Several different slip and falls occurring in Wal-Mart’s across the country have been in the news recently. A Texas woman has filed a lawsuit against the mega giant company seeking over $400,000 in damages stemming from her fall on liquid on the floor. In Illinois, a man shopping inside Wal-Mart slipped and fell on spilled wine. He filed suit against the company for his back and neck injuries that have led to extensive medical expenses and chronic pain. In yet another suit, a settlement was reached after a woman and her son tripped and fell in a Wal-Mart location.
Wal-Mart is a giant retailer with locations across Georgia and most of the United States. Each year, however, hundreds of customers are injured in Wal-Mart locations, mainly due to slip and fall accidents. Wal-Mart injuries occur at higher rates than most consumers realize, and obtaining compensation for slip and fall accidents occurring within these stores can be difficult.
The following is an overview of facts you should know if you have been injured at a Wal-Mart:
Wal-Mart injuries Are Common
Wal-Mart is a large retailer with thousands of locations nationwide. For this reason alone, many customers are injured in Wal-Mart’s across the country. The number of stores is not the only reason for the high incidence of injuries. At some locations, managers do not make customer safety a top priority, resulting in injuries. While there are many managers who do make safety their bottom line, those who don’t put innocent people at risk for serious injury.
Wal-Mart’s Are Self-insured
While most retail stores will have a general liability policy, Wal-Mart operates a little differently. The average retailer has an insurance company who will make pay outs in the event someone is injured. The store itself is not involved in processing claims. Wal-Mart, on the other hand, self-insures itself. As such, the retailer has a high degree of control over the entire claims process and the money paid out comes directly from Wal-Mart itself. This system leads the company to do all it can to avoid paying out claims.
Accident Victims Often Have a Hard Time Getting Assistance After the Incident in Wal-Mart
When someone is injured in a Wal-Mart location, an employee will generally be notified and may provide the victim with contact information for the risk management office. From here, some accident victims are alarmed to learn that nothing happens. They do not receive a call back and their claim is delayed.
Wal-Mart Denies Many Premises Injury Claims
When claims are first filed, the mega giant often denies them, claiming the customer held some degree of responsibility for its injuries. Our attorneys have the knowledge and experience to handle any premises liability claim, including those involving injuries sustained at Wal-Mart and other major retail stores. We fight hard on behalf of each injured client in order to maximize the value of their cases under the law.
Source:
http://setexasrecord.com/news/300780-wal-mart-settles-slip-fall-lawsuit
http://setexasrecord.com/news/303049-woman-names-walmart-in-slip-and-fall-suit
http://www.wal-martlitigation.com/index.php?p=nn
