Every year, there are numerous news stories about Black Friday shoppers being injured during the rush to get into stores to get good deals. Slip and fall accidents at big-box stores during Black Friday shopping happens quite often. In some stores, shopping during peak times on Black Friday can be dangerous.

Slip and fall injuries can be very serious, causing significant injuries. In some cases, the dangerous condition that caused the customer to fall was created by the store. If you have been injured while shopping at a big-box store, you may have legal options.

In many Black Friday news clips, people are shown trying to get through the front doors of a big-box store, with many customers being crushed as they fall down. However, there are many other ways that people can be injured in big-box store slip and falls on Black Friday.

Some common causes of slip and fall accidents at big-box stores include:

• Slippery floors caused by spilled substances or snow, sleet, rain, and ice being tracked into the store by customers.
• Failure of the store to place mats in the walkways near the doors to protect against them against slippery, tiled floors.
• Outside parking lots and walkways that are not properly cleared of snow and ice accumulation.
• Cluttered and blocked aisles in the store, where store employees attempt to place as much product on the sales floor as possible.
• Carpets that have edges and corners that are loose, creating a slip and fall hazard.

The problem with unsafe conditions on the floors of stores is that the customers are not generally looking at the floors; they are shopping. This is why store owners and employees of big-box stores need to be extra vigilant and keep the premises clean at all times.

There are many safety guidelines that big-box stores and all retail stores should implement, every day, especially on Black Friday. Here are some of the most important guidelines and procedures:

• Have clearly labeled doors and exits with a clear passage.
• Have security personnel.
• Have stanchions to keep lines orderly.
• Stores must adhere to capacity rules.
• Stores must have and follow emergency procedures, such as fire evacuation procedures.
• Have clear aisles without boxes blocking areas.
• Implement periodic inspections of the premises, both outside and inside, which should be done by employees who should note or remedy any dangerous condition that could harm customers.
• Have procedures to place mats and warning cones around areas of wetness from inclement weather.

If a busy store implements these policies in a robust manner, then slip and falls could be prevented. If a property owner does not make sure their premises is safe, they could be liable for any injuries that occur.

If a property owner does not have a safe premises, you could be injured. Some slip and fall injuries can be severe. Some common slip and fall injuries include:

• Head injuries: Many people who fall will hit their head on something on the way down or on the hard ground or floor. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are serious and can cause someone to have chronic symptoms, long-term treatment, and lifelong problems. A slip and fall can cause someone to suffer a concussion, fractured skull, brain swelling, or bleeding of the brain. TBIs from falling affect young children and the elderly the most.
• Hip fractures: Some of the most common slip and fall injuries are hip fractures and broken hip bones. With most falls, people will hit the floor, sidewalk, parking lot, or ground hard, and they will hit with their hip first. This type of injury is common in the elderly.
• Shoulder injuries: Shoulder injuries are also common, including broken bones, torn muscles, or torn ligaments and tendons. Shoulder injuries are often caused when someone tries to break their fall. The jarring of the arm and the force behind the fall can actually break the shoulder and cause serious injuries, such as rotator cuff tears and nerve damage.
• Hand and wrist injuries: When someone trips, they will likely extend their arm to break their fall. When this happens, the force of the fall can fracture someone’s wrist or hand.
• Back and spinal cord injuries: Slip and fall accidents can cause back injuries and severe spinal cord injuries. The force of falling on something hard, like tile of a floor, can fracture vertebrae and cause sprains and strains. A bad fall can also cause herniated discs that could lead to nerve damage and pain down the arms or legs.

If you were seriously injured in a slip and fall accident at a big-box store, speak with our Burlington County slip and fall lawyers at the Law Office of David S. Rochman today. Call us at 856-751-2345 or complete our online form for a free consultation. Located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, we serve clients throughout the surrounding areas.

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