Slip-and-Fall Risks: Holiday Shopping and Black Friday Sales
Winter weather is on its way! In fact, we could see up to 3-5 inches of snow on Thanksgiving Day. This wintry mix is just in time for the busiest shopping day of the year. And while Black Friday shopping and preparing for the upcoming holidays brings much excitement, they can also bring many opportunities for injuries due to slip-and-fall accidents.
3 Tips for Avoiding Slip-and-Fall or Trip-and-Fall Injuries
As you head out to join the masses for those great Black Friday deals, keep these safety tips in mind:
- Move slowly. Don’t run on snow or ice. Being the first in line may be a priority, but your physical safety—and that of those around you—should be paramount. Running in slushy parking lots or on snowy walkways provides prime opportunity for you to fall and break something.
- Remain calm. Don’t push and shove. We’ve all seen the over-excited person standing in line who starts to push and shove to get into the store once the doors open. This only leads to potential danger for you and others—and even opens you up for an injury lawsuit should you cause someone else’s injury.
- Watch your feet. Holiday shoppers are often fascinated with decorations, signs and more—so much so, that they fail to watch where they’re going. Don’t get so caught up in everything at eye level that you forget to look at the floor. Watching your steps can ensure you do not run into product left on the floor, wet floors that have not been properly cleaned up or marked, and more.
Slip and Fall at the Mall? Here’s What You Need to Know.
Business owners have a duty to keep their premises safe for all who enter. This safety includes following through with general upkeep and maintenance and providing warnings of known dangers. If you suffer an injury in the mall, the mall owner is likely the one responsible for you injury. If you were in a particular store, you will need to look to the store owner and potentially the mall owner. If you fall in the parking lot, the mall owner or another responsible party is likely liable.
Regardless of where you fall, make sure you take care of yourself and that you or someone close to you records as much as possible about the incident. Specifically, you should:
- Request medical attention
- Report the fall to mall security
- Take pictures of the place where you fell
- Get contact information for any witnesses that saw the fall
If you need medical care for any injuries, you will want to speak with a personal injury attorney immediately. Your lawyer will help you understand next steps, including what it will take to recover any financial losses you experienced due to your fall.
Photo credit: Clotee Allochuku, some rights reserved
