Injury at a Store

North Carolina Injury Attorneys Helping You Seek Appropriate Recovery Following an Injury at a Store

Premises liability accidents at grocery and retail stores are, unfortunately, very common in North Carolina. The aftermath of suffering an injury in a store in North Carolina can be both physically and emotionally taxing. You may incur significant medical expenses related to treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care. Beyond the physical pain, there’s also the emotional distress and noneconomic damages, often referred to as “pain and suffering,” that can be caused by such an incident. Working with an experienced premises liability attorney is crucial to seeking the full appropriate compensation for the range of expenses and losses you have suffered.

Premises liability claims against negligent property owners or managers following slip-and-fall accidents can significantly impact one’s financial stability. In addition to compensation for your medical bills and pain and suffering, we may also be able to also pursue lost wages due to time off work. Depending on the severity of the slip-and-fall or other store injury, you may face long-term or permanent physical limitations. In premises liability cases involving more serious injuries affecting one’s future ability to work, we may also be able to pursue additional financial recovery, such as potential future earnings if you are unable to return to work.

At ER Law Trial Lawyers, we can guide you through the complex legal processes following a store injury. We will help you gather necessary evidence and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to seek appropriate compensation for your expenses and losses. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation, during which we will assess the unique details of your case and devise a strategy for your steps moving forward.

Common Types of Injuries in a Store or Retail Location in North Carolina

Various types of injuries may occur in a store or retail location in North Carolina. The following are some of the common types of injuries and accidents that  occur in stores:

• Slips and Falls: A slip-and-fall in a store can lead to a wide range of injuries, from simple bruising to more serious conditions like fractures.
• Struck by an Object: Customers could be hit by falling merchandise or other objects.
• Crushed by an Object: This could happen if a large object falls on a customer, such as a product, box, or display.
• Cuts and Lacerations: These can involve interactions with broken glass or sharp edges on shelves or products.
• Injuries from Property Defects: Broken stairs, railing failures, or deck collapses in a store could cause severe injuries to victims.
• Inhalation of Toxic Substances: In some cases, customers might inhale dangerous substances, leading to respiratory issues.
• Musculoskeletal Disorders: These injuries can include sprains, strains, back pain, soreness, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The significant health consequences of these incidents can include one or more of the following:

• Back Injuries
• Neck Injuries
• Hip Fractures
• Knee Injuries
• Head Injuries
• Broken Bones (Fractures)
• Bruising and/or Bleeding
• Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

It’s important to note that while stores have a duty of care towards their customers, it does not automatically make them liable for all injuries. The injured party must prove negligence on the part of the store. This will involve investigation and collection of relevant evidence in coordination with your premises liability attorney.

Slip-and-Fall Injuries in Grocery and Retail Stores are Especially Common

Slip-and-fall accidents can lead to serious injuries, whether these occur inside the retail store, in the parking lot, or along the entryway area. Stores like grocery stores, supermarkets, and retail outlets need to anticipate foot traffic and identify unsafe property conditions so they can promptly take safety measures to prevent injuries. Wet or icy floors are common warning signs of impending fall-related injuries if not resolved, and many fall accidents occur because the manager or other employees at a store do not immediately fix the dangerous condition or warn visitors.

These situations often lead to fall accidents in which the injured victim will seek to recover compensation through a slip-and-fall claim against the at-fault party with the aid of an experienced slip-and-fall attorney. Many times, the manager and employees will only resolve the issue after an injury has occurred. While this serves the store’s interests to prevent additional fall injury claims, the initial injured victim still has a slip-and-fall case. Understand that the store employees are seeking to minimize or prevent a premises liability claim related to the incident, but as the injury victim, you need to work closely with a slip-and-fall lawyer to protect your rights.

It is the property owner’s duty to protect a lawful visitor to their store. Our experienced slip-and-fall lawyers will pursue the appropriate maximum compensation available in your slip-and-fall case by seeking to show that the property owner’s negligence was responsible for your slip-and-fall accident and the damages you have suffered due to this neglect.

Act Quickly in Coordination with Your Slip-and-Fall Attorney

Timely action is important because North Carolina has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including those relating to premises liability. Early evidence-gathering and investigation shortly following a slip-and-fall accident can be crucial to your injury claim, and there is often significant legwork to be done before filing. It is wise to seek legal counsel as soon as possible following an injury to ensure you file in a timely manner.

Training and protocols for employees, combined with the specific order of events and reactions among the parties involved upon identifying a dangerous condition, can be important factors in your premises liability case. An experienced store injury lawyer at ER Law Trial Lawyers can carefully assess whether the property owner or store manager caused your injury at store premises through their negligent actions or inactions.

The Responsibilities of a Store Owner or Manager Regarding Visitors’ Safety

Under North Carolina law, store owners or managers have several responsibilities concerning the safety of visitors:

• Duty of Care: Store owners or managers have a duty to maintain a safe environment so that people who come onto the property don’t suffer an injury. They must exercise reasonable care in the maintenance of their premises for the protection of lawful visitors.
• Upkeep and Maintenance: Property owners and managers are responsible for conducting proper premises upkeep and maintenance. This includes a duty to repair and correct known dangers.
• Identify and Correct Hazards: Property owners and managers also have a duty to reasonably inspect for, discover, and correct unknown dangers.
• Warning Visitors: If the store owner or manager cannot limit dangerous conditions, they must warn visitors about them.

Preserving Evidence After an Injury in a Store

It is crucial to preserve evidence from an injury in a store in North Carolina. Evidence preservation is important for several reasons:

• Establishing Liability: Evidence helps establish the liability of the store owner or manager, which can be vital for a successful personal injury claim.
• Documenting Conditions: It provides a record of the conditions at the time of the incident, which might otherwise change or be repaired.
• Corroborating Your Claim: Evidence such as photographs or video can corroborate your account of the incident and help to counter any attempts to dispute your claim.

Some ways to preserve evidence include:

• Photographing and Recording Video: Capture images or video of the accident scene, including any hazards or conditions that contributed to the injury.
• Store Video Footage: Request any surveillance footage that may have captured the incident. Work with your attorney to provide the store a preservation letter, which can be used to ensure the store retains this footage so it can be used in your case.
• Witness Information: Gather contact information for any witnesses who can provide statements regarding the incident.
• Medical Records: Keep a thorough record of all medical treatments you have received related to the injury.

The preservation of evidence could make the difference between a successful claim and an unsuccessful claim, further underscoring the urgency of consulting an experienced injury attorney following an injury.

What To Do Following an Injury at a Store in North Carolina

After suffering an injury in a store in North Carolina, you should take these steps:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention: Prioritize your health by seeking immediate medical help.
2. Document the Incident: Use a camera or smartphone to take photographs or videos of the scene, showing the conditions that led to the injury.
3. Gather Witnesses’ Contact Information: If there were any witnesses to the incident, secure their contact information for potential future use.
4. Report the Injury to the Store: Inform the store management about the incident. This could involve filling out an accident report form.
5. Follow Medical Advice: Comply with all recommended treatments and keep a record of your medical expenses.
6. Consult with a Lawyer: Seek legal advice to understand your rights and your options to pursue a personal injury claim.

Evaluating Damages for a Case Involving an Injury at a Store

The evaluation of damages in a legal case involving an injury at a store in North Carolina involves several factors:

• Medical Expenses: The costs associated with medical care and rehabilitation are an important part of your claim. They can include hospital bills, medication costs, physical therapy, and projected future medical expenses related to the injury.
• Lost Wages: If the injury caused you to miss work or reduced your ability to earn, you could seek compensation for lost wages or diminished earning capacity.
• Property Damage: If your personal property, such as clothing or electronics, was damaged due to the incident, the cost of repair or replacement may be included among your damages.
• Pain and Suffering: You may be able to seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress you have suffered due to the incident. This is typically calculated based on the severity of the injury and its impact on a victim’s life. Loss of quality of life and other noneconomic damages are similarly calculated.
• Punitive Damages: These relatively rare damages are sometimes awarded in cases where the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious or reckless. Rather than compensating the plaintiff for specific losses, they are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter others from similar conduct.

The value of a personal injury case depends largely on the valuation of these damages. The more severe the injury and the greater the impact on the victim’s life, the higher the potential damages. Therefore, it’s critical to document all aspects of your damages to ensure a fair assessment of the losses for which you might seek compensation. Your injury attorney at ER Law Trial Lawyers will guide you and evaluate your damages.

Proving Fault in a North Carolina Store Injury Case

To prove fault in an store injury case, you and your attorney must establish the following elements:

1. Duty of Care: The store owner or manager had a legal responsibility to maintain a safe environment for customers.
2. Breach of Duty: The store failed to uphold this duty, for example, by neglecting to fix a hazardous condition. Breach of duty of care establishes negligence.
3. Causation: The breach of duty directly led to the incident that caused the injury.
4. Damages: The victim suffered actual harm or injury due to the negligent actions or inactions.

Understanding Contributory Negligence in a North Carolina Store Injury Case

It’s important to note that North Carolina operates under a contributory negligence rule. This means that if the injured party is found to be even slightly at fault (e.g., 1%) for their own injuries, they may be barred from recovering any damages. In other words, you cannot claim compensation if you were partially responsible for the injury you suffered in the store.

This is one of the strictest negligence rules in the country, and it can significantly affect your ability to seek compensation in a North Carolina injury case. Work closely with your attorney from the outset to analyze the events surrounding your injury and make sure contributory negligence will not jeopardize your case.

How an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You Following an Injury at a Store

An experienced personal injury attorney can assist someone who has been injured in a store in North Carolina in several ways:

• Identifying Injuries: An attorney can help to identify injuries that you may not have initially recognized, such as late-onset symptoms like headaches or memory loss.
• Communication: An injury attorney can facilitate or manage communication with insurance companies and the party responsible for the injury, helping to protect your interests.
• Case Evaluation: A personal injury lawyer can evaluate the circumstances of your injury, determine whether negligence was involved, and assess the potential value of your claim.
• Evidence Gathering: Attorneys can help to gather and preserve crucial evidence to support the claim, including medical records, accident reports, and witness statements.
• Negotiation: Your lawyer can negotiate with the opposing party or their insurance company to seek a fair settlement on your behalf.
• Representation in Court: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your attorney can represent you in court, presenting your case to a judge or jury.
• Maximizing Compensation: An experienced attorney can help ensure victims seek the maximum appropriate compensation for their injuries, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

At ER Law Trial Attorneys, we invite individuals injured in North Carolina to contact us to request a free case evaluation.

Schedule a Free Consultation with ER Law Trial Lawyers in Greensboro, North Carolina

Work with an experienced premises liability attorney from the beginning of your case. At ER Law Trial Lawyers, we will carefully review the unique details of your case to identify your needs and strategize solutions for your future. Let us identify your next steps to seek the financial compensation you need following your injury.

Call us today at (336) 904-9000 or fill out our online form to request a free consultation to discuss your personal injury case. Our attorneys can help you understand the full scope of your damages while evaluating the details surrounding the incident that caused your injury. We will devise a tailored case strategy so you can confidently proceed on the path to recovery.

For your convenience, we are accessible to discuss your case by phone, over Zoom, or in person at either of our offices in Reidsville or Greensboro, North Carolina. We proudly serve North Carolina residents in both Guilford County and Rockingham County.

Protecting Your Rights