Cluttered aisles, walkways, and stairs can cause slip and fall accidents that lead to severe injuries. Business and property owners have a legal obligation to keep their premises safe. If a customer, employee, or other visitor falls due to merchandise or other clutter on the floor, a business or property owner may be liable for their injuries. The team at Stanley Law has helped thousands of victims of slip and fall accidents recover the compensation they deserve, and they can help you understand your rights if you’ve been injured.
Cluttered Store Aisles
Business owners must ensure that all walkways are free of clutter and other items that may block a shopper’s path. If boxes, products, or items that have fallen from shelves cannot be removed, they must put up signs or barriers to warn customers and employees of potential hazards. Some common scenarios that cause people to trip and become injured include:
- Endcap displays with merchandise that blocks a portion of the aisle
- Items that have fallen from shelves not being picked up
- Pallets, merchandise, carts, and other stocking materials left in aisles
Clutter in Offices and Other Workplaces
Employees and visitors can also fall and become injured when clutter is left lying around in places of business, such as office buildings, hospitals, and other commercial settings. A few packages left on the floor of a lobby can easily cause someone to trip and fall, so it’s critical for business and property owners to make sure that items are removed as soon as possible.
Types of Slip And Fall Injuries
Tripping and falling in a cluttered area can cause serious injuries, such as:
- Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones, including hip, arm, and leg fractures
- Sprains, strains, and torn or damaged muscles, tendons, and ligaments
- Facial and dental injuries
- Lacerations
Injuries sustained in falls in cluttered areas can be life-changing. They may require extensive medical treatment, such as multiple surgeries, hospital stays, doctor visits, rehabilitation, and costly ongoing care. Victims with catastrophic injuries, permanent disability, or chronic pain may be unable to earn a living and suffer a significantly decreased quality of life.
What To Do If You’re Injured In A Slip And Fall Accident
Symptoms of some injuries don’t appear right away, so it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as you can, even if you don’t believe you’re seriously injured. Notify a manager or owner of your fall and injuries and file an accident or incident report. Take photos of the scene and your injuries and jot down everything you can remember about how the accident occurred. If there were any witnesses to the accident, get their contact information if possible.
Seek the Counsel of An Attorney
If you or a loved one were injured from tripping on clutter in a store or other business, it’s critical to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. An attorney can evaluate your case and determine whether you have a viable slip and fall injury claim. They also collect vital evidence, such as security camera footage, witness statements, your medical records, and other information to support your claim. Statutes of limitations for filing a personal injury claim vary from state to state, so it’s essential to act fast.
If you’ve been hurt due to someone else’s negligence, you need and deserve the maximum reward. Your lawyer will know how to accurately value your claim and fight against insurance companies that try to offer minimal settlements or deny liability. If you’ve suffered a slip and fall injury on the job, a workers’ compensation attorney can help you seek the full benefits to which you may be entitled.
Contact A Slip and Fall Lawyer To Learn More
Injuries that result from trip and fall accidents caused by clutter are preventable. At Stanley Law Offices, we help injured victims hold negligent parties accountable. Joe Knows the physical, emotional, and financial repercussions of being injured in an accident, which can take a serious toll on victims and their families.
At Stanley Law Offices, we’re there for you every step of the way. Your initial consultation is always free, so call us at 866-553-7125 or 800-372-3760, or contact us online today to learn more. We have offices in Binghamton, Watertown, Syracuse, and Rochester, New York, and Montrose, Pennsylvania. Se habla español.
