The absence of a wet floor sign around spilled liquids or a freshly mopped area can leave Target fully liable for the recovery costs of any victim who falls. With this and other evidence, a victim who suffered an injury could hold Target financially liable for all medical bills and many other hardships.
Is Target Responsible If I Slip-And-Fall in a Store and There’s No Wet Floor Sign?
Target is always responsible for the safety of customers. That includes when guests get out of their vehicles and as they stroll every inch of the store. Any individual or business is responsible for the harm they intentionally cause, of course. However, California Civil Code 1714 also demands that businesses accept blame for the accidents caused by their employees’ negligence. A Manager or employee may leave a customer’s spilled drink on the floor until someone comes along to slip, fall, and get seriously hurt.
Target may stay on top of the water that customers track in on a rainy day. They may mop often, but a Target manager could also forget to put out a “wet floor” sign to alert visitors that the floor is still wet, causing a dangerous fall.
When someone is hurt in Target after slipping on an unmarked puddle or mopped area, the victim is empowered to seek help with emergency room costs and any further medical care they need.
Target can try to deny its liability and that’s why it’s good to get evidence that shows their negligence in their “duty to care.” Managers and employees who fail to put out “wet floor” signs in damp areas can make for strong evidence. What’s more, slip-and-fall victims can receive injury support when there were wet floor signs out in some cases.
Proving Target Is Responsible for Your Slip-And-Fall
The best way to build a strong slip-and-fall case is to start collecting evidence right after it happens if possible. If you feel strong enough, try to collect these details for your case:
- Call 911 if you are injured – Allow paramedics to check out every pain you have. Go to the emergency room if necessary. If you must leave the scene, ask someone with you or a helpful bystander to gather a few pieces of evidence for you.
- Use your cellphone to get images – Take photos of the obstacle that caused your fall. Show the warning signs around the hazard or show where the signs should have been. Take a picture of any visible injuries and damage to clothing.
- Tell a Target manager you fell – A manager will need to prepare a store incident report for his owner or corporate office. Your personal injury lawyer can use this report as evidence later.
- Chat with witnesses – Get their contact information. Employees who saw the accident may also be willing to help.
- Keep evidence – Retain any personal items damaged in your fall. Don’t throw out the shoes you were wearing when you fell. Insurance agents sometimes like to lay blame on old shoes with worn soles. You can show them visual proof that they are wrong. Keep any receipts from your shopping at Target.
- Visit your physician – Make an appointment with your doctor. Get all pain and injuries detailed on a medical report. Add any injuries that suddenly appear in the days after a fall.
- Contact a Skilled California Slip-And-Fall Lawyer – Target may call in its own corporate lawyers to attack your case. A lawyer can be a strong defense against their tactics to rob you of compensation. Your lawyer can also often get you much more in a settlement check than you could win by handling your case yourself.
Contact a California Slip-And-Fall Accident Attorney
If you only suffer some minor bruising and soreness after a fall, you might not need a lawyer’s help to file your claim with Target. But if you endure a more serious injury, it’s a good idea to go over your options with a California Target slip-and-fall accident lawyer. A lawyer can often secure much more for you in a settlement claim than you could earn by handling the case yourself.
Contact Maison Law for a free, no-obligation consultation. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your injury is worth and what you should demand from unhelpful insurance companies. And if you feel we can help you earn more for your case, you don’t need to worry about finding the money to hire a lawyer. We don’t get paid unless we score a case victory for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement Target must provide to you.
