Issaquah Retail Liability Attorney
Overspending should be the biggest problem you have to worry about when you go out shopping. Getting injured certainly isn’t on your list. Retail stores might seem like low-risk places to be, but they can pose serious safety hazards when store managers and personnel are not sufficiently attentive. When operated correctly retail stores are eminently safe, but when owners or staff are negligent, the risk of a serious or even fatal injury can be significant.
Injury Law Group NW helps accident victims in Washington whenever they are injured because of another party’s negligence, wherever they may happen to be. Our firm is ready to take on any retail establishment and hold them accountable for accidents they are liable for, from local, independent mom-and-pop shops to the largest big-box stores, shopping centers and outlet malls. If you’ve been hurt on the premises of a retail store in Washington, call Injury Law Group NW for a free consultation to discuss any claims you might have and make sure you get the medical care and compensation you need and deserve.
Common Accidents Caused by Retail Liability
Retail liability refers to the liability of retail stores for accidents that happen on their premises. Retail stores aren’t liable for every accident that happens on their property, but they can and should be held liable for an injury caused by a dangerous condition that store owners or personnel either knew or should have known about or where an injury was a reasonably foreseeable result of the hazard.
Retail stores should take care to promptly fix any dangerous condition, secure the area or put up a warning until the problem can be repaired. When they don’t, stores can be liable for any injury that results in a slip and fall, trip and fall or other accident. Accident victims can recover compensation for their medical bills related to the injury, lost wages if they missed work or became disabled, as well as their pain and suffering. In the most tragic cases, family members can recover money damages to help them deal with a loss in a fatal retail store accident and to find a measure of justice and accountability for their loved one.
Common accidents attributable to retail liability include:
Slip and Fall
If a floor has been recently mopped, waxed or buffed, store staff have a duty to put up “wet floor” signs until the surface has dried. The same applies to any food or drink spill that hasn’t been cleaned up yet, or to store entrances during rainy, snowy or icy weather. Putting up a warning sign alone isn’t enough; personnel should still work to clean up the area and keep it reasonably safe, even during a storm.
Trip and Fall
Tripping hazards in a retail store can include merchandise that has been dropped on the floor and not picked up in a reasonable time. Employees of retail stores such as clothing stores or toy stores where objects are likely to be left on the floor should make periodic inspections to clear the floors and aisles of these reasonably foreseeable hazards. Employees must also take care not to stock extra merchandise or position store displays in ways that can create tripping hazards to unsuspecting shoppers.
Malfunctioning elevators, escalators, sliding doors and automatic doors can also cause a trip and fall if they are misaligned or suddenly fail while in use. Retail store owners must have their equipment serviced regularly. Liability for lack of maintenance could fall on the store owner, while liability for negligent maintenance or repair could fall on the maintenance company. Retail store accidents can be complex, requiring the help of skilled and experienced legal professionals to find out which party or parties are behind the cause of an accident and hold them liable for their negligence.
Torn carpeting, missing or mislaid floor mats, unmarked steps or ramps, broken or missing handrails, and inadequate lighting are other common sources of dangerous trip and fall accidents that can result in painful, debilitating or life-altering injuries such as hip fractures, head injuries, or back injuries.
Other Hazards
Objects falling from shelves can present another danger to shoppers, especially in home improvement stores and “club” stores with a multitude of heavy objects and cases of merchandise stacked on very high shelves. Retail stores are also responsible to maintain their sidewalks and parking lots free of dangers such as broken or uneven pavement that present unreasonable tripping hazards. Wiring should not be left exposed, electric junction boxes should be locked and tagged, and private or dangerous areas of the store should be clearly marked as “employees only,” “no admittance,” or other appropriate wording.
ILG Is Here for You After a Retail Store Injury in Washington
The hazards facing shoppers are too numerous to mention. In the end, retail store owners and managers have a duty to provide a reasonably safe premises for their customers, guests and members of the public. When they don’t, serious accidents can occur, and store owners can be liable for the damage that results. Injury Law Group NW can help you get medical care and compensation if you’ve been injured due to retail store liability in Washington.
After any retail store accident, report the incident right away to store employees or management, follow up with a doctor, and call an attorney as soon as possible. In Washington, call Injury Law Group NW for a free consultation and immediate assistance getting started on your claim.
