What are the Most Common Causes of Injury in a Store or Business?
Quick answer: The most common causes of injury in a store or business are slips, trips, and falls, falling merchandise or fixtures, and overexertion from lifting or repetitive motion. These hazards affect both customers and employees, and may support a premises liability claim when a business fails to maintain a safe environment.
Every year, thousands of people are injured in stores, supermarkets, and workplaces, not because they were careless, but because a business failed to maintain a safe environment. Under premises liability law, store and business owners have a legal duty to protect anyone on their property from foreseeable harm. When they fall short of that duty, customers and employees can suffer serious consequences.
Jacobs & Dow, LLC, covers three of the most common categories of store and business injuries, and what you can do if you have been injured on someone else’s property.
Slips, Trips, and Falls: Why Are They the Most Common Store Injuries?
Slips, trips, and falls are the leading cause of injury in stores and businesses. According to the National Floor Safety Institute, falls account for over 8 million emergency room visits each year, making them the number one cause of ER visits overall. These incidents happen for several reasons:
- Wet floors from spilled drinks, cooler leaks, or rain tracked in from outside
- Uneven surfaces including cracked tiles, torn carpet edges, and damaged pavement at building entrances
- Cluttered pathways blocked by boxes, power cords, or misplaced stock
A wet floor without a warning sign, or a broken tile left unrepaired for weeks, are exactly the kinds of conditions that give rise to a premises liability claim. The hazard does not need to be dramatic to be dangerous.
Falling Merchandise and Fixtures: How Do Poor Displays Cause Injuries?
Falling objects are a serious and often underestimated hazard in retail environments. Heavy boxes stacked too high on shelving units, broken display racks, and loose signage can fall without warning, striking customers or employees below.
Two main contributors to these incidents are:
- Unstable displays, where merchandise is stacked beyond safe height limits or placed on poorly secured surfaces
- Loose or broken fixtures, including damaged shelving brackets, collapsing racks, and improperly mounted signs
Injuries from falling objects can range from cuts and bruises to fractured bones and head trauma, depending on the weight and height of the fallen item. When poor maintenance or disorganization is the cause, the business may be held liable.
Overexertion and Strain: What Injuries Do Workers Commonly Experience?
Not all store injuries are caused by sudden accidents. Many develop gradually through overexertion and repetitive motion, particularly among employees.
Common scenarios include:
- Heavy lifting of inventory without proper equipment or assistance, leading to back strains and muscle tears
- Repetitive motions from tasks like scanning items at a register or continuously stocking shelves, which can cause long-term joint and tendon damage
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overexertion and bodily reaction account for a significant portion of nonfatal workplace injuries each year. These injuries can be just as debilitating as those caused by a single accident, and may qualify under a premises liability or workers’ compensation claim.
What Should You Do After Being Injured in a Store or Business?
If you have been injured in a store or business, taking the right steps quickly can protect your health and your legal rights.
- Document everything: Take photos of the hazardous condition immediately, before it is cleaned up or fixed.
- Report the injury: Notify store management and request that an incident report be filed.
- Seek medical attention: Even if you feel fine, get evaluated. Some injuries, like soft tissue damage, take time to appear.
- Keep all records: Hold onto medical bills, doctor’s notes, and any written communication with the business.
Injured in a Connecticut Store or Business? Here Is What to Do Next
Slips and falls, falling merchandise, and overexertion injuries are far more common than most people realize. In each case, a business owner’s failure to maintain a safe property can leave customers and employees seriously hurt.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a store or business in Connecticut, you may have grounds for a premises liability claim. Jacobs & Dow, LLC is a Connecticut law firm that handles premises liability cases and can help you understand your legal options. Contact Jacobs & Dow, LLC today to discuss your situation with an attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a premises liability claim?
A premises liability claim is a legal action filed when someone is injured on another person’s or business’s property due to unsafe conditions. To succeed, the injured party generally must show that the property owner knew, or should have known, about the hazard and failed to address it.
Who can file a premises liability claim after a store injury?
Both customers and employees may be eligible to file a premises liability claim after being injured in a store or business, depending on the circumstances. Employees may also have access to workers’ compensation benefits.
How long do I have to file a premises liability claim in Connecticut?
In Connecticut, premises liability claims generally must be filed within two years of the date the injury is first sustained or discovered, subject to limited exceptions. Consulting an attorney promptly helps protect your right to compensation.
What if I was partially at fault for my injury?
Connecticut follows a modified comparative negligence rule (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h). You may still recover damages if you were partially at fault, as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. The amount you recover would be reduced by your percentage of fault.
What types of injuries are covered under premises liability?
Premises liability covers a wide range of injuries, including sprains and fractures from falls, lacerations or head trauma from falling objects, and strain injuries from unsafe workplace conditions.
