Maison Law helps people through the claims process in California when they’re injured in a slip-and-fall accident at Target. Of all the different injuries you can go through in these types of accidents, you probably don’t consider your upper body. But the reality is that your hands are vulnerable, and you could be facing serious injuries and long-term impacts. Our team can guide you through the claims process and help you figure out how much you can get. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more.
How Much Should I Receive For a Hand Injury After a Slip-and-Fall at Target?
Your hands might not be the first thing you think about when you slip-and-fall at Target. And while it’s true that it’s usually your lower body that’s the area that’s primarily injured, your hands can just as easily be hurt in one of these accidents. It’s not hard to see why: your hands and wrists are often used reflexively to try to break your fall. This often means pretty serious injuries to your hands, which ultimately means medical bills and other losses.
So, how much can you get for these injuries when you file a claim? The answer depends, but is usually built around:
- The type of injury – The severity of your hand injury plays a big role in how much you can get. Minor injuries like sprains or bruises might lead to lower payouts, as they often don’t require long-term treatment. However, serious injuries like fractures, nerve damage, or tendon injuries often result in higher payouts because they mean more intensive treatment.
- How at-fault Target is – Target’s responsibility for the accident directly impacts how much you could recover. If the store was negligent–failing to clean up a spill or not properly maintaining the floor–you are more likely to get a larger payout. On the other hand, if you are found to be partially at fault for the accident (like not paying attention to your surroundings), your payout could be reduced under California’s comparative negligence law–even though you’re still allowed to recover damages.
- Emotional impact – Hand injuries often cause you emotional distress, especially if they impact your ability to perform daily tasks, work, or enjoy hobbies. So, part of your payout will include costs relating to your pain, mental anguish, emotional trauma, and a reduced quality of life due to your inability to enjoy activities you once did before the accident.
- Long-term problems – If your hand injury results in long-term problems like chronic pain, limited movement, or permanent disability, it will likely increase the value of your claim. Hand injuries can severely impact your ability to work, care for yourself, or engage in normal activities. Permanent disabilities often lead to higher payouts to cover long-term support and recovery.
Facing a hand injury in a slip-and-fall accident at Target isn’t just painful, it’s frustrating. Not only do you have to worry about your damages, you also have to actually go through the process of recovering these damages. And that starts with putting together a strong claim.
What Can You Do to Get the Most Out of Your Hand Injury Claim?
A slip-and-fall accident at Target can leave you with a painful and debilitating hand injury. Since we rely on our hands for daily activities, even a minor injury can disrupt your ability to work, drive, or handle routine tasks. Target has a responsibility to keep stores safe, and if their negligence caused your injury, you have the right to seek compensation. Here’s how to build a strong claim:
- Tell a Target employee about what happened and ask for a copy of the incident report.
- See a doctor right away so your hand injury doesn’t get worse.
- Take pictures of the hazard, your injury, and where you fell.
- Get names and contact info from anyone who saw what happened.
- Keep anything damaged, like broken jewelry or torn gloves, as proof.
- Take pictures of your hand as it heals and write down how it affects you.
- Don’t agree to a quick settlement or talk too much without legal advice.
Target is legally required to maintain safe stores and prevent hazards. If they fail to do so, they can be held responsible for your injuries. Following these steps will protect your health and strengthen your claim, making it harder for Target to deny responsibility.
How Do You Get a Settlement After a Slip-and-Fall at a Target?
If you’re filing a claim and want to get a settlement after your slip-and-fall, the first step is identifying who is responsible for the accident. Even though it happens at Target, the store itself isn’t always responsible.
Instead, like any personal injury case, a slip-and-fall claim must prove negligence–meaning someone failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the hazard. Target itself is going to be involved since they have an overriding duty to keep its shoppers safe. Moreover, they’ll carry most of the responsibility if they:
- Failed to keep the store safe (e.g., spills, loose floor mats, broken shelves, or uneven surfaces).
- Ignored or delayed addressing known hazards that caused the accident.
However, other parties may also share some of the responsibility, like:
- Target employees who failed to clean up a spill or remove a hazard.
- Maintenance or cleaning companies hired by Target that neglected their duties.
- Product manufacturers if a defective item (such as a broken shopping cart or unstable shelf) factored into your fall.
- Government agencies if the fall happened on public sidewalks or parking lots leading to the store.
At that point, you can either file an insurance claim out of court or a lawsuit in civil court to recover “damages” like:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Repair/replacement costs for any damaged property
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
California law gives you two years from the accident date to file a claim. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to file a claim and get a settlement. The sooner you take action, the stronger your case will be. Once you decide to take action, Maison Law will be there to guide you through the process and fight for the results you need to get better. Contact us today for a free consultation.
