What Holiday Shoppers Should Know About Slip and Fall Accidents and Filing a Claim

Slips and falls are one of the most common accidents that occur in stores and retail centers. As shoppers flock to stores during the holiday season, the rate of slip-and-fall accidents typically rises. Slip and fall accidents can easily cause injuries that are more serious than just some cuts and bruises. If you plan on hitting the stores to do some holiday shopping, here is what you need to know about slip-and-fall accidents in retail establishments. 

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents at Stores and Malls

Some of the most frequent causes of slip/trip and falls in stores and malls include:

• Spilled foods and liquids
• Water, ice, snow, mud, or fallen leaves
• Recently mopped or waxed floors
• Transitions between flooring surfaces, such as stepping from carpet to tile
• Uneven floors
• Broken and uneven pavement
• Wires or cords placed across walking paths
• Broken steps or missing handrails
• Loose flooring materials
• Loose mats/rugs or torn carpeting
• Trash or clutter on the ground
• Open drawers

Areas Where Slip and Falls Occur

Places in retail establishments where fall accidents are most likely to occur include:

• Hallways
• Walkways
• Parking lots and garages
• Store aisles
• Dressing rooms
• Bathrooms
• Food courts
• Staircases
• Escalators and moving walkways

Slip and Fall Injuries

Injuries that shoppers who have slip and fall accidents can experience include:

• Lacerations and abrasions
• Contusions
• Dislocated joints
• Broken bones
• Ligament, tendon, and muscle injuries
• Nerve damage
• Herniated disc injuries
• Internal injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis

Liability for Shopper Slip and Fall Accidents

Retail establishment owners owe shoppers a duty to keep their premises free of hazards that might cause accidents such as slips and falls. This duty includes undertaking reasonable inspection efforts to discover hazards that may develop, such as spilled food or wet floors. Parties that may be held liable for a holiday shopper’s slip and fall accident include:

• The shopping center owner, who may have liability for slips and falls that occur in common areas such as parking lots or walkways/hallways
• A store owner, who may have liability for accidents that occur within their shop
• Property management companies contracted to handle maintenance 
• Third-party maintenance companies who perform janitorial services, landscaping services, snow/ice removal, or property repairs

Compensation After Suffering a Slip and Fall Accident While Holiday Shopping

If you are injured in a slip and fall while out shopping this holiday season, you may be entitled to recover compensation for expenses and losses that arise from your injuries, including for:

• Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation services, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, physical therapy, or pain medication
• Costs of long-term care services if you suffer permanent impairment due to an injury
• Lost wages/income after missing time from work due to slip and fall accident injuries
• Lost future earning capacity if physical impairment restricts your ability to return to work
• Physical pain and emotional distress
• Reduced quality of life because of disability or scarring/disfigurement caused by your injuries

Contact a Rochelle Park Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Slip and Fall Accident Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a slip and fall accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at The Epstein Law Firm represent clients injured because of slip and fall accidents in Jersey City, Union City, Bayonne, Hoboken, and throughout New Jersey. Call (201) 380-7687 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 340 West Passaic St., Rochelle Park, NJ 07762.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.