Winter in Florida means mild temperatures and holiday decorating that looks strangely out of place while most of the country is wrapped in a coat of white. One thing is the same here – holiday shopping! While shoppers may be focused on weaving through traffic to reach the best sales and threading through crowds to pick out the best gift items, other dangers lurk nearby.
Falling merchandise can cause serious injury, mainly because items falling from above tend to strike unwary shoppers in the head. As stores stock up on volumes of gift items this season, be aware of stacked or palleted goods that could present a risk of accidental injury.
Potential Falling Merchandise Accidents
Big box stores are able to offer such affordable pricing because they buy large volumes of stock and store it on-site. As demand increases, workers simply unpack another pallet of goods and restock the shelves. This makes great business sense; but it also presents a risk for falling merchandise accidents. Goods that are stacked high above shoppers’ heads can become unbalanced or be inadvertently bumped by employees, causing hundreds of pounds of merchandise to come crashing down on unwary people.
Shelving can also collapse under the strain of overstocked holiday goods and fall on hapless victims. Heavy, sharp objects can cause catastrophic injuries, but even a pallet filled with paper goods carries significant weight that can pose a real danger. If you or a loved one become seriously injured by falling merchandise while holiday shopping, you may be eligible to receive compensation to help cover the costs of medical care and other expenses.
Florida Premises Liability Law
Premises liability law in Florida stipulates that property owners and commercial businesses must take reasonable steps to protect the public from sustaining an injury while on their property. This can mean keeping parking lots and sidewalks clear and in good repair to prevent slip and fall injuries. It also means securely storing and displaying goods for resale to the public.
In the case of a falling merchandise accident, the store should have ensured that the palleted or boxed merchandise was evenly balanced and properly secured, and that shelving was sufficient for holding heavy loads for a sustained period of time. The falling merchandise likely occurred because of negligence. This makes the accident the store’s responsibility.
Personal Injury Representation You Can Trust
However, the store or company will have a legal team whose responsibility is to limit the store’s liability and protect their assets. If you are involved in a falling merchandise accident that results in serious injury, you need the professional services of an experienced personal injury attorney in Florida to protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Ligori and Sanders Attorneys at Law provides a free consultation to discuss the merits of your case and examine your legal options. Call us at our Tampa, Lakeland or Ocala offices to schedule a confidential meeting with an experienced premises liability lawyer.
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