your potential legal options, you actually don’t need a lawyer to represent you in a claim. There’s no legal requirement to do so, especially if your injuries are minor in nature. That said, if you’ve been more seriously injured or if the situation is more complex, working with our team of lawyers can make the recovery process much simpler for you.
Here’s how we can help you:
- Free consultations – We offer free initial consultation with potential clients. During this meeting or call, we’ll explain your legal rights and review the facts and circumstances of your case. We’ll give you an idea of what’s ahead, and what the best path forward is for you. Better yet, there’s no obligation to hire us.
- Investigating the accident – If you decide to move forward with a claim, we’ll launch a full investigation into the accident. We’ll ask for certain pieces of evidence, review reports, and get your version of the events to put together a timeline.
- Helping you with evidence – Evidence will be very important to your case, and we’ll help you gather everything you need. In these types of cases, this usually includes things like medical records, surveillance footage, incident reports, and communications with Tractor Supply. We’ll help you gather and preserve all of this.
- Valuing your claim – The overall goal of any injury claim is to recover financial support. We’ll make sure you have a proper accounting of all your damages, and what you need to do to present a strong claim for them.
Again, there’s no requirement anywhere that says you need to have a lawyer. But simply trying to deal with both your injuries and the legal system in filing a claim can quickly become overwhelming. Moreover, you’ll likely be dealing with insurance adjusters and other Tractor Supply representatives that will try to use tactics to devalue your claim. We can take care of all of this for you, allowing you to focus on recovery.
Damages Available in an Injury Claim
Every accident has its own unique impact on you. When it happens at a Tractor Supply or any other big box store, it’s not any different in the eyes of the law than a car accident or slip and fall. Thus, as an injury victim, you have the legal right to pursue financial support from Tractor Supply and any other liable parties that cover your injuries and other damages.
In a typical claim, this could include things like:
- Medical expenses and bills – The first major category of damages covers your medical expenses and bills. This includes things like treatment costs, ER visits, ambulance services, surgeries, and even ongoing care and physical therapy needs.
- Property damage – You can also recover costs related to any damage of your personal property in the accident, like your phone, clothing, or other personal items. This can cover replacement or repair costs.
- Lost income – If your injuries keep you from working or you can’t work anymore because of a permanent injury, these damages cover your income loss, as well as the loss of any future income.
- Pain and suffering – Another major category in injury claims involves the physical pain and mental suffering caused by the accident. This covers those non-economic damages.
- Emotional distress – If the accident has had emotional consequences on you, like anxiety or PTSD, this category of damages addresses that.
- Reduced quality of life – The impact the accident has on your quality of life is another category of damages available. If you can’t enjoy things as you once did, these damages cover that. It also can cover the impact on your personal relationships.
Liability
In terms of liability–or legal responsibility–for damages, Tractor Supply has the ultimate responsibility due to what’s known as “premises liability” laws. In simpler terms, this refers to Tractor Supply’s responsibility to keep you and other customers safe. They can do this by:
- Keeping the store and its surroundings in a condition that is deemed safe.
- Promptly addressing any known hazards.
- Taking reasonable measures to identify and rectify any hazardous conditions within the store.
- Warning customers about potential dangers or risky situations.
If Tractor Supply’s management neglects these responsibilities, and an injury occurs to you or another customer, they are generally considered legally “liable” for the resulting injury and its associated damages.
It’s important to note that there are various other potentially liable parties in these situations, including:
- Property owners/managers, if the store is in a plaza, etc.
- Tractor Supply employees or other representatives
- Other shoppers
- Security personnel
- Third-party contractors
No matter who is responsible for your accident, and what your injuries and damages are, one of the most important aspects to these claims is what you do in the immediate aftermath.
Steps to Take After One of These Accidents
Tractor Supply stores are unique in terms of the potential hazards they present. This is due to their merchandise and customer-base, which is built around agriculture, hardware, outdoor, and other products.
At the same time, a typical Tractor Supply store is going to also have hazards typical to other big box stores. As such, you’ll need to keep a lookout for the following while you’re there:
- Wet or slippery floors
- Poorly maintained flooring or other areas
- Poorly lit areas
- Animals
- Heavy merchandise
- Crowded or unkempt aisle ways
No matter what causes your injury, though, the actions you take right after it happens are important. Here’s a few steps you should take if this happens to you:
- Get medical care – Quickly see a doctor or go to a hospital or urgent care after the accident. Even if you don’t see immediate injuries, it’s important to get checked as some injuries may show up later. Keep all your medical records, as well as your bills and receipts.
- Report the accident – Inform Tractor Supply employees or management about the accident as soon as possible. Give them all the details and ask them to document it. You can either ask them to write it down or do it yourself. Include specifics about where and how the accident happened and any contributing factors.
- Take pictures or videos – Use your phone or a camera to capture images or videos of where the accident occurred and any unsafe elements. Take shots from different angles, focusing on hazards like wet floors or broken tiles. Also, try to get names and contact information of witnesses. If possible, check for security or video footage from Tractor Supply.
- Preserve evidence – Keep evidence, especially if personal property was damaged. This evidence is crucial to show the impact of the accident on you. Avoid fixing anything that was broken or damaged.
Support and Guidance After an Accident at a California Tractor Supply
Unfortunately, there’s always the possibility of being hurt whenever you shop at a Tractor Supply. Even though they usually take steps to protect you and other customers, you can’t always guarantee your safety. When an accident happens and you get hurt, Maison Law will be there to give you support and guidance. Our California big box store injury lawyers understand the impact of these incidents, and can make sure you get the treatment you need to recover from your injuries. To get started, contact us today for a free consultation.
