Which Are the Common Injuries Caused by Slip and Falls in Shopping Malls?
Most people are familiar with personal injury lawsuits, as they are not especially uncommon. However, numerous individuals would be surprised to discover how many injuries of this type are related to shopping in malls. Accidents in malls are much more common than one might think and often involve a property owner’s failure to maintain safe premises or warn shoppers of potential hazards.
Types of Shopping Injuries
“Shopping injuries” is a general term used to describe injuries that take place when a person is patronizing a retail establishment, such as a shopping mall. Some injuries of this type may be minor, while others may include damage of a more serious nature, such as a spinal injury, neck injury, torn ligament, broken bone or sprain.
Slip and Fall Injuries
One of the most common types of shopping injuries is a slip and fall accident. This may occur due to escalator malfunctions, poor lighting, torn carpets, wet floors, or cracks or holes in the cement of the parking lot. A person may also slip on an unseen object or spilled liquid, especially during rainy weather or in food courts.
Ligament and Muscle Injuries
Ligament and muscle injuries are common results of slip and fall accidents. These include muscle spasms, sprains, and ligament tears. A person may also injure his or her rotator cuff, which is an especially painful shoulder injury involving tendons.
Neck and Back Injuries
Neck and back injuries are very common when a person has had a slip and fall accident, as the vertebrae often take the full force of the fall. Accidents caused by slippery floors often result in an individual falling directly onto his or her back, which can lead to broken or crushed vertebrae, or even a broken neck.
Other common injuries that occur during a slip and fall accident include broken bones, such as the legs or arms. In many cases, a person will put out his or her dominant hand in a subconscious effort to break the fall, which can result in a serious fracture of the arm. If a person’s leg buckles under him or her during the fall, a broken ankle or leg is frequently the result. If one falls forward and lands in one or both knees, painful knee injuries usually follow, including anything from a torn ACL to a broken kneecap or torn ligament.
Personal Injury Claims
If you have been injured at a shopping mall or on a commercial retail property, you may seek compensation under your state’s negligence laws. Retail store owners must demonstrate reasonable care to ensure the property is generally safe from hazardous conditions or hidden dangers they believe may lead to injuries. For instance, stores must quickly mop up spills, replace dimmed or burned out light bulbs, fix broken railings or stairs, remove fallen objects, provide adequate security for shoppers. If you are injured at a shopping mall, contact a legal professional at Banafshe Law Firm as soon as possible to pursue compensation for your damages.