Have a Safe Holiday, Part 2: Watch Out While Shopping at the Mall

The holidays are supposed to be a happy time. It’s a time when you show how much you care. And that means presents. But watch out — shopping at your local mall can become a personal injury claim waiting to happen.

We all know that the holiday shopping season is one of the busiest times to be in a store. According to the National Retail Federation, holiday sales have steadily increased in the last 10 years by 2.5 percent on average. On Thanksgiving weekend, 154 million shoppers were expected to flood stores nationwide. In fact, the holiday season can represent as much as 30 percent of annual sales with just jewelry stores alone!

Of course, the holiday season also lands on the time of year when ice and snow are just beginning to fall. And when you put holiday shopping together with winter weather, you get premises liability cases.

We know we’ve talked about these cases a lot lately. But it’s important to know that a slip and fall accident can not only cause you injury, but can become a financial burden. And with the massive crowds, it’s better to be safe.

So before walking into the mall or your favorite big box store, keep these tips in mind:

• Watch out for those mats – You know that rubber door mat at the front of the store? It’s meant to keep the floors clean and free of puddles. However, that mat can become saturated very quickly. So be careful when walking over it.
• Be wary of the clutter – Interior aisles can easily fill up with merchandise or displays, making them cluttered and hard to get around. So you should watch where you’re stepping.
• The danger of stairs – Staircases may have broken stairs or handrails, and could be slippery if there’s no protective covering. So take your time climbing up or down.
• Clean up that mess – Did something spill? That’s just ripe for a lawsuit. Make sure someone knows about the spill and that it gets taken care of immediately.

Just remember to take your time when you’re at the mall. That’s the best advice to avoid any type of accident this season.

And if you do get into a slip and fall accident, we can help you with your claim. Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone today for a free consultation.

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