Many people leave their homes every day without thinking of the potential dangers that lie ahead. However, it is possible for an accident to happen anywhere. This includes retail stores. Accidents can occur in a retail store when the store owner, or its employees, act negligently. When this happens, victims can suffer severe injuries such as broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and brain damage. Those involved in retail store accidents due to negligence should retain the services of an experienced personal injury attorney.
Premises Liability
Store owners are responsible for their property. This means they are obligated to make sure the premises is safe for business visitors (invitees) who enter their store. This can be done by conducting routine inspections of the premises to ensure they are aware of any potential hazards. Doing so allows them to rectify any dangerous situations before a person can become injured. This can include spilled liquids, uneven walkways, poor lighting, parking lot hazards, construction, and more.
Proving Negligence
People who suffer from significant injuries at the hands of another party often want to hold that party liable for negligence. This can be done with the assistance of an experienced attorney to file a personal injury claim. Throughout the process of the lawsuit, the injured party must satisfy the burden of proof in order to prove negligence. This can be done by answering two important questions:
- Was the store owner aware of the danger or hazard?
- Should the store owner have reasonably known about the danger or hazard?
To answer these questions, the individual can demonstrate how the accident occurred in addition to the store owner’s involvement. This includes showing that the store owner knew, or should have known, about the danger or hazard and did not fix it. A store owner may have known if they previously received notice. This can be a constructive notice or an actual notice. Constructive notice is if the owner did not fulfill their obligation in inspecting the property. Actual notice is any record that shows the store owner was aware of the hazard because it was previously reported. This may be an email, memo, photograph, etc. An experienced attorney can help an injured victim gather evidence that can help them prove negligence in their case.
Contact our Firm
The Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz has decades of experience representing clients in Howard County, Maryland who have been charged with a crime or have been seriously injured by the negligence of another party. Contact the Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz today to discuss your case.
