Personal injury Library

When Is a Store Liable For Injuries?

Stores and retail outlets can be liable for several kinds of accidents that occur on their property. Here is more about how this process works:

Although many people venture to these retailers every week, grocery stores and hardware stores can be a very dangerous place. So what are you supposed to do if you are injured at one of these stores? Well, if you were injured due to the negligence of the store, then you may file a lawsuit to seek recovery for your injuries. When a person is injured while on the property of another person due to a hazard of that property, the resultant lawsuit is a specific kind of personal injury claim known as premises liability. Under the doctrine of premises liability, you are considered an invitee when you shop or work at a grocery store or a hardware store. This status gives you the greatest standard of care that a property owner or possessor can owe to another person.

Why Premises Liability is a Better Standard

Anyone who visits a grocery store or hardware store for business purposes is legally considered an invitee. This requires the store owner to remove all potentially hazardous conditions on the property that might cause you harm. Additionally, any condition that they cannot completely eliminate must have a warning sign to give you notice so that you may act with caution. Furthermore, the grocery store and hardware stores are required to continually inspect their property for dangerous or defective conditions. This means that through the day the store and its employees must continually seek out and look for hazardous conditions. If they observe the condition and fail to eliminate the danger or at least limit the danger, they will be responsible for any harm you encounter. Also if they fail to properly inspect the store and you are hurt because of an overlooked danger, they are responsible for your injuries and may be required to compensate you monetarily.

So What Kinds of Injuries Might You Suffer at a Hardware or Grocery Store?

These specific types of stores are riddled with potential dangers. For example, at the grocery store the produce departments regularly spray their food to keep it fresh. However, if there is a leak in the system that causes a puddle to develop on the floor, you could easily slip and injure yourself. Or you could be injured by a negligent employee when they are moving a ladder or large box. Some grocery stores specialize in wholesale or large quantity items like Sam's Club or Costco. Employees at these types of stores are constantly moving ladders to retrieve items or products, and frequently leave these ladders unattended. If the employee carelessly hits you with the ladder you could have a premises liability claim against the store. Additionally, if your child is injured by falling off an unattended ladder, the store could be liable under premises liability or attractive nuisance. Hardware stores have tons of potentially harmful conditions. There are incredibly heavy boards and appliances stocked precariously high on shelves. They have bins of nails out within reach of every adult and small child that walks buy. If a person or employee drops a nail on the ground and the employees fails to pick it up, you could step on it and be very seriously injured. If this happens, the hardware store may be held responsible for your injuries. Our attorneys at Grossman Law Offices are very experienced in premises liability personal injury claims. We fully understand your needs as a victim and know how to effectively prove your case using our various tools of discovery to obtain evidence. If you or your loved one has been injured at a grocery store or hardware store, call to speak with one of our attorneys about your claim. To find out if you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries, contact Grossman Law Offices at (855) 326-0000.
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