What You Should Do If You Slip and Fall in Target
Slip and fall accidents are common occurrences in department stores such as Target. However, just because a customer has a slip and fall in a Target store does not automatically mean that the store may be held liable for the accident. Instead, Target or any other retailer can be held responsible for a slip and fall accident only if their negligence in operating and maintaining the store premises was directly and proximately responsible for a customer’s fall.
For example, if a frozen display in the grocery section leaks and causes a puddle that a customer slips on, Target can be held liable for the accident. Target may also be held liable for slipping hazards caused by other customers, under certain circumstances. If a customer spills a drink in an aisle, the store has an obligation to conduct regular maintenance checks for such hazards. If the store’s employees don’t conduct those checks and another customer has a slip and fall, Target may be liable for any injuries suffered.
Reporting a Slip and Fall Accident to the Target Store
When you suffer a slip and fall in a Target, you should report the accident to the store manager. However, you should be careful when speaking with store managers. You should only stick to the basic facts of the accident — when you fell, where in the store you fell, and what you slipped and fell on (if you saw anything). The managers may be looking for you to make a statement that Target may later try to use to pin liability for the accident on you.
Dealing with Target’s Insurer
Once an accident or incident report is filed by the store managers (make sure to request a copy of this report before you leave), you may soon be contacted by representatives from Target’s risk management department or the company’s liability insurer. Like store employees, these representatives may ask you for a statement about the accident or ask you questions, but their goal is to get you to make statements they can cite to argue that you bear some or all the liability for the accident.
Ideally, you should speak with and hire a slip and fall accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident. That way, if you are contacted by risk management or insurance company representatives on behalf of Target, you can direct them to speak to your attorney. Your lawyer can then handle any communications, ensuring that your rights and interests are protected.
Read more: What Makes a Good Personal Injury Case?
Get Examined by a Doctor After a Slip and Fall
After you’ve suffered a slip and fall, you may feel some pain that you assume will go away after a couple of days. However, many injuries suffered in slip and fall accidents are actually more serious than they initially seem. The shock of a fall may result in an adrenaline rush that can mask the pain from injuries. But if you delay in seeking treatment after a slip and fall, Target may argue that you weren’t seriously injured, or that your complaints are the result of pre-existing or degenerative conditions, and were not suffered in the accident. Getting checked out by a doctor as soon as possible after a slip and fall will create a record that links your injuries to the accident.
Read more: How to Value a Neck Injury for an Insurance Claim or Settlement
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Near You to Discuss Your Slip and Fall Accident 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 because of slip and fall accidents in South Plainfield, Edison, Woodbridge, Monmouth Junction, Old Bridge, Union, Vauxhall, and throughout Middlesex County, New Jersey. Call (732) 576-8860 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 3315 Route 35, Hazlet, NJ 07730 as well as offices in Red Bank, Brick, and Westfield.
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.
