Falling Merchandise May Be Grounds for Premises Liability Lawsuits
As consumers, you should expect stores to be generally safe. If you're shopping or browsing, you shouldn't be injured or face potential injury. Sadly this is something that happens to numerous consumers, which is why our Scranton law firm is here to help.
Many people file premises liability lawsuits after being injured at businesses. As you're about to read, dangers take many forms, from wet floors to the items you're reaching for on the top of a shelf.
Stocked Shelves Can Be Unexpectedly Dangerous
When we think about the accident and injury dangers at stores, we tend to think of objects that are on the ground. This could be spilled liquids, debris on the floor, or various kinds of slipping and tripping hazards. Yet the store shelves can post a number of dangers as well. When a heavy item falls on a customer, it can cause serious harm.
These dangers regarding shelves are particularly important to consider when it comes to grocery stores, convenience stores, drug stores, and hardware and garden supply stores.
The Dangers of Shelves Packed Beyond Capacity
Many times businesses will place a lot of their inventory on the shelves in order to entice consumers. However, there are times when shelves can be packed beyond safe capacity. Cans of goods may be stacked taller and higher than advisable, making them more likely to fall from even the slightest agitation.
At hardware stores, shelves may be stocked well beyond a reasonable weight capacity, which means the shelves could break or fall over, causing serious harm to numerous people at the store.
Sales Displays Can Similarly Cause Hazards
In addition to shelves posing serious hazards, sales displays can similarly be a cause of concern. These arrangements of products on sale are eye-catching, but if product is jostled in a certain way, it could lead to the items falling and harming people nearby. Large sales displays may also take up space in aisles, making accidental contact more likely.
Risk of Head and Facial Injuries
When items fall from shelves, the most immediate concerns are injuries to the head and face. Cans or jars can lead to serious cuts and bruises. If a person is struck in the eyes or nose, this can lead to serious harm given how delicate these parts of the body are. Heavier items, such as large bags of soil or concrete found in hardware stores, can lead to even more serious injuries.
Risk of Other Kinds of Accidents
After these items fall, the risk of injury isn't over. If there's a spill or mess of some kind, this can cause other accidents, such as slipping and tripping on debris. It's important that consumers be kept away from these messes and that product be cleared away and the floor cleaned as soon as possible.
Employees and Businesses Need to Exercise Responsibility
Accidents involving overstocked and dangerous shelving can be avoided through common sense. It's important that employees and businesses be careful about how high they stack their goods to avoid falling objects. Whenever possible, heavy items ought to be on lower shelves so they are easy to reach and less likely to strike consumers reaching for them. When an avoidable injury occurs as a result of falling objects, injury attorneys can help you seek damages for the harm that was done to you.
Learn More About Premises Liability Lawsuits
For more information about your legal rights at a place of business, be sure to contact our team of personal injury attorneys today. The lawyers of our firm are here to help you in your time of legal need.
