How Black Friday Shopping Puts You at Risk for Injury

The holidays. That short sentence is capable of bringing so many emotions. You get to spend time with loved ones and eat good food. You also deal with the stress of travel, finances and what gifts to buy for people.

We don’t normally think of shopping as an extreme sport… at least not most of us. But with all of the emotion and stress surrounding the holidays, shopping often becomes a dangerous sport when everyone’s trying to score the best deal.

Seriously, Shopping Can Be Dangerous?

Yes, it can. Black Friday, when so many brick and mortar stores have their lowest prices of the year, brings out hordes of people looking for that right gift at the best price. Many times, these stores only carry a handful of the big ticket items like new gaming systems, televisions and tech toys.

From a business perspective, Black Friday makes sense. Stores get people in the door so when inevitably they run out of big-ticket items, consumers can still find similar replacements. Black Friday sales bring in about $50 billion dollars of business for stores so the incentive is clear.

But are they really looking out for the best interests and safety of their shoppers? Maybe not.

Federal Safety Guidelines Apply to Retail Stores

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lays out specific guidelines for stores to follow each year in anticipation of large crowds during the holiday shopping season. These guidelines include:

Clearly labeled doors and exits with a clear passage
Security personnel on-hand
Ropes to keep lines orderly
Stores must adhere to capacity rules
Stores must have and follow emergency procedures

Many stores follow these guidelines. Others do not. Even stores that are stringent about following the guidelines still have accidents occur. With that many people, it’s hard to avoid even minor incidents.

When you are out shopping this holiday season, you may run into serious issues:

Overcrowding
Stampedes as stores open
Slip and fall conditions

That last one is the most common during the holiday shopping rush. Whether it’s rainy conditions, spilled drinks, or overly waxed floors, customers like you can quickly find your day of shopping-fun ruined. Every day in the United States, about 25,000 people are injured in slip and fall accidents. During the holiday shopping season, that number increases.

You Can Recover Damages for Your Injuries

Slip and fall doesn’t sound that serious. In fact, if you find yourself on the floor, you may want to get up, brush yourself off and get back to finding those deals. But even seemingly minor slip and falls can have long-lasting repercussions.

When a business invites you to come into their store to buy their goods, they owe you a duty to keep you safe. If you have fallen, they have failed in that duty. When you slip and fall while shopping, a Los Angeles slip and fall attorney can recover damages for:

Pain and suffering
Medical bills
Emotional trauma
Lost wages

Recovery of these damages is crucial to ensure you are able to get back on your feet and get back to living your life.

Call Your Los Angeles Slip and Fall Attorney

Slip and fall accidents can and do happen, especially during the holiday shopping season. When that happens to you, you owe it to yourself and your family to make sure you get the compensation you deserve so you can make a full, complete, and fast recovery.

To give yourself the best chance of recovery, contact Steinberg Injury Lawyers, experienced slip and fall attorneys in Los Angeles. We will focus on the legal work while you focus on your recovery and spending quality time during the holidays with your loved ones.