Top 5 Causes of Slips, Trips, and Falls in Retail Stores

 Posted on April 26, 2022 in Premises liability

Whether you are the type of person who loves shopping or the type who gets in and out of stores as quickly as possible, you at least do not expect a simple trip to the store to injure you. You should generally expect retail stores open to the public to be safe. When there is a danger to shoppers, it quite frequently has to do with a hazard that causes people to slip, trip, or fall. Even in young healthy people, a simple fall can be surprisingly injurious. Injuries as simple as a sprained wrist can take someone out of work for a week or more. More serious injuries like concussions can also result. If you fell in a retail store and sustained an injury, consulting an attorney to find out what type of compensation you may be entitled to is a good idea.

How Does Negligence in a Retail Setting Cause Falls?

The person charged with managing or controlling a retail store has a duty to take reasonable care to keep any areas open to the public safe for shoppers. This is why “wet floor” signs are a common sight - they are necessary to alert shoppers to take care to not slip. Not all stores are concerned enough about customer safety to take steps like this, however. Negligent retail stores may make mistakes like:

• No “wet floor” sign - When customers are at least aware that the floor is slippery, they can take precautions like walking slowly or avoiding the area. Hitting an unexpected slick patch of floor can cause someone to slip.
• Unattended equipment - When employees are using equipment like stepladders, tools, or even boxes on the floor, there should be a staff member present. Otherwise, people may not expect there to be objects sitting in the aisle and could trip.
• Cords - Anything that needs to be plugged in can become a serious tripping hazard if the cord is not properly concealed behind the appliance or taped to the floor.
• Plumbing - Public restrooms require a bit of attention and care. When sinks or toilets back up and overflow, the floor can become wet and slippery. If the overflow is not addressed promptly, quite a large pool of water can form on the floor, leading to slips.
• Unaddressed spills - As soon as a store employee becomes aware of a spill, it should be addressed immediately. When staff fails to respond promptly to a spill, the odds that someone is going to slip go up. This is particularly common in grocery stores.

If you slip, trip, or fall due to a hazard in a retail store, you should get prompt medical attention and then call an attorney.

Contact an Illinois Premises Liability Attorney

If you were hurt after falling in a retail store, Quinn Law Group, LLC may be able to recover financial compensation for you. Our experienced Park Ridge premises liability lawyers will investigate the cause of your fall in an effort to prove that the store you fell in was negligent. Contact us at 847-232-7180 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/avoiding-slips-trips-and-falls-tips-for-wholesale-and-retail-employees-2