Falling Merchandise Accident Attorney

Most of us have shopped at large warehouse stores with merchandise stacked up on towering store shelves, sometimes high above the floor. This business model is convenient and cost-effective for large outlets because it eliminates the need for additional storage or another warehouse to maintain large quantities of merchandise.

However, when merchandise is inadequately secured, it poses a significant risk to the unsuspecting shoppers as falling merchandise, such as boxes, can fall on customers and cause severe injuries or even fatalities.

The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, fight insurance companies on behalf of our clients who require medical care after suffering falling merchandise injuries on the sales floor.

Our Chicago premises liability lawyers handle personal injury cases and protect our clients' legal issues and rights as we seek compensation on their behalf. We offer a free consultation to discuss the merits of falling merchandise cases at our law firm. Contact us at (888) 424-5757.

The Store Owners' Duty of Care Against Falling Merchandise Injuries

Every retail or warehouse store business owner must take reasonable care to protect the public and shoppers visiting their establishment. This legal duty extends to store and property owners, including grocery stores, small retailers, large retail outlets, and big-box stores like Walmart.

Preventing merchandise from falling can be supported when retail store owners prohibit workers from stacking heavy merchandise on a high shelf. A premises liability claim case can be avoided whereby store owners could have been held financially responsible to cover medical costs.

Employees must ensure that merchandise is not improperly stacked, avoiding any dangerous condition that could cause serious injury or falling merchandise injuries to shoppers.

Prevalence of Falling Merchandise Accidents At Large Retailers And Warehouse Chain Stores

Since 1987, roughly 30,000 injuries involving falling merchandise have been reported by Walmart. Home Depot has confirmed as many as 185 falling merchandise injury claims per week.

A paper produced by the Roderick Retail Safety Institute in 2009, written by Dr. Larry Roderick, Ph.D., PE, conservatively estimates 750,000 customer accidents yearly in the United States. How many of these are from falling merchandise is challenging to determine.

The United States federal government has yet to mandate a collection system for gathering information on dangerous conditions that lead to shopping mall accidents. Therefore the exact number of falling merchandise injuries has not been documented, and the number of personal injury claims remains unknown.

However, there have been many articles, television news shows, and extensive litigation on this topic, lending some reasonable estimates on the prevalence of these accidents. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, is familiar with the merchandising practices at such large stores as Costco, Home Depot, Lowe's, Target, and Walmart in premises liability cases.

Increasing Shopper Safety

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors requested a report with recommendations for ensuring more safety for shoppers in large retail outlets. The Legislative Analyst Report on Warehouse Safety Standards states that the following factors could increase shopper safety:

• Height policies for stacked merchandise that consider the type of shelving and type of merchandise
• Procedures that require store personnel to regularly check the store aisles and correct misplaced items
• Use of spotters to keep customers away whenever forklifts are in use and during the loading or off-loading of merchandise
• Stacking merchandise when the store is closed to customers or when there is minimal customer traffic
• Worker education and training on the safe stacking of merchandise, including handling slippery boxes
• Greater involvement by managers in promoting safe workplace practices

Some big-box stores have taken safety measures to protect their customers from falling merchandise by stocking the shelves after hours.

Customer Injuries Sustained in an Accident Caused By Falling Merchandise

Many people have been injured by falling merchandise and sustained serious injuries by either being crushed by oversized pallets or objects falling from the "sky shelving" inside some warehouse stores. Their injuries are not just caused by large or heavy objects but also by the velocity as the item falls.

Even a small object hurtling toward the sales floor can be dangerous. An eight-pound bowling ball dropped four feet will have the "weight" of a 400 lb stationary object. Under these hazardous conditions, falling merchandise can very likely fatally strike the head of the victim.

Various common injuries and permanent injuries can occur from wet floor fall accidents and falling merchandise, causing :

• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions
• Neck and back injuries, including herniated discs
• Broken bones
• Crush injuries
• Various spinal cord injuries
• Nerve damage
• Total paralysis
• Fall Injuries
• Lacerations
• Bruises or contusions
• Wrongful death

Responsibility of Stores to Protect Customers From Injuries From Falling Merchandise

Under the law regarding the liability of premises, retail store owners are duty-bound to provide a safe environment for their customers and employees. When merchandise falls from the shelving, the store ‘failed’ in its duty to protect shoppers. It can be considered a dangerous premise liability issue, where the store owner can be held liable for fair compensation.

When a business has not correctly and properly secured their merchandise, they are acting negligently and not protecting the consumer from possible falling merchandise injury. In most cases, the store owner, management, and employees could be found financially liable for damages.

Many injured customers are entitled to receive a financial recovery in a premises liability lawsuit with falling merchandise injuries to cover their medical expenses, physical therapy, lost wages, pain, and suffering.

Falling Store Merchandise Accident FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions about personal injuries sustained due to falling merchandise in department stores. Should you have additional questions, we welcome you to contact our law firm and speak to a personal injury lawyer in a free consultation today regarding your legal rights and options.

Chicago Falling Merchandise Premises Liability Lawyers Representing Victims Of Falling Merchandise Injury

Were you or a family member injured, or have you lost a loved one in a falling merchandise accident in Illinois? If so, you deserve full compensation through a favorable settlement or jury trial.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, understands the impact an injury or wrongful death can have on a family. Our personal injury lawyers will fight for your rights within the law. We have years of experience handling an Illinois personal injury case, and our law firm will do everything necessary to obtain the best possible outcome in your personal injury claim.

A successful resolution of your premises liability claim will include recovery of your medical costs and time away from work. Contact our law firm today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call) or through the contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Contingency “No Win, No Fee” Guarantee

No fee is ever charged unless we obtain a financial award for your falling merchandise case. Our personal injury attorneys accept cases on a contingency fee basis. Our "No-Win/No Fee Guarantee" ensures you will owe us nothing if we cannot successfully resolve your case.

Resources:

• Student hit by Falling Debris
• Slip and Fall Wrongful Death at Illinois Plant