- December 14, 2015
- Personal Injury
- Slip & Fall Accident
With the holidays fast approaching, shopping malls are seeing a lot of traffic. The holiday rush to buy presents can get hectic, and unfortunately, people can get hurt if the mall they shop at has not taken precautions to prevent injury.In order to ensure the safety of each guest, property owners and store personnel are responsible for maintaining their premises to prevent accidents from happening. Failing in this duty of care could make them liable in the event that a customer is injured.
The following are examples of accidents that commonly occur in shopping malls:
- Escalator injuries. Escalators with non-synced steps, misaligned handrails, broken entry mats, or that come to a sudden stop can cause a person to be injured.
- Trampling. It is not uncommon for people to be trampled during a holiday sales rush, especially when stores are far overcrowded.
- Slip and fall injuries. Store owners who do not promptly clean up spills or clear walkways of debris, product, or equipment can be held responsible if a person trips and hurts themselves.
- Falling merchandise. Merchandise that is not properly stored on shelves can fall onto a customer and cause injury.
- Assaults and muggings. Mall property owners may be held responsible for assaults and muggings if they failed to provide adequate security or appropriate lighting to prevent such crimes from occurring.
- Parking lot accidents. Poorly maintained parking lots, including those with cracked pavement, worn away or missing demarcation lines and arrows, or poor lighting can result in accidents causing injury to customers.
Keep in mind that shopping malls may not be liable for every injury that occurs on its premises. For example, if another customer drops something and you trip over it and break a bone, the mall will probably not be held liable for your injury. On the other hand, if a loose ceiling tile falls and hurts you, they will likely be deemed responsible for failing to prevent the accident through prompt maintenance.
What is Needed to Win a Premises Liability Claim?
If you have been injured in a shopping mall accident, you have a right to pursue compensation because shopping mall owners are responsible for the safety of its patrons. Either the retail store or the shopping mall itself can be held liable in a premises liability claim.
The following elements are very important to the success of a premises liability claim:
- Document the injury with security personnel
- Seek medical care immediately
- Take photos or videos of the scene of the accident
- Gather the names and contact information of any witnesses
- Gather proof of damages, including medical bills, treatment records, and receipts
- Contact a personal injury attorney
The Detroit personal injury attorneys at Goodman Acker P.C. have more than 75 years of collective experience advocating for the rights of Michigan injury victims. If you or someone you know was hurt in a shopping mall, call us today to learn whether you have a case. We are available to speak with you during a case review, which you can request online by filling out a brief form.
Contact our office today to begin discussing your case: (248) 286-8100.