Slip and Fall Accidents at Dick’s

You may be surprised at how often slip and fall injuries take place. According to the CDC, more than 800,000 patients end up in the hospital each year because of a fall injury. Usually, patients make hospital visits due to hip fractures or head injuries, both of which are serious. Falls are also the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.

As you can see, slipping and falling can be quite a serious event. If you have a slip and fall accident at Dick’s, your situation can be exacerbated when the cause is beyond your control. If you fall and get hurt due to the negligence of a retail store, you need the help of an injury lawyer. The attorneys at Gould Injury Law have the experience it takes to get you the compensation you deserve.

What Elements Can Cause a Slip and Fall Injury?

Retail stores can have many potential hazards. Some of the most common reasons people slip and fall in a store include:

Wet floors without caution signs posted
Loose floor mats or carpet
Poorly installed tile
Uneven or damaged floor surfaces
Debris on the floor
Carelessly placed cords
Uneven pavement
Potholes in parking lots

What Can Happen During and After a Fall?

The good news is that most falls do not result in a significant injury. However, the CDC reports that people sustain severe trauma in one of five falls. They can suffer from:

A head injury that can result in brain trauma or be particularly dangerous to someone on blood thinners
Broken bones, including hip, wrist, arm and ankle fractures
Fear of falling in the future that can result in less activity and increased weakness

If you slip and fall in an accident at Dick’s, the store owner or manager can be liable for your injuries.

What Are the Responsibilities of Retail Store Management?

In Connecticut, land possessors have particular responsibilities to people who enter that land. These obligations change according to the status of the person.

Licensees

A licensee is someone who visits a property for his or her own benefit. The possessor consents to the visit by permission or invitation. An example is someone who enters a store to use the restroom. A landowner or occupier can be held liable for a licensee’s injury if the possessor:

Knows of the hazardous condition
Realizes it involves a reasonable risk
Has a reason to believe the licensee will not discover the hazard
Allows the licensee to stay on the property without making the condition reasonably safe or warn the licensee of the condition

Invitees

An invitee is someone who enters the property for the benefit of the business or their mutual benefit. In Connecticut, the Supreme Court recognizes three types of invitees:

Public invitee: Someone invited to enter or remain on the property as a member of the public for the purpose the land is open to the public.
Business invitee: Someone invited on the land for business reasons connected with the land possessor.
Social invitee: Someone who is owed the same care standard as a business invitee. The difference between a licensee and a social invitee depends on whether the person received an invitation.

The land possessor owes invitees the same responsibilities as licensees and a few more. First, the occupier must inspect the property and put up necessary safeguards. Second, the occupier is liable for defects that a reasonable inspection would uncover. The occupier must give a warning for these conditions.

Trespassers

Land possessors do not owe trespassers the duty of care for the property’s condition. There is no reason to believe they would be on the property.

Typically, retail store customers are invitees. As a customer, you are owed the highest duty of care while shopping at the store. If you slip and fall because of the negligence of the store owner or manager, they may be found at fault, and you may have a case against them.

What Should You Do After a Slip and Fall Accident?

Immediately after a fall, you may be disoriented and in pain. It can be challenging to know just what to do. That’s why we want to help you understand the steps to take after you slip and fall. We want you to be prepared ahead of time.

Seek Medical Treatment

You may not know all your injuries after a slip and fall accident. At first, you may feel fine. However, some problems can show up after the fact. Seeking medical attention helps you uncover any hidden conditions.

If you decide not to seek medical treatment, the insurance company may fault you. It may claim that you weren’t hurt in the accident. However, having medical records after a slip and fall injury can strengthen your case.

Tell the doctor about your symptoms, no matter how minor they seem. Be sure he or she knows you sustained them after a slip and fall accident. These steps ensure your medical records show what the accident caused.

Check Your Surroundings

Take note of the area where you were injured. You may see hazardous conditions such as:

Liquid on the floor
Crowded spaces
Debris on the floor that caused it to be slippery
Uneven pavement
Obstructed pathways

Your best chance to make observations is immediately after the accident. This way, you can see and remember everything clearly.

Write Down Information

Anything you can document about your accident can help you later. Write down what you were doing right before the fall and the way that you fell. It’s also a good idea to write down the date and time of the incident.

Take pictures of the surrounding area, especially noting any unsafe conditions you observe. Talk to witnesses and get names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers. If you pursue a claim, witnesses can help you prove your case.

Notify the Proper Authorities

After documenting as much information as possible, it’s essential to tell the store manager about the incident. The property owner will likely need to complete an accident report. You may also need to notify the police about the incident and file a complaint against the property owner.

Talk to Gould Injury Law

Insurance companies work hard to avoid paying you in full after a slip and fall accident. Its first order of business is to turn a profit. Paying an injured person for medical bills and lost wages means losing money.

The attorneys at Gould Injury Law are familiar with the tactics of insurance companies and know how to fight against them. Our founder, Robert Gould, worked with an insurance company in the past. The knowledge he gained from the inside can help our lawyers build a case for you to get you the compensation you deserve.

After a slip and fall accident, you may be unsure of a few things. You may not know what steps to take or who you should talk to. However, we know what to do after a slip and fall injury. Call Gould Injury Law today or contact us online for a free consultation. Our staff has years of experience working with slip and fall accident victims. We know you need answers and fast results. Gould Injury Law is ready to help you.

If you suffered injuries due to a slip and fall at any of the following commercial establishments, our personal injury attorneys could help with your case:

Sources:

CDC - Older Adult Fall Prevention
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2002/rpt/2002-r-0365.htm
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/what-you-should-do-immediately-after-a-53876/