When a store invites customers onto its premises, it owes them a high degree of care. Retail customers should be safe when they shop. Store management is supposed to continually check for dangers that could cause injuries. When a store fails to maintain a safe environment and a customer is injured as a result, they may be liable to cover the costs of that customer’s injuries with the help of a Fort Lauderdale retail store accident lawyer.
Fort Lauderdale Retail Store Accident Lawyer
If you are seeking compensation for an injury you suffered due to the negligence of retail store owners or management, you will likely be dealing with an insurance company whose sole goal is to make sure you get as little as possible — even nothing. A skilled personal injury attorney can negotiate for a settlement that truly covers your losses, and take them to court if they refuse to make a satisfactory offer.
Lisa Levine is a skilled Fort Lauderdale retail store accident lawyer who represents customers injured while shopping. She will seek the best possible result for you. Call Lisa S. Levine P.A. today at 954-256-1820 to set up a consultation.
Lisa S. Levine P.A. represents clients throughout Broward County, including Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Weston, Pompano Beach, Miramar and Coral Springs. She also represents clients in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.
Types of Accidents While Shopping
There are many ways that a person may be injured while in a retail establishment, and those injuries may vary widely in scope and severity. Some causes of injuries may be:
- Slipping on recently mopped floors
- Slipping on liquid spilled on floors
- Stepping on broken glass
- Slipping on misplaces objects
- Falling merchandise
- Collapsing shelves
- Tripping on cracks
- Tripping on carpet
- Escalator and elevator malfunctions
- Becoming a crime victim due to inadequate security
Injury Victim
These accidents can cause broken bones, cuts and abrasions, traumatic brain injuries, back injuries, neck injuries and more. As a result, you may have hospital bills, physical therapy bills, lost pay from attending to these injuries, lost ability to work and more.
Store Management’s Responsibility to Customers
Retail store accidents usually involve the legal concept of negligence. Negligence means that the defendant, or person being sued, owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, or person suing, that he or she breached that duty, that the breach was the cause of damages to the plaintiff and that the plaintiff suffered those damages.
Fort Lauderdale stores that are open to the public have a very high duty of care to customers. Customers are what are called “business invitees.” That means that the store has invited members of the public onto their premises to conduct business.
Store management has a duty to keep customers safe, to make inspections for dangers and to warn customers of them. For instance, after the floors are mopped, employees should put up a sign saying “Caution: Wet Floor.”
Employees should also periodically check the store to see if there have been any new dangers that have arisen, and the store may be liable if they fail to do so and an injury results. For example, if another customer spills a liquid on the floor and you slip and fall immediately after, the store might not be liable. If time passes and no employee notices or acts, then the store is more likely to be liable for injuries.
Answers to Your Accident Claim FAQs
What Exactly is Negligence?
By definition, negligence means failing to adhere to the standard of care required by law for protecting others from unreasonable risk of harm.
How much is my retail store accident case worth?
Regardless of the place it occurs or the type of accident, every case is different. As our firm determines a case’s value, many factors are taken into account. A few of these factors would include the severity of your injuries, length of total or partial disability, the amount of medical bills and whether or not you have permanent injuries. Keep in mind that when you are partially responsible for the accident or injury, your case will be worth substantially less based on the percentage of your fault.
How long do I have to make a claim for a retail store accident?
Various states have different laws that govern the period during which you can sue for personal injury, regardless of where it happened. These laws are referred to as “statute of limitations.” In Florida, you must file a claim within 2 years of the time of the injury.
Finding the Best Shopping Accident Attorney in Broward County
If you were injured while shopping, the store may be responsible for your injuries. Their general liability insurance company may make an inadequate settlement or refuse to pay. Before accepting any offers and certainly before accepting defeat, contact a Fort Lauderdale retail store accident lawyer. Lisa S. Levine P.A. fights to get her clients the recovery they deserve. Call 954-256-1820 today to set up a free consultation.
