Leading Causes of Injuries in Retail Stores 

Imagine you’re enjoying your day, going out shopping and next thing you know, you suffer a slip and fall. Not only is your day ruined, but now you’re going to face a ton of medical bills and other expenses related to your slip and fall with no help in sight. There are many ways that a person can be injured while shopping, but knowing what to look out for and what to avoid can help lower your chances of getting injured while in a retail store. 

Types of Retail Store Injuries 

There are quite a few ways that you may be injured in a retail setting, so here are a few things to look out for while going about your day shopping: 

Shopping Cart Injuries 

Most retail stores use the standard shopping cart for allowing customers to gather their items. Unfortunately, these carts aren’t always in the best of shape and even something as minor as a faulty wheel can result in a serious injury. Customers can trip and fall, carts can fall over, you can be hit by other shoppers with their carts, even children can be injured if the child safety seat malfunctions or the child falls out of the cart. 

Because the cart is the property of the retail store and customers have no reasonable way of knowing if a cart is defective until after they begin using it, these accidents are usually the responsibility of the store. 

To protect yourself from these types of injuries, try to give your cart a once over when you grab it. Make sure the compartment opens and closes properly, everything is secure and the wheels roll properly. If the cart seems in bad shape or won’t roll, opt for another cart and let someone in the store know. 

Trampling and Crowding Injuries 

We’ve all seen it happen, it’s a big holiday and a store becomes overcrowded to the point that someone ends up getting trampled and severely injured or even killed. Injuries from stores becoming too crowded are far too common these days. 

Stores have a limit on how many customers they can let in and if you are injured as a result, it can be the fault of the store and the patron who injured you, but proving these cases can be difficult. 

To protect yourself from crowding injuries the best thing to do is avoid shopping during peak times and on holidays where stores are more likely to be crowded. If you can’t avoid the crowds, keep in mind just how busy stores can get and try to plan your shopping during the least busy period. 

Parking Lot Injuries 

Injuries can happen even in the parking lot of a retail store, especially a busy one. As cars are entering and leaving, it’s easy to get into an accident, for a pedestrian to be hit or to trip and fall on the way to the car. Depending on who causes the accident, that person may be responsible for your injuries or it may be the fault of the retail store. 

The best way to protect yourself from these types of injuries is to look both ways when walking and always try to use a crosswalk whenever possible. In most places, regardless of whether they are entering or leaving the parking lot, pedestrians have the right of way, but drivers may not always acknowledge this so it is important to be vigilant. 

Slip and Fall Injuries 

The most common type of retail injury is the slip and fall. Slip and fall incidents can happen almost anywhere inside or outside a retail store. A broken piece of sidewalk, a wet floor from a spill, poor lighting, and clutter are just a few causes of slip and fall injuries. 

Stores have an obligation to keep the premises clean and safe for shoppers, so if you suffer a slip and fall, you will most likely be dealing with the store owner or manager when preparing your claim. 

To avoid a slip and fall injury, always try to keep your eyes out for potential hazards and move more slowly. If you notice a wet floor without proper signage, a poorly lit area or other hazard, try your best to avoid it and let someone in the store know so that it can be repaired or closed off. 

Conclusion 

There you have it – some of the most common causes of retail injuries, what to do if you are injured, and how best to avoid these types of injuries in the first place. We hope these tips will make your next shopping experience much safer and more enjoyable.