Learn About Your Legal Rights from an Experienced Florida Premises Liability Lawyer

Slipping and falling while shopping is a very real concern. While businesses in Florida have a legal duty to protect their customers’ safety, many retail stores fail to do what is necessary to prevent fall-related injuries. If you were injured in a fall while shopping, you may be entitled to financial compensation, and you should speak with a Florida slip and fall lawyer about your legal rights as soon as possible.

Cases We Handle

Our lawyers represent people who have been injured in slip and fall accidents at all types of retail stores in Florida. No matter where you got injured, if you fell while shopping, we strongly encourage you to contact us today. If a store is to blame for your injuries, it deserves to be held accountable, and you do not deserve to face the financial and non-financial burdens of an accident that the store could (and should) have prevented.
Some examples of the types of retail stores that we can seek to hold accountable for injuries from slip and fall accidents include:

• Big box stores (i.e., Costco, Target and Walmart)
• Clothing stores
• Cosmetics stores
• Dollar stores and convenience stores
• Electronics stores
• Furniture stores
• Grocery stores and supermarkets
• Home goods stores
• Home improvement stores
• Retail stores
• Shopping centers
• Sporting goods stores

From specialty marine and hunting stores to stores that sell pet products and animal feed, we handle claims against all other types of retail stores as well. When it comes to premises liability in Florida, global retailers, regional chains, and local businesses are all held to the same standards—and, in most cases, seeking just compensation involves dealing with the store’s insurance company. A Florida premises liability lawyer at Searcy Denney can provide a straightforward assessment of your legal rights; and, if it appears that you have a claim, we can handle your claim at no out-of-pocket cost to you.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Retail Stores

When can (and should) you file a claim for a slip and fall accident at a retail store in Florida? Like all businesses, retail stores can be held liable for slip and fall accidents involving a wide range of hazards. Some examples of the types of hazards we most frequently see in these cases include:

Rainwater Puddles

Rainwater puddles are a common cause of slip and fall accidents both inside and outside of retail stores. When we get stormy weather, rainwater can accumulate in depressions in parking lots and sidewalks, and customers can carry water into stores on their shoes. If you aren’t prepared, stepping in a puddle inside or outside of a store can result in a sudden and painful slip and fall.

Spilled Food and Drinks

Spilled food and drinks are common causes of slip and fall accidents in retail stores as well. This is of particular concern at shopping centers and malls where people can eat and drink as they shop. But, many other types of stores sell food and drinks as well, and it only takes one spill to cause a slip and fall accident that leads to expensive medical bills, time missed from work, and other financial and non-financial losses.

Spilled Merchandise

Along with spilled food and drinks, spilled merchandise can also create slip hazards. This includes everything from eggs and yogurt in grocery stores to building materials and supplies in home improvement stores. Crucially, even when a customer is responsible for spilling merchandise, the store still has a legal obligation to monitor for potential slip hazards and remedy these hazards promptly.

Slippery Floors

Even without rainwater and spills, slippery floors can still lead to painful and expensive falls. Some types of flooring materials, like tile and polished concrete, can be slippery under any conditions—and recent cleanings can make them especially dangerous. As other flooring materials become worn due to foot traffic, they can become hazardous as well, and this is another issue that can give rise to liability in the event of a slip and fall accident.

Inadequate Warnings

When retail stores cannot remedy slip and fall hazards immediately, they have a duty to warn their customers that these hazards exist. As a result, failure to provide adequate warnings can give rise to liability as well. While retail stores generally have an obligation to warn customers of hazards of which they are aware, in many cases they have an obligation to warn customers of hazards of which they should be aware as well.

How to Protect Your Legal Rights if You Slipped and Fell While Shopping

Let’s say you slipped and fell while shopping in Florida. What can (and should) you do to protect your legal rights? As soon as possible, you should:

1. Seek Treatment for Your Slip and Fall Injuries

You will need medical records to document the timing, severity, costs, and immediate and long-term effects of your slip and fall injuries. With this in mind, if you have not done so already, you should see a doctor right away.

2. Write Down Everything You Remember About the Accident

It is also important to write down everything you remember about the accident. What caused you to slip and fall? Did you report the accident? If so, what did the store owner or manager say? Did anyone see you slip and fall? These are all details that could be critical to your premises liability claim.

3. Hire a Florida Slip and Fall Lawyer

In order to seek just compensation for your injuries, you will need an experienced slip and fall lawyer on your side. To help ensure that your lawyer is able to collect key evidence before it disappears, you should hire a lawyer promptly.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation with a Florida Slip and Fall Lawyer

Do you need to hire a Florida slip and fall lawyer? If so, we invite you to get in touch. To get started with a free consultation, call 800-780-8607 or contact us online today.