Premises liability cases can arise out of negligence on residential or commercial property. In either situation, the property owner has a duty to maintain safe property for people who enter. These people include guests, customers, delivery drivers, vendors and basically anyone who enters the property in a lawful manner.
Retail outlets in particular must deal with issues that involve a higher volume of foot traffic, hazardous materials, exit signage and security in potentially dangerous situations. When a retail store has failed to uphold safety regulations or practice reasonable caution to protect invitees on the store property, and an injury results, a claim may be made against the property owner.
Our Firm Can Help You Collect What You Need
At the law firm of Herr & Low, P.C., we handle a wide range of premises liability claims throughout Central Pennsylvania, including those that involve retail store accidents. Our attorneys work with clients one-on-one to make sure the full scope of a client’s injury needs are met. This requires an in-depth analysis of:
- What injuries the victim sustained and what medical or financial consequences resulted from those injuries
- Whether the retail store owner or personnel were negligent
- How the store’s negligence directly caused the accident and the injury that followed
Common Causes Of Retail Store And Grocery Store Accidents
Some of the most commonly discussed causes of premises liability claims are slip-and-falls or trip-and-falls. While they sound minor, they can result in devastating personal injuries like disk herniation, head trauma, broken bones and more. They often arise from spilled liquids, uneven walkways, poor lighting, parking lot accidents, exposed construction hazards or other issues that should have been addressed by the store owner.
To demonstrate negligence in these cases, the claimant must show the store manager or owner knew about the hazard, and he or she did not take reasonable action to address it to prevent injury. Common preventative measures include using wet floor signs, caution tape, well-maintained exit signage and quick responses to hazardous situations. If the property owner or manager failed to take action, you may be justified in filing a claim.
Recent Trends In Shopper Violence And Criminal Activity
More dramatic instances of premises liability involve negligent security that results in physical violence against a customer. Negligent security is often seen in residential buildings with broken locks on doors or windows, leaving residents more susceptible to criminal activity against them.
In recent years, the influx of “blowout sales” and Black Friday shopping events have led to shopper violence as customers try to take advantage of limited time sales offers. While this violence can be attributed to criminal behavior from the shopper, it may also be seen as preventable by the store. Retail outlets likely know there will be a large crowd to manage at these events, and if they fail to manage that crowd appropriately, both customers and employees can suffer serious injuries due to assault or stampedes.
Contact Us
You should be safe when you shop. Our lawyers can make sure your rights are protected and you collect maximum compensation for what you have suffered in retail store accidents. Contact our Lancaster office online or by telephone at 717-397-7544 to discuss your options. We will work with you personally to make sure your needs are met.
