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Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Retail Stores: What You Need To Know

Slip and Fall Accident in New York

According to the Office of the New York State Comptroller, New York City has over 30,000 retail stores. The Big Apple is filled with stores that sell clothing, electronics, and more. One of the many great things about NYC is that you can buy just about anything you want in any of the city’s five boroughs.

The only downside to having all these retail stores is that it isn’t uncommon for slip-and-fall accidents to take place in them. You may need to hire a slip-and-fall accident lawyer to represent you if you’re ever involved in one.

Before you begin working with a slip-and-fall lawyer in NYC, though, make sure you’re aware of everything you need to know about slip-and-fall accidents in retail stores. See what should be on your radar below.

What Are Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Retail Stores?

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene monitors the leading causes of emergency room visits in NYC each year. The agency routinely finds that unintentional falls cause more ER visits than anything else. These falls are responsible for more injuries in New York City than motor vehicle accidents, assaults, and other incidents.

At least some of these unintentional falls occur during slip-and-fall accidents in retail stores. These accidents involve people losing their balance while browsing in retail stores for one reason or another and falling to the ground where they often sustain injuries. Lacerations, sprains, and fractures are just a few common injuries people suffer.

Many retail stores go to great lengths to reduce the chances of slip-and-fall accidents. For example, they’ll mop floors regularly and make repairs to flooring that is cracked or chipped.

But even when retail stores take these steps, they won’t always remove all the potential safety risks associated with people walking around in their establishments. It could lead to you falling in their stores and needing to hire a slip-and-fall accident lawyer.

What Are the Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Retail Stores?

Slip-and-fall accidents in retail stores continue to occur in New York City partly because of all the different factors that can cause them. All it takes is one wet spot on the floor in a retail store to cause a slip-and-fall accident.

Here are several other causes of slip-and-fall accidents in retail stores:

  • Floors cluttered with inventory
  • Cracked floors, torn carpets, and other flooring imperfections
  • Dusty and dirty floors covered with debris
  • Old floors with uneven walking surfaces
  • Ice and snow covering floors
  • Lack of lighting hanging over floors

If you’re ever involved in a slip-and-fall accident in a retail store and believe one of these factors was to blame, consider calling on a slip-and-fall accident attorney in New York City for assistance. An experienced slip-and-fall attorney can evaluate your case and let you know if it’s worth taking legal action against a retail store owner for negligence.

What Should I Do Following a Slip-and-Fall Accident in a Retail Store?

When you’re shopping in a retail store, the last thing you expect is for a slip-and-fall accident to occur and cause serious injuries. You may not know exactly what to do next because of it.

These are the steps you should take in the aftermath of a slip-and-fall accident in a retail store:

  1. Call for help from retail store employees and let them know if you need immediate medical care.
  2. Evaluate yourself for injuries. Pay attention to your head — falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries
  3. Use your smartphone to capture photographs and videos of the accident scene.
  4. Visit an emergency room for a complete medical evaluation.
  5. Contact a personal injury attorney or, more specifically, a slip-and-fall accident lawyer or a premises liability lawyer in NYC.

A slip-and-fall claim attorney can investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident and see who was to blame. It could entitle you to collect compensation by filing a slip-and-fall accident lawsuit against a retail store.

Who Is Responsible for Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Retail Stores?

It’s often difficult to figure out who is responsible for slip-and-fall accidents that occur in other situations. But slip-and-fall accidents that take place in retail stores are often inadvertently caused by those who own and/or work for these stores.

You should be able to safely assume that the flooring in a retail store is well-maintained and free from hazards that could cause you to sustain injuries during a slip-and-fall accident. If a retail store doesn’t make every effort to keep floors clean and you’re involved in a slip-and-fall accident because of it, you have the right to enlist the services of a trip-and-fall lawyer to represent you.

Many retail stores carry general liability insurance, also referred to as slip-and-fall insurance, to provide them with financial protection from slip-and-fall accident lawsuits.

How Can I Prove My Claim in a Slip-and-Fall Accident Lawsuit?

How Can I Prove My Claim in a Slip-and-Fall Accident Lawsuit?

If you decide to file a lawsuit against a retail store following a slip-and-fall accident, the onus will fall on you to prove the store was somehow negligent and caused your accident. A slip-and-fall accident injury lawyer can assist you with this part of the process. They can come up with an effective game plan when it’s time to piece together your case.

You can help prove the claims in your lawsuit by providing your slip-and-fall accident lawyer with:

  • Photos and videos that show your slip-and-fall accident scene
  • Contact information for anyone who may have witnessed your slip-and-fall accident
  • Medical records documenting your injuries that originate from a slip-and-fall accident

How Much Compensation Could I Collect at the End of a Slip-and-Fall Accident Lawsuit?

It’s hard to put a price tag on how much a slip-and-fall accident could be worth if you choose to take legal action against a retail store. The possible compensation in your case will depend on a variety of factors, including:

  • The severity of the injuries you sustained during your slip-and-fall accident
  • The impact your slip-and-fall accident had on your ability to work and lead a normal life
  • The role you played in your slip-and-fall accident and the amount of blame you receive for it

The slip-and-fall lawyer in NYC you bring on board to represent you could also affect how much your lawsuit is worth.

Reach Out to Us To Work With a Reputable Slip-and-Fall Accident Lawyer in NYC

Now that you know about the common causes of slip-and-fall accidents in NYC and understand the legal rights you’ll have following one of these accidents, would you like to take legal action against a retail store? Ross & Hill can provide a reliable slip-and-fall accident lawyer to help. Call us at 718-855-2324 today to arrange a consultation.

FAQs

How Long Do I Have To File a Slip-and-Fall Accident Lawsuit in NYC?

You’ll have three years to file a slip-and-fall accident lawsuit in NYC in many cases. This is how long the statute of limitations is for personal injury cases in New York.

What Could My New York City Slip-and-Fall Accident Lawsuit Be Worth?

Your New York City slip-and-fall accident could be worth thousands of dollars. The injuries you sustained during an accident and the impact they’ve had on your financial situation will determine the amount of compensation you could stand to collect in your case.

Should I Consider Settling a Lawsuit Through a Slip-and-Fall Lawyer in NYC?

Many people who file slip-and-fall accident lawsuits in New York and personal injury lawsuits in general settle with the defendants in their cases. Discuss this option with a slip-and-fall accident lawyer if you don’t want to spend months and maybe even years taking legal action against a retail store.

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