Can I Receive Compensation if I Was Injured at a Retail Store?

 Posted on April 09, 2021 in Premises Liability

The last thing you probably expect when you visit a grocery store, big-box store, mall, or other retailer is to be injured. Whether you were hurt because of a slip and fall accident, parking lot accident, or another type of incident, you may be left with painful injuries and expensive injury-related costs. You may wonder if you can sue the store for failing to prevent your injuries. The answer depends on the circumstances of your injury and other factors.

Bringing a Premises Liability Claim for an Injury Sustained at a Retail Store

Premises liability is the area of law that deals with the expectations of property owners. In Illinois, store owners are responsible for keeping their properties reasonably hazard-free. A store owner or property owner is not responsible for every injury that occurs on the premises, but they are responsible for injuries caused by negligence. If a store allows a dangerous condition to exist on the property, the store may be liable for injuries caused by that condition.

A store may be liable for injuries caused by:

• Falling objects from store shelves

• Unsafe electrical wiring

• Inadequate fire safety equipment

• Inadequate store security leading to a mugging or assault

• Spilled liquid or slippery substances

• Clutter in aisles

• Parking lot holes or other defects

The store will most likely be liable for your injury if the incident was foreseeable. For example, if store staff knew that spilled oil created a dangerously slippery area but did nothing to fix it, the store may be liable. If the spilled oil occurred only moments before your injury, the store is more likely to avoid culpability. However, if the oil was stored in such a way that a spill was inevitable, you may have a valid premises liability claim.

Pursuing Compensation for an Injury at a Store  

If a store’s negligence or failure to maintain reasonably safe premises caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. Damages are the negative consequences caused by the accident. Financial losses are the most common type of damages in a premises liability claim. You could be compensated for your medical bills, as well as your lost income from missing work. You may also be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering.

Contact a Winnebago County Premises Liability Lawyer

If you or a loved one have suffered injuries due to a fire, electrocution, slip and fall, or other incident at a store, contact Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law. A Rockford premises liability attorney from our team can investigate the incident and help you determine if a successful lawsuit is possible. Call 815-215-7561 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2048&ChapterID=57