Were you hurt after slipping and falling while stopping at Target? Retail accidents that take place at the store can happen in an instant. They tend to leave victims like you facing a lot of serious injuries.
Not only is the physical discomfort hard to endure, but itโs also often difficult to reconcile with the fact that many of these incidents are preventable. However, as unfortunate as this scenario may be, thereโs hope, especially with a Target slip and fall injury lawyer in San Jose by your side.
At J&Y Law, our San Jose slip and fall injury lawyers have what it takes to represent you with confidence and skill. With 80-plus years of experience, weโve recovered tens of millions in compensation, and since 2010, weโve served tens of thousands of clients. Let us do the same for you.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents at Target
Retail environments, and especially big-box stores like Target, are home to risks that make slip and fall incidents more likely. Many of these hazards appear without warning, which poses a major danger to unsuspecting shoppers.
When reviewing the details of your case, a San Jose personal injury lawyer will want to look at the events leading up to your fall and better understand what caused you to slip in the first place. These are factors that might have been at play in your situation:
- Wet floors: Spilled beverages, leaks from refrigeration units, and cleaning-related tasks can create slick surfaces that increase the likelihood of people falling.
- Debris and merchandise: Items that fall from the shelves, packaging materials that drop to the floor, and misplaced products that obstruct walkways can create tripping hazards.
- Uneven flooring and floor mats: Cracked tiles, loose floor mats, and worn carpeting can cause shoppers to trip.
- Cluttered or narrow aisles: Temporary displays, stocking carts, or overcrowded aisles might prevent shoppers from safely passing through walkways without falling.
- Parking lot hazards: Uneven pavement, unmarked potholes, heavy snow, and rainy conditions can introduce dangers that increase the odds of customers slipping or tripping outside the store.
- Inadequate lighting: Dim lighting along the aisles or at the entrances can make it more difficult for people to see hazards before being affected by them.
Even seemingly small hazardsโlike a tiny puddle near the store or a single box in a crowded aisleโcan result in major injuries. This is particularly true if a shopper is carrying items, pushing a cart, or scrolling on their phone when they encounter the hazard.
For a free legal consultation with a target slip and fall accident lawyer serving San Jose, call (424) 453-2310
California Premises Liability Law
In California, slip and fall accidents in stores like Target are often addressed according to state-level premises liability laws. This means that property owners and occupiersโwhich includes retail chainsโhave a legal duty to maintain safe conditions for their customers.
Duty of Care
Under California state laws, Target owes a duty of care to shoppers who are classified as invitees. This duty requires that the store do the following:
- Regularly inspect the premises for hazards
- Clean spills and remove debris promptly
- Warn customers about unsafe conditions as soon as possible
- Maintain the condition of floors, walkways, and entrances
- Train staff members to recognize and address hazards efficiently
When a Target store fails to uphold this duty and an injury occurs as a result of this failure, the store might be considered negligent under California law.
Reasonable Inspection
Target stores are required to adhere to reasonable inspections. This expectation involves taking the precautions that a typical retailer would take under similar circumstances.
For instance, letโs say thereโs a spill on the floor, and it has been present long enough that an employee could have noticed it with regular monitoring. If a personal injury case arises from this situation, the store will likely be held liable.
San Jose Target Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Near Me (424) 453-2310
Proving Negligence in Target Slip and Fall Cases
To establish negligence in California slip and fall cases, your San Jose Target slip and fall injury attorney will need to prove the following elements on your behalf:
- Duty of care: Target had a legal obligation to maintain a safe shopping environment.
- Breach of duty: The store failed to uphold its required obligation.
- Causation: The unsafe condition directly caused the shopperโs injuries.
- Damages: The shopper suffered measurable harm as a result of the incident.
Evidenceโsuch as incident reports, surveillance footage, and witness statementsโis very helpful when it comes to demonstrating that all four of these elements are present in your case.
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Reach Out to Our San Jose Target Slip and Fall Injury Lawyers ASAP for Help With Your Case
If you or someone you love was hurt after slipping and falling at a Target, the San Jose Target slip and fall injury attorneys at J&Y Law can help you take legal action. As the victim of a slip and fall incident, you deserve to receive representation you can trust.
We know that these accidents can be confusing and overwhelming, but our San Jose Target slip and fall injury lawyers are here to alleviate the amount of stress youโre under. Let us focus on you, handling the legalities so that you can work on healing from your injuries and recovering from the trauma of the event.
You donโt have to figure everything out by yourself when you reach out to J&Y Law. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can start working on your case and holding the responsible parties accountable for the incident that left you injured.
Call or text (424) 453-2310 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form