With the holiday season underway, you will likely be trying to get some shopping done in the next few weeks along with many other Georgia residents. You may have some items you can purchase online from the comfort of your couch, but for others, you may need to head to the stores to look over some gift ideas.
Whether you dread shopping or feel as if it is a relaxing activity, you need to stay focused on a vital aspect of your outing: safety. You may not consider shopping an inherently dangerous activity, but there is always a chance that you could be involved in an injury-causing accident at a retail location.
Safety first
Store owners and operators should do their part to ensure that the premises is not dangerous for patrons. However, some hazards could get overlooked, especially as employees try to handle the uptick in customers and tackle holiday-related tasks this season. Some ways the owners and operators can better ensure customer safety include the following:
- Providing good lighting inside and outside so customers can more easily watch their step
- Making sure there are no tripping hazards in walkways, such as extension cords running to holiday displays or boxes left from stocking shelves
- Cleaning up spills and other slip hazards immediately
- Using caution signs around wet floors or other hazards
- Repairing cracks in the flooring or tears in the carpet that could cause someone to trip
- Having employees constantly monitoring areas for potential hazards
Unfortunately, not all employees are diligent in keeping areas clean or recognizing when hazards exist. As a result, you could be minding your own business trying to find the right gift for a loved one only to trip over something in a walkway or slip in a puddle on the floor. You may not initially think that a fall would be anything more than an inconvenience, but same-level falls can easily cause serious injuries.
What to do after an injury
No one wants to end up injured during the holidays, but the risk is always present. If you do end up in a slip-and-fall accident, you may want to determine whether you have reason to file a premises liability claim. This type of civil claim could allow you to seek compensation for your injuries and other damages resulting from the store owner’s negligence.