While everyone in Indiana handles stress differently, many people enjoy letting off steam by browsing through their favorite stores. Unfortunately, this might not be as safe and carefree as you might think. The risk of being involved in a slip-and-fall accident or related shopping injury is surprisingly high.
These types of injuries often make the news around major shopping holidays, including Black Friday and the Christmas season. However, you can get injured while shopping during any time of the year. It is important to treat yourself with kindness regardless of when you receive an injury, as most shopping injuries are the result of poor safety management and not individual shoppers’ behavior.
Slip-and-fall accidents
Shopping injury is an umbrella term that refers to a number of accidents and injuries that might occur while shopping. Of these, slip-and-fall accidents are perhaps the most well-known. Factors that contribute to slip-and-fall injuries include:
- Wet floors
- Uneven flooring
- Poor lighting
- Torn carpets
- Escalator malfunctions
TV shows and movies may often use falls when making someone the butt of a joke, but they are a serious and sometimes life-threatening accident. The suddenness of an unexpected fall means there is little to no time to brace yourself. This leaves you vulnerable to anything from bruises and cuts to broken bones and head injuries.
Safety risks hiding in plain sight
Have you ever needed an item only to find that it was just out of reach? Or perhaps it was part of an elaborate retail display? These types of items can fall off a shelf or display and strike shoppers on the head, causing serious and even long-term brain injuries.
Even a shopping cart — an item that you might use every time you go into a store — can be dangerous. Poorly maintained shopping carts can potentially tip over. This poses a risk not only to the person pushing it, but to anyone else in the vicinity.
Demonstrating negligence
Getting help for a shopping injury often involves thoughtful legal action taken against the store. However, this requires proving that the store’s negligence either caused or contributed to your injuries. While this can be a challenge, many victims find that they are ready to meet that challenge head-on when they have the right support and guidance on their side.
