Injured Customer
The last thing anyone expects while shopping for groceries or walking through a hardware store is to be injured. A slip and fall, or any other injury a person suffers, as a customer should not be taken lightly if it is due to the property owner’s negligence. Whether it’s a nationwide chain like Walmart or Target or a local small business, companies that invite the public onto their premises are obligated to take steps to keep customers reasonably safe.
These steps can include cleaning spills promptly and leaving warning signs if there is a possibility of an injury. Customers should expect to be reasonably safe while they shop through a store, but sometimes the negligence of a business can lead to an unforeseen injury.
Injured Customer Lawyer
If you or someone you know is dealing with an injury sustained while on the premises of a business and you believe they were negligent, contact Abrams Justice to explore all of your legal options. Ivan and Isabel Abrams are experienced injury lawyers who will fight for you and ensure the best possible outcome for your suit.
If you live in Miami-Dade County including Miami, Cutler Bay, Sunny Isles Beach, Doral, Opa-Locka and any other surrounding areas, contact Abrams Justice at (305) 709-0880 or fill out an online form for your free consultation.
Injured Customer Information Center
Common Causes of Injuries
Businesses that invite customers onto their premises are expected to be well-run and have a safe environment. Places like supermarkets, gas stations, hotels and beauty salons are all businesses that must keep their customers reasonably safe. Although slip and falls are the most commonly thought of cause of an injury, many factors can go into an incident. According to Florida law, a person invited into a property should expect to be safe anywhere, including:
- Parking lots
- Dressing rooms
- Rest rooms
- Check-out lanes
- Walkways
- Aisles
- Lobbies
Businesses who invite customers onto their premises have a reasonable duty of care to keep their customers safe. A duty of care is defined by Florida law as an obligation by a business or property owner to be careful and avoid causing harm to others. The following are common causes of injuries to a customer.
Liquid spills
A liquid spill is one of the most common causes of an injury to a customer. Often times, businesses check their floors every 30-60 minutes to look for liquid spills but the negligence to not check their floors regularly can lead to an injury of a customer. Whether its liquid from wet clothes and shoes during bad weather or merchandise that has spilled, a business must act appropriately and clean up the liquid from their floor to prevent injuries.
Merchandise falling from shelves
This negligence can lead to severe head trauma if the object that falls is heavy and hits the person on the head. Improperly stacked merchandise can be a danger to unsuspecting customers who are walking through an aisle if a business does not take action to deter this negligence. Even if the merchandise doesn’t fall on a person’s head and is already on the ground, a trip-and-fall injury caused by merchandise can lead to serious injuries.
Faulty staircases, escalators and elevators
Proper maintenance to faulty staircases, escalators and elevators could help to prevent injuries to customers. If a business is negligent in their duties, the results could be disastrous for customers.
- Sudden stops to an escalator can thrust a customer backwards or forwards causing them to fall and sustain serious injuries.
- A faulty staircase with cracks in the cement or even missing steps can also be catastrophic to any unsuspecting customer.
- Elevators that have run past their expiration date or have not been regularly maintained can cause serious injuries or even death depending on the situation.
Damages You May Recover
A person dealing with an injury can be overwhelmed with the situation they have found themselves in. Not only will they have to deal with the injury, but they will also possibly have to deal with proving negligence and the lawyers for the establish where the incident occurred. Despite any denial of liability from a business they do not set the parameters of an injured customer’s lawsuit against them – and you deserve to have your own legal representation. A person can sue for damages if they are dealing with an injury they sustained as a customer. Typical damages in lawsuits can include:
Current and future medical expenses
Everyone reacts to an injury differently. If a customer sustains an injury and it causes them to seek medical attention, this can become costly and sometimes last a lot longer than they think. In today’s health care market, the simplest injury can cost someone thousands of dollars. There is no reason a person injured due to the negligence of a business should have to pay for any of the costs related to their injury. Any current or future medical bills related to a customer’s injury can be reimbursed through a pre-suit settlement or via a lawsuit.
Pain and suffering
Pain and suffering are often the most difficult damages to asses because it all depends on the person and their ability to handle the incident they have gone through. Pain and suffering can include aches, pains, temporary or permanent limitations on mobility and other physical issues. From daily headaches to back issues, to insomnia and inconvenience, a person’s suffering can vary depending on their reaction to the incident.
Emotional distress
An incident that has caused an injury can have a severe psychological impact on a person depending on the circumstances. Fear, sleep deprivation, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder can plague a person dealing with an injury and cause them a lifetime of distress. Quantifying the money value of this distress can be complicated, but with an experienced personal injury lawyer a person can ensure they are properly compensated.
Miami-Dade County Resources for Injured Customer
Center for Disease Control (CDC)- The CDC provides stats and information on fatal and nonfatal injuries in the United States including in Florida. This link provides stats on injuries maintained in public property and information on what an injury may cost a person based on medical bills and work loss.
Florida Senate– This link provides information on statutes that govern a business in Florida. This information includes rights of a property owner and their duty to maintain people they invite onto their premises safe. There is also information on recent law changes and their implementation dates.
ABRAMS JUSTICE | Miami-Dade County Injured Customer Lawyer
The trial lawyers at Abrams Justice will represent your rights if you are injured due to a shopkeeper’s negligence. Ivan and Isabel Abrams have the courtroom experience, knowledge, and the resources to help you in your time of need. Don’t wait for a business to build their defense against your claim of negligence. You must act fast to gather all evidence and set a trial strategy in order to get the best possible result for your lawsuit.
If you live in Miami-Dade County including Florida City, Miami Springs, North Bay Village, Bal Harbour, Pinecrest, or Palmetto Bay and any other surrounding areas, contact Abrams Justice at (305) 709-0880 for a free consultation about your case.