Retail Store Accidents

Orange County is a very popular shopping area for out of state tourists as well as California residents. Many even plan entire vacations around Orange County’s many outlet malls, malls and boutique shops in areas like South Coast Plaza, Fashion Island, Irvine Spectrum and quaint beach towns like Laguna Beach. For the most part, people do their shopping and return home without any problems. However, sometimes one can be involved in an accident in the store, or on the owner’s property such as in the parking lot. Being hurt or injured while on someone else’s property is a very common type of personal injury law called premises liability law.

California law related to injury in commercial settings such as a grocery stores, malls or shopping centers provides that a possessor of property who invites others onto his property to conduct business must exercise due care to keep the property in a reasonably safe condition and to remedy unreasonably dangerous conditions which are known, or with the exercise of reasonable care should have been known. California personal injury and accident law also requires that a landowner warn of any unreasonable risks which are known, or with the exercise of reasonable care should  have been known, and which others would not be expected to discover.

Legal Obligations Of Owner Or Operator

The owner or those with control of a store, must inspect aisles and shelves within reasonable time periods to be sure the area is safe. Usually the store will have an employee travel up and down the aisles to clean any spill or item which may have fallen. Sometimes, a pallet of food or soda will fall on a customer as he or she passes by. Usually, the store will have a video camera to record such injuries and we can often obtain that video if you contact us very quickly. Grocery stores and other retailers also want you to look at their shelves and their items for sale. They place bright signs and otherwise persuade you to look at the sale sign and not at the floor in front of you.

Sometimes an injury can be the result of an assault in the parking lot where there is no security. If the store knows or should know of a security problem or crime in the area, there may be a duty to provide proper protection to you as their invitee.

Types Of Retail Store Accidents

There are many ways you or a loved one can be injured while in a store or restaurant in California. Typical accidents involve slips, falls, tripping over objects in aisles, being hit by objects falling from shelves, and accidents or assaults in the parking lot.

Establishing Liability In A Retail Store Accident

Regarding retail store accidents, there can be more than one person or entity at fault.It is imperative to look for all parties who may be responsible for your injuries. Property owners, management companies, franchise corporate headquarters, equipment manufacturers and third parties, such as security companies, may also be held accountable for your injuries. A skilled Orange premises liability attorney can help you determine who may ultimately be responsible for your injuries.

Contact A Skilled Orange County Premises Liability Lawyer

If you have been hurt in a retail store or restaurant in Orange County it may make sense to consult with a personal injury attorney serving all of Orange County. At Nokes & Nokes we have many years experience with premises liability cases throughout Orange County, California including Fullerton, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Beach. Call our office at (949) 716-7200 today. We will do our best to get you the compensation and benefits you deserve for your injuries.

We offer free consultations to personal injury and accident victims meaning we charge no fee unless we recover for you.