Common Department Store Injuries and What to Do About Them

By Jason Bottlinger on September 15, 2022

Malls are a great place to have some fun. You can go shopping by yourself or take the whole family. In addition to shopping, you can also get something to eat at the food court or go see a movie. Malls are a nice place to get some exercise and a lot of seniors enjoy mall-walking with their friends.

Although malls provide a lot of recreational activities, they can be a place where accidents happen. Mall owners and managers have an obligation to keep people safe by addressing hazards before someone gets harmed. This requires employees to survey the premises regularly and address any reports of hazards right away.

Common Department Store Injuries

The department store’s premises includes all the shops, walkways, parking lots, stairwells, restrooms, and all other facilities. The mall owner has a duty of care to make a reasonable effort to keep everyone who visits the mall safe.

Mall owners must be proactive about preventing the following types of injuries that frequently occur at malls:

• Slip and fall accident are among the most common causes of mall injuries. Malls have hard surfaces, and falls can lead to serious injuries including broken bones, hip fractures, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). To prevent falls, it’s essential for mall employees to clean up spills right away and always leave out hazard signs when they are done mopping.
• Escalator accidents cause over 10,000 injuries every year in the United States, and the victims are often children. Insufficient maintenance, mechanical failure, and inadequate guard mechanisms can lead to broken ankles, lost digits, and even death.
• Assaults. Many businesses try to save money by neglecting to provide sufficient security. That means not hiring enough security guards or failing to properly train them. Visitors who threaten or harass customers must be asked to leave and reported to police to protect everyone else.
• Falling merchandise. Poorly trained employees will often stack a large item top of smaller items, and this can have devastating consequences when heavy items fall on unsuspecting customers, causing lacerations, bone fractures, concussions, and other serious injuries.
• Trampling. With sales and promotions such as Black Friday, department stores are encouraging unsafe behavior which frequently leads to serious injuries and even acts of violence.
• Parking lot accidents. Police do not patrol mall parking lots because they are private property. That means the mall owners are responsible for providing parking lot security. They also need to eliminate hazards such as potholes, make sure speed and driving directions are clear marked, and provide sufficient lighting to prevent collisions and pedestrian accidents.

What to Do After an Accident at a Department Store in Omaha

Seek medical attention right away if you have been injured in a mall accident. You will want to keep records for all your medical care, including emergency room visits, ambulance rides, surgery, and all doctor’s office visits.

When you’re feeling up to it, request a written incident report from the store’s manager. You can also collect contact information from anyone who witnessed the incident.

It’s important to contact an Omaha personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Insurance companies make their money by paying out as little in claims as they can get away with. Your lawyer will investigate the accident and file a claim with the insurance company that reflects the true cost of your medical care.

Insurance agents may try to trick you into saying something about the accident that could hurt your claim, so it’s best to let your attorney do all the talking. Your Omaha premises liability lawyer will also collect the following types of information to strengthen your claim:

• Witness statements
• Surveillance camera footage
• Photographs
• Police reports
• Medical records
• Internal company documents
• Testimony from medical experts.

Were You Harmed by a Mall Hazard in Omaha?

You shouldn’t have to pay for your own medical expenses if your injuries were caused by a mall owner who failed to keep you safe. Our team at Bottlinger Law, L.L.C., will investigate your accident and file a claim against the negligent person.

Bottlinger Law, L.L.C. has a perfect A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau of Nebraska. Call (402) 505-8234 to schedule a FREE consultation today. At Bottlinger Law, L.L.C., you won’t pay anything unless we win your case.