Walmart is a multinational retail company known for offering quality, low-cost products making it a popular household name worldwide. However, Walmart is also known for the many personal injury claims against it.
Some customers at Walmart find themselves suffering from injuries due to a slip-and-fall accident within the company’s premises. Unfortunately, most of the slip-and-fall victims at Walmart find it challenging to file personal injury lawsuits against the giant retailer.
If you or a loved one were injured due to a fall at a Walmart store, speak to our team of slip-and-fall lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC. Our premises liability lawyers are experienced with personal injury law and dealing with large retailer claims.
Schedule a free no-obligation consultation through our contact form or call our Chicago Walmart slip and fall lawyer at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free). All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Walmart Slip-and-Fall Accidents
As of January 31, 2022, Wal-Mart Stores have 4,742 stores throughout the United States alone. With more than 4,700 outlets throughout the US, millions of people pass through Walmart every week.
Unfortunately, sometimes fall accidents occur within the Walmart premises, resulting in these customers suffering from severe fall injuries. And what makes a difficult situation worse is that these victims may find it challenging to seek compensation from Walmart.
Elements of Slip and Fall at Walmart
A property owner is not automatically accountable for injuries when a customer slips and falls within their premises. Winning a Walmart slip and fall claim takes more than hiring personal injury lawyers. The plaintiff must prove the following:
- there was an unreasonably dangerous condition, such as spilled liquids on the floor
- the store or its employees knew of the hazardous condition, or a reasonable inspection should have alerted them of the hazards
- the victim did not know of the condition
- the victim incurred injuries as a result of the dangerous condition
Walmart’s Claims Management
Walmart’s Claims Management Inc (CMI) [1] representatives handle liability claims against the company. Its goal is to “provide professional claims administration through timely investigations, comprehensive evaluations, fair determinations, and superior customer service.”
The Claims Management is tasked with dealing with personal injury claims resulting from a Walmart accident.
A fall injury victim within a Walmart property may find it challenging to deal with CMI and pursue compensation independently. Below are some of the tactics that Claim Management Inc uses to reduce liability or even avoid paying any compensation to accident victims at Walmart:
Medical Bills and Pay Statement
People injured at Walmart often receive calls from Claims Management, Inc. However, remember that the job of CMI is to try to reduce or even avoid accountability to slip and fall claims.
Regardless of your injuries, CMI will defend Walmart and will find ways to limit Walmart’s liability. Slip-and-fall accident victims at Walmart can expect the CMI representatives to want to review their medical bills.
Walmart’s claims services may suggest the following to the victim to reduce the settlement amount:
- The injuries are not as serious as the victim claims them to be
- The victim was previously injured
- Some of the medical treatments were not necessary
- Considering the injuries, the victim missed more work than was required
Our law firm offers a free consultation, so you can speak to a lawyer before talking to Walmart Claims Services.
Obtaining a Recorded Statement
Claims Management also asks accident victims within Walmart to submit a recorded statement describing the circumstances of the accident. Again, if you file an injury claim against Walmart, you are not obliged to do this.
Our lawyers believed you should never give any recorded statement to CMI. CMI representatives are trained to ask questions and elicit answers that can be detrimental to your case.
Delaying Your Claim
A claimant may expect immediate compensation after providing medical records and statements. Unfortunately, this was not the case for many slip-and-fall accident victims at Walmart.
Don’t be misled by the CMI’s persistent communication. After having what they need, they will intentionally delay the processing of claims, so the victim will later decide to settle for a lower amount.
The delay will result in accumulated medical costs, and the victim will lose income due to missed work.
Blaming the Victim
In most cases, evidence of a violation of the slip and fall policy proves is enough to prove Walmart’s negligence. However, CMI works to reduce liability, so its representatives will try to negotiate a low settlement amount.
A part of this tactic includes claiming that the victim caused the accident. The CMI team employs experts who will testify that people with a degenerative disorder or those at a certain age are prone to slipping or falling.
Before agreeing to any settlement amount, talk to a lawyer at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers. We’ve been helping victims of slip-and-fall accidents and have successfully obtained fair payouts for our clients.
Can I File a Personal Injury Lawsuit for a Walmart Fall Accident?
Every retail establishment is responsible for providing a safe environment for its customers, employees, and other people within its premises.
You have the right to seek financial compensation if you suffered a severe injury at Walmart retail store due to the company’s negligence. Any hazardous condition that contributes to an accident creates liability against the establishment.
If the accident occurred at the giant retailer’s parking lot, the victim might claim compensation from the company. Likewise, the company may still be held liable if a Walmart employee caused the accident.
How Much Money Does Walmart Settle For Slip And Fall Accidents?
Walmart has maintained a certain level of confidentiality concerning amounts paid for personal injury settlements. After settling the personal injury claim, most victims sign confidentiality agreements to keep them from discussing the event and settlement amount with the media.
While detailed information on personal injury claims settlements is not available, the public gets a glimpse of the high-profile personal injury settlements paid by Walmart.
Below are some settlements of cases that our Chicago Walmart slip and fall lawyers have compiled from court records:
West Virginia: $16,900,000 Verdict
The plaintiff, a 52-year-old grandmother, was out shopping at Walmart, her grandchild in the shopping cart. During that time, the store security had just caught and detained a shoplifter.
However, the shoplifter attempted to run away and, unfortunately, knocked the plaintiff over. She incurred serious injuries as the shopping car fell on top of her. The plaintiff suffered from severe abdominal injuries that required several surgeries and hospitalizations.
With the assistance of a personal injury attorney, the plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the giant retailer. The jury awarded $16.9 million to the plaintiff, even as Walmart blamed the shoplifter and denied the claim.
This verdict is considered the largest verdict in West Virginia history. The personal injury attorney gathered sufficient evidence and built a strong case against Walmart based on the ground that the security staff was negligent when they attempted to detain the shoplifter.
Tennessee: $525,000 Verdict
The claimant was a woman who slipped and fell at a Walmart store in Tennessee. The jury assigned 90 percent of the blame to Walmart and awarded $525,000 to the plaintiff in damages, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The giant retailer asserted that the woman did not have sufficient evidence to prove that Walmart was or should have been aware of the unsafe situation that caused the woman to fall. However, the jury favored the plaintiff’s interpretation of the video footage.
Texas: $119,112 Verdict
The plaintiff was a 42-year-old woman who suffered from multiple severe injuries when she slipped and fell at an El Paso Walmart. She was brought to an emergency room and was found to have incurred disc herniations, sprained ankle, an annular tear, and torn ligament.
The jury found Walmart liable and awarded $199,112 to compensate the victim for her injuries. While the defendant denied liability and the plaintiff had a strong case. She presented evidence that the employees used a mechanical scrubber filled with soap, causing the floor to be slippery.
Each incidence of a slip and fall is unique, and sufferers face varying costs and losses. Our team is familiar with determining the value of these cases and fighting for fair settlements.
Getting Immediate Help from Illinois Personal Injury Attorneys Familiar With Walmart Accident Cases
Customers injured during a visit to an Illinois Walmart store often receive immediate attention from a store employee or manager.
Their show of concern and ability to help often provides peace of mind to the victim. Usually, management will provide contact information so the accident victim can call the CMI office.
Unfortunately, seeking financial compensation from Walmart can be challenging.
Walmart Slip and Fall Cases FAQs
Walmart is one of the world’s largest retail companies and the largest non-government employer. However, the retail giant is also one of the most sued companies, being a defendant in many personal injury cases in the United States.
Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer to Resolve Your Compensation Claim
The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC represent people injured in a Chicago, IL Walmart slip-and-fall accident. Our attorneys can provide legal representation to ensure you receive adequate compensation to cover your medical bills and future medical costs.
Schedule a free legal consultation through our contact form or call us at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call). Our law firm advises on the best legal action for your personal injury case. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Resources: [1] Claims Management Inc
