What to Do If You’re Injured in a Department Store?

If you’re injured in a department store, you should seek medical attention, document your accident and injuries, and get in touch with a personal injury law firm. A Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer will advise you on each step of the legal process, ensure you understand your legal options, and build a solid case on your behalf.

While the process of recovering damages can be challenging, it is not one you have to undertake without legal guidance and support. Your legal team will handle each phase of your premises liability claim for you—investigating, proving negligence, and filing a claim or lawsuit. They will also negotiate for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Document Your Financial Recovery If You Were Injured in a Department Store

An accidental injury—like a slip and fall—can leave you with serious injuries and all the costs associated with treating them. According to Florida Statutes § 768.81, you can recover all the current and future medical, rehab, and therapy costs you incur.

You can also recover the following economic and non-economic damages: 

• Current and future lost income
• Loss of future earning ability
• Property repair or replacement
• Impairment or disfigurement
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional anguish
• Diminished quality of life

You can also recover wrongful death damages for the loss of a loved one in a department store accident. On your own, it can be easier than you think to undervalue your recoverable damages in a personal injury case. If a lawyer represents you, they can help you avoid a speedy, but insufficient settlement, and fight for an accurate assessment of your compensation.

Pay Close Attention to the Personal Injury Statute of Limitations in Florida

The state limits the time you have to bring a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. In general, you have two years to file your lawsuit, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11. Some circumstances of your case can pause (or toll) the filing deadline, making compliance difficult.

Understanding the laws that apply to your personal injury lawsuit can be difficult on your own. With a retail accident lawyer on your side, you won’t need to try to interpret laws.  

Commonly Reported Department Store Accidents and Injuries in Florida

Department stores are vast spaces with lots of moving parts and people. They are also full of products, displays, and shelving that can lead to injuries. Some commonly reported accidents in department stores include:

• Slip and fall accidents caused by wet, slick, or slippery floor, cords, cables, and loose flooring and carpeting
• Strewn or falling objects, products, displays, or fixtures
• Escalator or elevator accidents caused by malfunctions, including sudden stops
• Unkempt or inadequately lit corridors, stairs, and parking lots

Accidents like these can cause commonly reported injuries, including:

• Broken or fractured bones
• Cuts and lacerations
• Facial and dental injuries
• Head injuries
• Neck injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Severe accidents can even result in a loss of life. Your lawyer will build a case file that proves your accident and resulting injuries were due to negligence, which is the key to recovering damages.

Prove Negligence Caused Your Department Store Accident and Resulting Injury

To recover any damages at all, you and your lawyer must prove the department store or one of its agents was negligent. Their investigation will document the following components of negligence:

• Duty of care: The legal obligation the department store owes to its patrons and consumers
• Breach of duty: The department store’s failure to comply with their legal duty
• Causation: The correlation between the department store’s actions and your accident
• Damages: The financial consequences you or your family suffered due to the accident

In addition to identifying the elements of negligence, your lawyer will clarify the role of comparative negligence for slip and fall and other department store injuries in Florida. If any degree of fault is attributed to you, your financial award can be decreased or denied. Your lawyer will fight for a fair distribution of fault and a fair and appropriate financial award.

How Your Department Store Accident Case Can Benefit from Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Preparing a compelling case involves a plethora of paperwork and legal nuances. By working with a lawyer, you can benefit your lawsuit in many ways. To bolster and support your case, your lawyer will take all of the following actions:

• Speak to the insurance adjuster
• Interview accident witnesses
• Clarify complex legal terminology
• Address your questions and concerns
• Provide 360-degree client support
• Clarify how your claim will work

Your lawyer will handle the back-and-forth accident negotiation process, including fielding settlement offers and making appropriate counteroffers. The final decision is yours to make, but your lawyer will guide you toward a well-informed decision.

Let Your Lawyer Deal With the Department Store’s Insurance Company

The insurance company and adjuster will demand proof of negligence before any discussion of compensation. Your personal injury attorney will handle the negotiation process from start to finish. They will handle all verbal and written communication, including completing and submitting insurance claim forms.

Your legal team will build a compelling evidence collection that includes internal store reports, police reports, medical records, photos, videos, and lay and expert witness statements.

The case file your lawyer builds will also contain proof of the monetary value of your case, including medical bills, proof of income, and receipts for repairing or replacing your damaged property.

Get Help Seeking Compensation for Your Department Store Injury

If you or someone you love was injured in a department store, our personal injury lawyer knows what you need to do to recover damages. When you turn to our law firm for legal support, we never stop fighting for you or for the financial compensation you need and deserve. Get started today by contacting our consultation team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers now.