Shopping Mall Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards

Lever & Ecker, PLLC August 13, 2015 Slip Trip & Fall

A day out at the local shopping mall is supposed to be fun.  Many people turn to shopping for stress relief, relaxation, and for a good time out with their friends or family.

An injury from a slip and fall accident while you’re out shopping is the last thing anybody wants to happen when they’re trying to enjoy their day, but there are many hazards in shopping malls that can turn your day sour very fast if you are not aware of them.  We’ve put together a list of common slip and fall hazards that can be found in shopping malls so you can protect yourself while you are out.

Potential Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards in a Shopping Mall

There are usually many different types of stores in shopping malls and each present different hazards depending on the type of store.  For this blog, we are going to focus on general hazards that present themselves in most shopping malls and things that most shopping malls would have in common no matter where they are in the country or how upscale they are.

Spilled Beverages

Most malls have some type of food court or at least a snack stand or coffee shop and it’s common to see people window shopping with some sort of beverage in their hands.  If the beverage spills and management fails to clean it up, it can be very hazardous for patrons, especially if their hands are full of shopping bags which can compromise their balance.  Shopping malls often have staircases or escalators and a spilled beverage that is not cleaned up near one of these can be even more dangerous for customers.

Wet Floors in the Bathroom
If the mall’s management wants their customers to keep coming back, clean bathrooms are essential.  In the effort to keep bathrooms clean, floors will have to be wet down and mopped.  If the floors are not properly dried or management does not place the appropriate signage to warn customers of the risk of a wet floor, customers are at risk to slip, fall, and injure themselves on wet floors.  Water on tile can be especially hard to see, even more so if the bathroom is poorly lit or the customer has vision problems.

Wires from Holiday Displays
At some point in their life, most people have been to a shopping mall to see Santa or the Easter Bunny.  These fun characters are often accompanied by a large holiday display full of lights and decorations and are usually placed in the center of the mall where they are guaranteed lots of foot traffic.  To light up these displays and provide power for moving parts, often time wires and electrical cords will have to be run across the walkways.  Wires and electrical cords that are not taped down and maintained by mall management can present a huge tripping hazard, especially when the traffic around these displays is often made up of young children with their families and grandparents.

Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall Accident

1. Regain Your Composure
The first thing to do after a slip and fall accident is to try to relax.  If you are hysterical and distraught, it will be more difficult for you to communicate to others what happened and how they will best be able to help you.  Take a few deep breaths and try to clear your head.

2. Collect Evidence and Document the Scene
Take detailed notes of your surroundings and exactly what your slipped or tripped on.  If possible, take pictures of the scene and the cause of your accident.  If there were any witnesses, be sure to get their contact information because their statements to what happened could be important later on.

3. Seek Medical Attention
If you are seriously hurt, seek medical attention immediately!  Your health is paramount to everything else.  Even if you do not feel as though you are seriously injured it is important to see a doctor to acquire official documentation of your injuries.  This official documentation will be paramount if you choose to pursue a legal route to gain compensation for the injuries you sustained.

4. Contact a Slip and Fall Attorney with Experience
An experienced slip and fall attorney will be able to expertly handle your case.  With slip and fall cases, as with most legal matters, there is a timeline in which papers must be processed and legal matters filed.  These things are very difficult to do on your own if you do not have experience, and a slip and fall attorney who has handled situations like this many times will be able to guide you through the process and help you seek justice.

The Slip and Fall Attorneys at Lever & Ecker

The Slip and Fall attorneys at Lever & Ecker will help you gain compensation for your injuries.  For more information on our additional practice areas, click here and do not hesitate to contact us for a free case evaluation and consultation.

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