Whether you are shopping for the holiday season or enjoying a day out on the town with friends, sustaining an injury in your favorite store can put a damper on your plans. Though they may not seem serious, a retail store injury can leave you with lifelong pain and complications. However, a Kaufman, Texas personal injury attorney can help you receive financial compensation for the damages you have sustained as a result of the store’s negligence.
How Does a Retail Store Injury Occur?
There are a number of ways that retail store injuries can occur, given the number of items and dangers in a store. It is important to be aware of the most common accidents, as they can cause serious harm. Some of the most common ways people sustain retail store injuries include, but are not limited to, the following:
Slipping on unmarked wet spots on the ground
Tripping over materials left on the floor
Unsecured displays falling over
Items falling off shelves and landing on shoppers
Broken escalators or elevators that result in bodily injury
Improper flooring, such as loose carpets or tiles, causing shoppers to trip
If you have sustained one of these injuries due to no fault of your own, you likely have a lawsuit on your hands.
What Steps Should I Take to Help My Case?
After you’ve sustained an injury at a retail establishment, there are steps you should take to help your case.
First and most importantly, you will want to seek medical attention. If the injuries you have sustained are severe, calling emergency medical services is essential to keeping you safe. If you do not require immediate medical attention, you still want to visit your doctor as soon as possible. They may be able to diagnose any issues that may not immediately arise after the accident, such as neck or head injuries.
Next, you want to ensure you alert management to the issue and request to file an incident report. This document will detail when, where, and how the injury occurred and should also have space for witnesses to write their account of the incident and include their contact information. Be sure to request a copy of this report before leaving the store.
Finally, you should take photographs and recordings of the scene of the accident. This helps provide evidence of the store’s negligence. Be sure to take photos and videos before workers attempt to fix the area.
Do I Really Need a Lawyer?
If you were injured in a retail store, odds are, you need a lawyer. Unfortunately, many people brush off their injuries as minor inconveniences or embarrassing moments without realizing the severity of the situation.
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Texas is two years from the date of the incident, meaning you have no time to wait. Filing a case too long after the injury occurred can make it harder to prove your case, as files are lost, and witnesses move away.
Instead, reaching out to Harrell & Paulson, LLP for legal representation can help get you the compensation you deserve after being injured at the hands of a retail store.
