Walmart likes to stack its merchandise high off of the floor. Walmart ceilings are generally very high and allow for easy stacking of merchandise. Stacked merchandise can be a disaster waiting to happen. Without rigorous training of its employees and adhering to strict safety standards, merchandise can fall on a shopper rather easily.
Falling merchandise can result in severe injuries. Shoppers are at risk from suffering an injury to their head such as a laceration, traumatic brain injury, concussion, or injury to their eyes. Heavy merchandise falling on an individual can inflict other severe injuries. Falling merchandise can knock a person to the fall and cause a crushing injury. A crushing injury may lead to broken bones in the hands, arms, legs, feet, or hips. Furthermore, the victim could suffer a spinal injury or another back injuryfrom trying to dodge the falling items, even if the items do not strike the victim.
Walmart and every other store in Illinoishas a duty to protect its customers. Under Illinois law, customers who visit a store are called invitees. Stores owe invitees the highest duty of care required of a premises owner. Stores like Walmart owe their customers the responsibility to protect them from known dangers as well as dangers that could injure them which would become known following a reasonableinspection. Therefore, Walmart owes a duty to protect its customers from falling merchandise caused by negligent stacking, shelving that is in disrepair, or the foreseeable actions of a third party, meaning another shopper.
If you sustained an injury from falling merchandise at Walmart, you have legal rights. You may be eligible to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for your damages and other losses. If you do file a complaint against Walmart, be prepared to fight. Walmart does not settle cases easily and will try to blame you or another shopper for creating a hazardous situation that leads to your injury.
Injured? Call Stein Shulman, LLC For Your Instant Case Analysis
Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Car Accident Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at 312.422.0500.
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Chicago, IL 60602
312.422.0500