No one expects to be injured when they go shopping. However, many hazards can exist in department stores, supermarkets, and retail shops. Displays that are not secured or assembled correctly can lead to various accidents, resulting in injuries for which the store might be held liable. If a dangerous store display injured you while shopping, you might be entitled to recover your damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
Common Store Display Accidents
Store displays are typically used to attract customers and promote the sale of merchandise. Almost every store has them, and they are usually safe. However, if a display is arranged poorly or its structure is not sound, the display or the merchandise can topple over — and serious accidents can occur.
Some common store display accidents can include the following:
- Trip and falls — When a store display protrudes into the aisle, it can present a trip and fall hazard to those who walk by.
- Falling objects — If a store display is stacked too high or is unsteady, objects can fall onto customers.
- Falls from sitting on furniture displays — Stores must anticipate that customers will sit on chairs, sofas, beds, and other furniture to try them out. Accidents can happen if stores fail to block off these displays or place warning signs on them.
- Electric shock — Store displays that contain lights can cause burns or electric shock if they fall.
- Faulty display bin accidents — If customers have to reach into bins for items and the display is not properly secured, the display can collapse or shatter on the floor to create a condition that might lead to a trip and fall.
Store owners are legally responsible for protecting patrons on the premises from known hazards. If they fail to remedy a dangerous condition that they knew about — or should have known about — they may be held liable for any injuries incurred. A store might also be held accountable if it failed to place a warning sign advising customers not to touch the display.
Compensation for Store Display Accident Injuries
Store display injuries can be serious and result in financial loss, disfigurement, and lifelong debilitation. A customer injured by an unsafe store display may be entitled to compensation for their injuries in a personal injury action based on the theory of premises liability if they can prove the store was negligent. Both economic and non-economic damages are available to a plaintiff who prevails in a personal injury lawsuit.
Economic damages for store display accident injuries can include monetary recovery for medical expenses, out-of-pocket costs, and lost wages due to the accident. Non-economic damages are also referred to as “pain and suffering.” This category of damages is meant to compensate for the physical pain and mental anguish experienced by an accident victim in connection with their injuries.
Notably, a customer may still be able to recover compensation in a personal injury case even if they were partly to blame for their injuries. For instance, if a patron wasn’t looking where they were walking, the store might try to shift the blame to them. But under New York’s comparative negligence rule, an accident victim can still recover their damages minus their proportion of fault.
Contact an Experienced New York Personal Injury Attorney
If you were hurt in a store display accident, it’s important to have a knowledgeable personal injury attorney by your side to pursue the compensation you deserve. The attorneys at the Dearie Law Firm, P.C. are committed to representing clients in premises liability cases, and we fight to secure the maximum recovery available under the circumstances.
The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has convenient office locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, as well as mobile locations serving Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester County, Rockland County, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. Contact us today for a consultation.