With The Holidays Coming, Beware Of These Slip And Fall Hazards When Shopping

There are two types of people in this world, those that begin their holiday shopping in August (you’re already running late) and those who wait until the last minute. Whichever type of person you are, you will be beginning your holiday shopping shortly or maybe you already have. Either way, when you make a plan to head to the mall or your favorite store to do your holiday shopping you will want to be on the lookout for a New Haven slip and fall hazard that could slow your shopping down. If you wind up getting injured as the result of a fall at the mall or store you could be in for a long recovery and if that happens your timeline for holiday shopping, not to mention your day to day life, could be halted.

If you’re starting your holiday shopping now you will likely be avoiding one of the main hazards that are presented to shoppers when they are shopping during the holiday rush, other shoppers. Crowds can be a serious threat to your health and safety if you’re running from store to store with thousands of your closest friends. So, by starting now you’re already well ahead of the game and putting yourself in a good position to minimize your interactions with crowds. That’s not to say that there won’t be any crowds this time of the year, but the mad rush for the latest toy will not be happening, just yet anyway.

When you’re headed out to the mall or your favorite stores you will want to make sure you are taking the time to care for your personal safety behind the wheel of your car. Of course this means things like wearing a seat belt and abiding by the speed limit. Both of these things will keep you safe as you head out for your early holiday shopping trip. Putting your safety first from the moment you leave your home will put you in a great mindset to remain safe while you’re shopping. When you get to the parking lot to start your shopping you will want to make sure you park carefully and it may be best to stay away from crowded parking spots to reduce the risk of getting into a parking lot accident. While the parking lots may not be quite as crowded this time of the year, there are always people who are not paying attention and may cause you to get into an accident.

Once you’re finally at your destination and ready to do your shopping keep your safety in mind. It can be tempting to race through the stores trying to check things off your list, but just breathe, you’ve got time. Take it one step at a time and you should be able to avoid many of these slip and fall hazards that are presented to you when you’re in a store or mall.

1.) Spills and leaks. With so many people in and out of these stores and malls on a daily basis there is a strong likelihood that there may be some liquids spilled on the floors in front of you. This may be especially true if you’re walking through a food court. You will want to make sure you go around any spills when possible and if it is not possible to go around the spills you should carefully step through the spill and go slowly. It would also be a nice idea to notify a member of the store or mall staff so that others do not have to navigate this spill.

2.) Uneven surfaces. Whether you’re stepping up over a curb or walking along the causeway of an outdoor mall you may run into a situation where the surfaces you are walking along are not even and this can present a tripping hazard. This can become a particularly difficult situation when you are rushing, so it is important to slow down and mind your step. You may also come across these types of uneven surfaces when a rug is laid down in a particular section of a store and you don’t see it, this can also trip you up. If the surfaces you are walking on are consistently uneven you may want to find an employee and let them know that this is going to be a problem.

3.) Loose Merchandise. Have you ever been in a clothing store and had to walk over piles of loose jeans that people sorted through to find their perfect size, but they never put the jeans back in an orderly way so they fell on the floor? This is a very common site when you are shopping and when it happens it can become a serious risk for anyone trying to make their way safely through the store. These types of obstructions can lead to tripping hazards and are especially dangerous when you’re in a store that does not have a lot of floor space where all types of merchandise can pile high. You will want to be aware of your surroundings and if you run into this type of situation use an alternate route or carefully step over the obstruction.

When you’re out doing some early holiday shopping your first thought may not be your safety, but it should definitely be one of your thoughts. You will want to make sure that while you’re finding the perfect gift for that special someone that you’re not putting yourself in danger of experiencing a New Haven slip and fall accident unexpectedly. The good news is that if you know what to look for you can reduce or eliminate these risks all together and you can get to and from your favorite stores or mall safely and with the perfect gift to wrap up tightly when the holidays do arise.

In the event that you get injured when you’re out shopping you may need to speak with an attorney who has experience with the types of situations you were facing. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.