Big Box Stores Can Be Rife With Slip and Fall Hazards

Every day, millions of Americans visit big box stores to pick up anything from groceries to clothes to electronics to tools. While superstores like Target, Walmart, Costco and Home Depot occupy massive spaces, they are subject to the same laws as any other business when it comes to keeping customers safe. If you slip and fall at a big box store, you may be entitled to compensation if the management or staff were at fault.

All businesses have a legal responsibility to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition for visitors and customers. This includes the in-store environment, the parking lot, the sidewalk and any other area under the business’s control. When a big box store fails to keep its property safe and someone gets hurt, the injured person may pursue a claim for money damages.

At big box stores, malls and supermarkets, such premises liability claims often arise from slip-and-fall incidents. Slips and falls can happen due to any number of property conditions, but some of the most common causes are:

• Wet floors
• Uneven floors or sidewalks
• Broken pavement in parking lots
• Items falling from shelves and causing an obstruction in an aisle
• Loose carpeting or flooring in the store
• Ice and snow built up in a parking lot, on a sidewalk or near an entrance
• Poorly lighting in parking lots, making it harder for customers to avoid falling

To prevail in a premises liability claim, you’ll need evidence that the hazardous condition that caused your fall was either known by the store management or staff or was something they should have known about. Various types of evidence can be used to support your claim, including:

• Photos of the area as it was at the time of the fall
• Video evidence from store cameras
• Testimony from other customers who witnessed the incident

You’ll also need evidence of the damages you suffered. This can come in the form of, for example, medical bills and medical records documenting the injuries suffered and how much your care costs.

If you slipped and fell at any large business and you want to pursue a legal claim, be aware that these big companies have teams of highly skilled lawyers on their side working to minimize any payouts to injured customers. You will improve your chances by consulting with a skilled New Jersey premises liability lawyer.

Seigel Law in Ridgewood, New Jersey has experience representing clients injured at big box stores, shopping malls and grocery stores in Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties. For a free consultation, please call 201-444-4000 or contact us online today.