Goodwill Slip and Fall Injury Attorneys

Overall, we would have to say that slip and falls are the number one source of injuries for customers at a store. To understand how serious these accidents can be, here is a list of the most common slip and fall injuries you can sustain while shopping at a Goodwill store:

• Tearing of the ligaments and tendons
• Head injuries – brain damage, broken nose and other facial bones
• Tailbone fracture
• Deep cuts and scratches
• Dislocated joints
• Shoulder fracture
• Neck and back injury
• Damage to the spinal cord
• ACL / MCL tear in the knee, broken kneecap
• Chronic pain
• Permanent disability (paralysis, for example)
• Death

Goodwill stores have tons of merchandise on display at all times, and constant cleaning and organizing, along with timely repairs are essential in this type of environment. In addition, store owners must be vigilant of areas outside the store, like the walkways and parking lots, where people can also fall down from slipping on something.

Below are some of the most common causes of slip and fall injuries at a Goodwill store location:

• Water and other liquids on the floor
• Clothing and other items that have fallen off shelves / racks
• Failure to use Wet Floor signs
• Leaks and dripping water from defective pipes
• Missing, broken, or poorly designed handrails
• Uneven flooring
• Worn areas on tiles and carpets that are slippery
• Residue left on the floor from improper cleaning techniques
• Hazards in the bathroom – leaking toilets and plumbing fixtures, loose toilet seats, soap on the floor, etc.
• Conditions outside the store – icy sidewalks, grease spots in the parking lot, puddles after a storm, etc.
• Poor lighting or lack of lighting in dark areas like corridors and parking lots

Yes, you can sue Goodwill or any other retailer if you slipped and fell down at one of their stores due to a hazardous condition. This is based on the law of premises liability, which obligates owners to keep their properties in a reasonably safe condition. The degree of responsibility is higher for owners of commercial properties versus homeowners, as there are more conditions at places like stores that can cause someone to be injured.

In the previous section, we went over some of the conditions that can lead to a slip and fall incident. A store owner’s failure to take care of these issues constitutes negligence, which is the basis of a personal injury lawsuit. Even if the person directly responsible for the hazard is an employee rather than the owner, the store can still be sued under the law of vicarious liability. This is a legal concept where employers are responsible for actions by their workers that cause injury to others, as long as the action was committed within the scope of employment.

As an example, a Goodwill sales associate is asked to clean up a spill on the floor by their manager. The first step is to put down Wet Floor signs so that people know to stay away from the area. But the employee fails to do this, and while they are in the back looking for cleaning supplies, a customer walking through the store slips on the puddle and falls down.

Because the employee’s carelessness occurred within the scope of employment, you can file an accident claim with Goodwill for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other applicable damages. There are many other ways that a store can be liable for injuries on their property, which we can go over with you in detail during a free case review.

The majority of settlements we recover for those injured from a fall range from $250,000 to $2,000,000. But each slip and fall incident results in different injuries with specific health complications. The cause of the accident, i.e., degree of liability by Goodwill for the accident also plays a role in the amount you are due from a lawsuit. Overall, slip and fall case values can start at around $10,000 and go all the way up to $5,000,000. If there are severe injuries that result in permanent disability or death, the amount of compensation can exceed $5,000,000. Please note that your settlement award may include some of all of the following damages:

• Medical expenses
• Funeral expenses (in the case of wrongful death)
• Lost wages and other sources of income
• Loss of expected savings and benefits
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium
• Value of lost or damaged property
• Punitive damages
• Lawyer’s fees

Fall-related accident cases against major retailers often take around 8 to 10 months to settle based on our experience with these lawsuits. Within this timeframe, you’re going to find cases that are settled within the first 6 months, and others that take over 3 years. Ultimately, how long it takes to reach a settlement is based on a variety of issues that we cannot anticipate ahead of time. However, we can educate you on these factors, so that you have a sense of what to expect as we work through the process of bringing you justice. For more information on the amount of time to settle a Goodwill slip and fall accident lawsuit, contact us today.

There is a deadline of 2 years from the date of an accident to sue for being injured on private property, like a store, restaurant, or someone’s home. Since the clock starts ticking from the moment you are injured, we suggest that you contact our office immediately to initiate a claim for compensation.

We want to stress that it’s extremely difficult to obtain an extension once you miss the 2-year statute of limitations. One notable exception has to do with the discovery of injury or illness after you are past the deadline for a lawsuit. In that case, you have 1 year from the date of diagnosis to file a lawsuit, but the court would still have to review and approve your request.

To ensure that you can obtain payment for the harm you’ve suffered, don’t wait to give us a call and speak to a lawyer who can sue Goodwill for injuries from a slip and fall.

Victims of injuries that were caused by someone else should not be burdened with the cost of legal fees. That’s why our attorneys work on contingency and receive payment directly from Goodwill at the same time you receive your settlement check. If we don’t win your lawsuit, the Zero Fee Guarantee is there to ensure that you pay absolutely nothing.

As you can see, there is no risk in taking some time to contact us and talk about your rights as a fall accident injury victim. Please schedule a free consultation with a Goodwill slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
ROSS Slip and Fall Lawyers
DD’s Discount Store Accident Attorney
Convenience Store Slip and Fall Attorneys