Target, a Minnesota-based corporation, is extremely popular all over the United States. With many busy stores all across the country, the Target Corporation has an obligation to provide its customers with a safe shopping experience. This includes well-maintained and safe shopping facilities as well as carrying safely designed and manufactured products.
As a large corporation, it is not surprising that Target faces many lawsuits. Most employees are hourly workers who make minimum wage and are not highly trained. This can lead to unsafe environments which cause injury to customers. It is important to note that because Target is based in Minnesota, plaintiffs claiming more than $75,000 outside of the state can likely expect Target to remove the case to federal court.
What Constitutes a Slip and Fall Accident?
Because a store that welcomes customers onto its property has a duty to keep all customers reasonably safe, the store could be held liable if a customer is injured on the property. An “unreasonable” condition that contributes to a slip and fall can lead to an injury claim against the store. Many of the personal injury lawsuits brought against Target are slip and fall cases. In this type of claim, the plaintiff alleges that he or she fell for one of the following reasons:
- Target created a condition that caused the fall
- Target knew or should have known of a hazard that might cause someone to fall and did not do enough or did nothing to prevent the hazard
While there can be very high verdicts in slip and fall cases, they can also be challenging because the plaintiff must show that the fall was due to negligence on Target’s part. The mere fact that the plaintiff fell is not enough to sue. You will only be able to hold a store legally responsible for unsafe conditions if the store created the unsafe condition, such as having a faulty staircase, or for failing to react to the unsafe conditions, such as not cleaning up a known spill and placing warning signs.
What Should I Do If I Am Injured at Target?
If you have fallen at Target and believe it to be due to negligence on the store’s part, seek medical attention immediately. Begin collecting evidence early, such as medical records and your doctor’s medical opinion. For example, your injury could require physical therapy in the future, something you want to account for when you seek compensation. If you believe that you have a case against Target, contact a personal injury attorney. Your attorney will review your case and offer sound legal advice on the best steps to take. He or she can also help you gather evidence, such as surveillance film from the store. Your attorney can also act as your spokesperson when dealing with the store management and store attorneys.
If you have fallen in a Target and believe that it was due to the store’s negligence, seek help from a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney today.