This week, thousands of Texans will start their holiday shopping on Black Friday. Malls and retail stores will likely be packed with everyone trying to get the best deal on gifts. This might mean that retail store accidents are more possible during this time of year. If you’ve been injured in a retail store accident, you may be wondering whether you’re eligible for a premises liability claim. Continue reading to find out more about retail store accidents or contact a Corpus Christie, Texas Slip & Fall Lawyer for quality legal advice.

WHAT ARE COMMON CAUSES OF RETAIL STORE ACCIDENTS?

The most common type of retail store accident is a slip-and-fall accident. Property owners may be held liable in court after a slip-and-fall accident on their premises. There are many different types of hazards that can cause retail store accidents. Some examples include:

  • Dangerous stairwells
  • Slippery floors with a “wet floor” sign
  • Faulty lighting
  • Hazardous parking lots
  • Structural issues
  • Holes in the ground
  • Uncleared debris
  • Sharp objects
  • Loose cords
  • Uncleared snow/ice from walkways

These are just some of the dangerous property conditions that can lead to an accident and possible injury. If you experienced any of these hazards, you may be able to file a premises liability claim.

WHO IS LIABLE AFTER A RETAIL STORE ACCIDENT?

If you’re planning on filing a liability claim after a retail store accident, you’ll likely need a sufficient amount of evidence. A property owner can be found liable in court if you’re able to prove their negligence. In the case of retail store accidents, either or both the store owner and staff can be found negligent in court. In the legal world, negligence is defined as the failure to use reasonable care to minimize harm to others.

There are a few steps to proving a store owner negligent in court. Normally, you’ll need evidence to show the following:

  • The store owner should have known about the hazard on their property
  • The store owner failed to fix the hazard
  • You were injured from an accident caused by the hazard
  • The injury was a direct result of the store owner’s failure to act

Staff can also be found liable if they knew about the hazard and failed to inform the store owner or fix the hazard themselves. Evidence needed in premises liability claims normally includes surveillance footage of the accident, witness reports, photos of the hazard, hospital records detailing your injuries, and more. The statute of limitations for personal injury in Texas is two years. This means that if you’re injured in a retail store accident, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a liability claim.

If you’re looking to file a liability claim after a retail store accident, we are on your side! Contact Sahadi Legal Group today for a free consultation with one of our highly experienced attorneys.