SLIP & FALL CLAIMS AT TARGET STORES

Target Premises Liability Claims

Target is a huge chain store, and many of us rely on their stores as our one-stop-shop to get groceries and other goods for the home. And for the most part, these are uneventful shopping trips. However, every now and again, a negligent employee or poorly thought out policy leads to someone being hurt, and an injury claim being filed.

If you have been hurt at target, then you need to speak to an attorney who is experienced in fighting for and winning premises liability cases. Blaszkow Legal is that law firm! We have fought the big names for our clients, and won!

Call today for a free consultation, anywhere in Maryland, Virginia, and DC!

Common Causes of Injuries at Target

Some of the more common causes of injuries at Target Stores include: Slip and fall accidents, trip and fall accidents, assault by Target employees, assault by security personnel, and shelving accidents (of course, that is not an exhaustive list, just the most common!).

• Slip and Falls. Slip and Falls are among the most common injuries at Target, and indeed any other retailer. Many law firms do not take these cases, because they can be very difficult to prove. Just because a person slipped and fell at a store, does not mean the store is automatically liable for the fall. In order for the store to be liable, there has to have been some sort of negligence. This means, in short, that the store created the slippery or dangerous condition, or otherwise knew about it (or should have known about it), and then failed to take the appropriate steps to either clean up the spill or slick condition, or warn people away from it.

• Trip and Falls. It is easy to trip and fall at a store when they are constantly stalking shelves with merchandise, even when customers are there! Sometimes pallets are left out, or boxes are left out where people can fall on them, like jutting our from shelves or displays. If you have tripped and fallen on a box or other item left out negligently by Target employees, then you may have a claim.

• Assaults by Target Employees. These claims are relatively rare, but they do happen. Often times however, the store staff member is not acting within the scope of their employment during the assault, meaning the store may not be automatically liable. It is important to speak to an attorney immediately to investigate these incidents immediately!

• Assaults by Security Personnel. Target loss prevention staff, often called Asset Prevention, are security for the store. They stop shoplifters, and often lawfully detain them and wait for police arrival. However, there have been times when these staff members have utilized excessive force, or hurt someone when trying to stop someone who is not, in fact, shoplifting. It is vital to speak to a lawyer right away!

• Shelving Collapse Incidents. Sometimes shelves are overstocked, or assembled improperly. Innocent people can walk by, days and weeks later, and those shelves can collapse and tumble down. Injuries caused by shelving collapses can be serious. Collapses can be caused by improper assembly, or overstocking, among other reasons.

Notice Requirements in Target Claims

In order to be successful in a claim against a Target store, it is important that the store knew or should have known about the problem - in law, this is called "notice." We have had some people who have called us who have been hurt, but never told a manager or staff member about the incident! If you are going to a Target store, and you are hurt, it is absolutely essential that you are inform staff immediately. This creates a record of the event, and also begins to build the list of witnesses into what happened.

Notice goes farther than that, however. A store must have known that a condition was dangerous. And, it has to have been caused by someone in the store. If, for example, a customer spilled some water on the floor, and another customer, 2 minutes later, walks in that space and slips and falls, the store may not automatically be responsible! This is because the store has never been informed of the dangerous condition, and even an exercise of due diligence may not have revealed it. The mere fact that an incident occurred at a Target store, does not make the store liable.

Alternately, in that same scenario, if the spill was created by a customer, and an hour goes by during which Target employees were walking through that space, then the store can be presumed to have constructive notice! This means that they should have known, and would have had they done what they were supposed to do and looked out for it. This is a different fact pattern entirely.

Gathering Evidence in Target Injury Cases

As with any personal injury claim, evidence is vital. We cannot win cases on allegations alone. In a slip and fall, for example, it is important that we allege what substance is on the floor. Far too often, clients come to us and say that they fell, but have absolutely no idea what they fell in, or on!

In order to preserve your claim, always document everything. Take pictures of everything! In a world of digital photos, you cannot have too many pictures. Take pictures of the area, of nearby cameras, nearby staff members, people who respond, any forms that you are given to fill out before and after - in and word, everything!

Your Potential Damages in a Target Personal Injury Claim

There is no "average" or "expected" amount that can be claimed in a premises liability claim. This is because each and every person is different, and their claims are viewed individually. One person can fall and hurt their back, while another can trip and hurt their leg - the two cases are not alike.

There are some basic elements of a claim for damages in any personal injury claim. These include:

• Medical expenses

• Future medical expenses

• Lost wages

• Future lost wages

• Emotional distress

• Inconvenience

• Humiliation

• Permanent injury

• Scarring

• Disfigurement

• Impaired earning capacity

• and more!

Always talk to a lawyer regarding your injury claim.

Speak to a Target Claims Lawyer Today!

Target has an insurance company working for it, like any other store. These insurance companies are very well trained. They will often try to offer you some money right away to make you go away. However, if you have an injury claim, going away is not exactly what you want to do. Oftentimes, people have absolutely no idea what they should claim, or are allowed to claim. The insurance companies have no obligation to tell you!

Call a personal injury lawyer right away, who is legally and ethically obligated to do everything possible for you! We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that we don't get paid unless you collect money. Our team of attorneys, paralegals, investigators, and other staff are geared up to tackle cases, from small to large, against these big companies and their insurance providers. Call a lawyer to make sure that you can get the camera footage preserved, begin an investigation, and get the claim filed in time to get you the compensation that you are entitled to.

Call now to speak to one of our experience to Target Supermarket injury lawyers today!

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