Slip and Fall Accidents Inside a Shopping Mall
A slip and fall accident can happen virtually anywhere, but shopping malls seem to be frequent locations for these types of accidents. There are numerous reasons why slip and fall accidents occur in shopping malls, including tripping over debris or slipping on food or drinks spilled by other shoppers in the mall. When you suffer a slip and fall accident in a shopping mall, the primary question becomes whether the shopping mall can be held liable for your injuries and damages.
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Shopping Malls
A slip and fall accident can occur anywhere in a shopping mall — in the stores, in the walkways between stores, or even in the shopping mall’s parking lot. Some of the most common causes of slip and fall or trip and fall accidents in shopping mall properties include:
- Broken or uneven pavement or potholes
- Garbage or debris
- Cracked or broken tiles
- Spilled food or drink
- Slippery mats
- Unattended bags or boxes
- Recently mopped or waxed floors
- Abrupt changes between flooring surfaces, such as stepping from rug or carpet onto tile or concrete flooring
- Unsafe escalators or moving walkways
The identity of the party or parties that place these hazards in a shopping mall, and when the shopping mall owner/operator becomes aware of these hazards will affect the shopping mall’s liability for a slip and fall accident.
Shopping Mall Liability for Slip and Fall Accidents
Although it can seem like a shopping mall should be responsible for all slip and fall accidents that occur on the property, that simply isn’t the case. Under the law, a shopping mall can only be held liable for a slip and fall accident where the accident and injuries that result were the direct and proximate result of the actions and/or omissions of the shopping mall. For example, where a slip and fall accident takes place inside a store at the mall, the store owner/operator and not the shopping mall owner/operator would likely be held liable for the accident.
When it comes to slip and fall accidents, shopping malls owe their patrons a duty of care. This duty involves taking reasonable steps to keep the mall free of dangerous or hazardous conditions that could cause injury, or to warn patrons of the existence and location of such hazards — for example, if there is a puddle on the floor or broken pavement in the parking lot, a shopping mall can warn patrons with a “wet floor” or hazard sign. Shopping malls are expected to undertake regular inspections of the premises to identify any dangerous or hazardous conditions and to remedy or repair those conditions as soon as possible. If a slipping hazard is left on the floor long enough that the shopping mall would have discovered it, the mall might be held liable for any injuries caused by the hazardous condition. The mall can also be held responsible for any dangerous or hazardous conditions it creates — for example, putting too much wax on the floor and making it dangerously slippery.
Contact a Brick Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Slip and Fall Injury Case in New Jersey
Were you or a loved one injured due to a slip and fall accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Drazin and Warshaw, P.C. represent clients injured in Brick, Seaside Park, Lacey Township, Beach Haven, Little Egg Harbor Township and throughout Ocean County, Monmouth County and Middlesex County, New Jersey. Call (732) 576-8860 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have offices conveniently located in Brick, Red Bank, and Hazlet.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
