Holiday Shopping Safety Tips
The holiday shopping season is upon us and the streets, malls, and parking lots are jam-packed with people looking for deals on the year’s hot items. For many cultures, this time of the year is about giving, generosity, thoughtfulness towards those we love, and compassion towards those less fortunate. But disaster can still strike in this festive season. In fact, crowded and cluttered stores and busy streets and parking lots have the potential to cause serious injury to innocent shoppers. Today we’ll be discussing Holiday shopping safety. You can find more everyday safety tips on our blog or YouTube channel.
Holiday Shopping Safety: Crowds
The first and most obvious potential safety hazard we’ll be discussing is the crowd. Large numbers of people attempting to move quickly through enclosed spaces can spell danger, especially for children and the elderly. Worse yet; long lines, overburdened staff, supply shortages, and exhaustion can leave tempers flaring. So-called “Black Friday,” traditionally the nation’s busiest shopping day, sees tragic violence year after year. This may be due to negligence on the part of the retailers, or willful malice by private citizens. In any case, avoiding these crowds is one of the easiest ways to minimize risk of injury while holiday shopping. Shop online and avoid peak hours at big box retailers and malls, especially if you have young children and elderly or disabled relatives.
What if I Slip and Fall in a Store?
Malloy Law has previously covered the legal complications of slip and fall injuries taking place inside large retailers. Our own comprehensive account of this potential personal injury scenario can be found here. However, given the increased risk of injury during the holiday season, a refresher of this information seems appropriate.
For instance: in the event that you slip and fall and suffer an injury in Walmart, the burden will then be on you and your attorneys to prove that the store acted negligently in some way that directly contributed to the injury. Common instances of negligence in big-box stores may include:
- Wet floors without warning signs
- Spilled food or drink
- Uneven flooring or carpets
- Loose floor tiles or floorboards
- Improperly secured shelves
- Improperly stacked goods
- Cluttered aisles or floor space
In the event that you suffer an injury from any of these potential causes, your fist priority should be seeking medical attention. Your own health is paramount.
Who is Liable?
In many cases, your personal injury case will only concern the negligence of the specific store in which you were injured and the store’s staff and management. However, if your injury occurred under circumstances allowed or endorsed by the safety policies of the store’s parent corporation, you may find you actually have a case against the broader corporation itself. A talented and experienced personal injury lawyer specializing in slip and fall cases will be able to draw this distinction on your behalf.
Holiday Shopping Safety: Parking
Another hazard area for injuries when holiday shopping is the parking lot or indoor parking structure. Drivers should exercise extra caution and awareness of their surroundings. The movements of fellow motorists and pedestrians can be unpredictable. A little defensive driving can go a long way towards protecting you and your property. Pedestrians should also move cautiously. We recommend making eye-contact with drivers you intend to cross in front of, this way you can be sure that you’ve been seen before stepping into traffic.
How Malloy Law Can Help
If you are involved in an accident an injured whole holiday shopping, you don’t need to go it alone. The attorneys at Malloy Law Offices are the DMV’s personal injury specialists. Our experienced and diverse team will handle your case quickly and expediently so you can enjoy your holiday undisturbed. Don’t face the fallout from your injury alone. Contact Malloy Law today to start seeking justice.