We’ve all been inside a store and seen items that are in the way, or in a location that’s likely to cause an accident. Trash cans are one of these items, and believe it or not, they are a leading cause of trip and fall accidents at retail settings. Quite often, the trash can is in the middle of an aisle or somewhere else that gets heavy foot traffic from customers. Some of these incidents involve small waste baskets that people may not notice as they’re walking by. But even large and tall garbage cans result in a trip and fall based on their location within the store.
Have you been injured from tripping over a trash can while you were at one of the following stores?
- Supermarket / grocery store
- Department store
- Discount stores, such as dollar stores
- Boutiques / specialty stores
- Convenience stores
- Wholesale stores
- Warehouse / membership stores
- Outlet stores
- Gift shops
- Bakery
- Hardware store
- Shopping mall / shopping center
- Delis
- Pharmacy
Our trip and fall lawyers are ready to fight for you and the settlement you deserve if negligence by the store caused you to have an accident. To learn more about the compensation we can bring you from a trip and fall lawsuit, contact our office as soon as possible.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$1.1 Million
$1.5 Million
$600,000
$525,000
$734,851
Bodily Harm from a Trip and Fall Accident
Tripping in public can be pretty embarrassing, which is why so many people rush out of the store or go about their day as if nothing happened. However, it’s important to file an accident report with the store as soon as you’ve been injured. Doing so will establish that the incident occurred at the store and not somewhere else. This is essential to receiving compensation for your injuries, which may include:
- Cuts and scratches, which can cause infections and permanent scars
- Broken bones
- Injuries to the head – skull fracture, broken nose, facial disfigurement
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Dislocation in the joints
- Damage to the ligaments and tendons, i.e., soft tissue injuries
- Fractured kneecap
- Broken hip or pelvis
- Ruptured spleen
- Paralysis from nerve damage
Can I Sue the Store if I Tripped Over a Misplaced Trashcan?
Tripping over an object is something we often blame on the person – maybe they weren’t watching where they were going, or they’re probably clumsy in general. That’s why so many people end up asking themselves, “Do I have a case if I was injured due to a fall at a store?”
As a personal injury law firm, we know that many of these accidents are due to negligence by a property owner. When it comes to a retail store, laziness and careless behavior by employees are often to blame, but either way, you are owed compensation if a dangerous condition at the store caused you to trip. A misplaced trashcan may qualify as a hazard if it’s in the middle of an aisle or somewhere else that’s frequented by customers. Another possibility is that the trashcan limits the amount of space in an aisle, corridor, or some other area, which can cause difficulty when someone is trying to navigate around the trash can.
The point is, garbage cans have to be in an open area that is clearly visible to the average person. It should also be out of the way so that people are not likely to walk into it or trip over it while they’re walking through the store. There are many other ways that a store can fail in their duty of care, so please take some time to speak with a trip and fall attorney at our office if you’ve been hurt from falling down at a store.
Commonly Asked Questions about Trip and Fall Accident Cases
What is average settlement value for a trip and fall over misplaced trashcan in a store?
The total amount of compensation you can receive depends on the monetary damages you are owed, the extent of your injuries, and other factors that are unique to your circumstances. Cases with injuries that will heal completely in a reasonable amount of time may be worth $50,000 or less. But many of our clients have serious injuries that require surgery, physical therapy, and other expensive, on-going treatments. As a result, the average settlement range for trip and fall claims at our office is around $300,000 to $2.5 million. Of course, these are estimates at the end of the day, and your own case will have its own value, which we can discuss with you during a free case evaluation.
How long is the process to get paid on these cases?
There is no guarantee when it comes to the length of time to settle a trip and fall case. Based on the many years of experience we have with these claims, we know that some cases are settled in just a few weeks. But a more realistic timeline is around 6 to 10 months, especially if you are suing a major retailer, like a supermarket chain, shopping mall, or big box store. Our goal is to negotiate a settlement privately with the insurance company, but that depends on the company’s cooperation. If they are not negotiating in good faith, using stall tactics, and other methods to delay or lowball your settlement, intervention from the court may be needed. If your case needs to be settled through court-ordered mediation or a trial, it may be two or more years before you receive compensation from a trip and fall accident lawsuit.
Is there a time limit to file a trip and fall lawsuit?
Yes, in California, you have two years from the incident date to sue the negligent party if you were harmed from a fall-related accident. As there is a definitive deadline for these cases, don’t wait to contact us and start the process for a store accident injury claim. If you miss the deadline to file a lawsuit, there are very few circumstances that will allow you obtain an extension from the court. Thus, most people who wait too long end up missing out on the payment they deserve from being injured at a store. To ensure that you are compensated by the responsible party, contact us immediately to speak with a Los Angeles trip and fall lawyer.
Is there anything I can do if I’m not happy with my current lawyer?
There are many reasons that can cause people to be upset with their lawyer, and some of these may be personality conflicts that can be worked out or overlooked. But if there are bigger issues at hand, like incompetence by a careless or inexperienced attorney, that’s something you should deal with right away. Switching your lawyer may be a necessary step in these cases, but you should discuss the process with an experienced personal injury lawyer before you make such a big decision. That’s why we offer free second opinion consultations if you have concerns about an active trip and fall lawsuit
No matter what you decide to do about your case, you won’t be charged for a second opinion here at Normandie Law Firm. To meet with a lawyer experienced in trip and fall at a store injury claims, give us a call as soon as possible.
Contact the Trip and Fall Injury Lawyers of Normandie
Learning about your rights as an injury victim is essential to the recovery process from a trip and fall accident. The medical bills, lost wages from your job, and other expenses can be overwhelming for anyone, and you shouldn’t have to suffer when you are eligible for compensation from the store. We have decades of experience in store accident injury cases and know what it takes to bring you every penny you deserve from a trip and fall injury claim.
The Zero Fee Guarantee is a policy at our law firm that allows you to hire us at no upfront cost. In fact, you will never be billed for any legal fees, since we charge the defendant for the cost of representing you. We only get paid if we win your case – otherwise, you won’t be responsible for any legal fees.
Don’t delay in giving us a call and finding out about your legal options if you were injured from falling down at a store.
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