Many shoppers are injured inside retail stores with slip and fall accidents. Unfortunately, many of these accidents do not result in viable personal injury cases. There are many instances when the shopper caused the accident to occur. For example, shoppers who run inside of a store contribute to an unsafe walking environment where they may injure themselves or others. If slip and fall victims caused their own injuries, there is no compensation available from a lawsuit. Slip and fall victims who want to find out if they have viable cases should talk to personal injury lawyers in Baltimore. Almost all personal injury attorneys are willing to give a free initial consultation to prospective clients.
One common problem faced by personal injury lawyers in Baltimore when talking with prospective clients is that the store had the yellow warning signs out there. It is possible that the shopper did not notice the yellow warning signs. Unfortunately, that is a sign of a victim who was not paying attention while walking. Under the law, shoppers have to take reasonable care and avoid dangers whenever possible. If they’re not looking where they’re walking, that is a sign that a shopper is not taking reasonable care. If part of the store was not well lit, the shopper has an obligation to avoid dangerous situations like that. If the shopper assumed the risk of walking through a darkened area, the store cannot be held responsible.
On the other hand, there are many slip and fall accidents that were caused by retail stores. Store owners have a responsibility to make sure that the aisles are monitored on a regular basis. If there is a spill, it should be discovered and remedied within a reasonable amount of time. For example, if a slip and fall accident occurs 30 seconds after a jar of food spilled, the store is not liable since store employees did not have a reasonable opportunity to remedy the hazard. However, there is a viable personal injury lawsuit if the spill has been there for hours.
Although many slip and fall accidents do not result in viable lawsuits, many victims may be able to sue if the store was truly negligent. The best way to find out if a case is viable is to talk to a personal injury atorney.
