Were you injured by merchandise that fell off a shelf in Chicago, Illinois? You may be able to take legal action by filing a premises liability claim, and Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC is here to help you maximize what you recover.
Call us at (224) 481-1926 for a free consultation to get started with your case. Our Chicago premises liability lawyers have won tens of millions of dollars for our clients and have over 100 years of combined experience.
How Can Mark L. Karno & Associates Help After a Falling Merchandise Accident in Chicago, IL?
Mark L. Karno & Associates has been successfully representing victims of premises liability accidents in Chicago for decades. When you hire our award-winning legal team, we can:
- Investigate how the merchandise was displayed and whether it violated any safety standards
- Obtain the store’s incident reports and internal maintenance records
- Interview witnesses who saw what happened
- Document the full extent of your injuries and related expenses
- File a lawsuit if the store’s insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement
Contact our law offices today for a free case review, at which time we can answer your questions and provide you with some preliminary legal advice.
How Do Falling Merchandise Accidents Happen?
Falling merchandise accidents are more common than most people think. Large retail stores and other establishments stock thousands of products on shelves that can reach well above a customer’s head. When those items aren’t stored properly, it doesn’t take much for something to fall.
Some of the most frequent causes of falling merchandise injuries include:
- Items stacked too high or too close to the edge of a shelf
- Heavy products placed on upper shelves without adequate support
- Overloaded displays that become unstable over time
- Broken shelving that hasn’t been repaired
- Employees restocking merchandise carelessly while customers are nearby
- Forklifts disturbing nearby shelves during warehouse-style operations
The injuries from these accidents can be surprisingly severe. A heavy object falling from an upper shelf can cause severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that children and older adults are especially vulnerable to.
What Do I Need To Prove in a Falling Merchandise Case?
To recover compensation, you generally need to show that the store created or allowed a dangerous condition to exist and that the condition caused your injury. Under Illinois premises liability law, retailers owe their customers the highest duty of care because shoppers are classified as invitees.
That means the store is expected to regularly inspect its shelves and displays for hazards, fix problems as soon as they’re discovered, and warn customers about any dangers that haven’t been addressed yet. If they fell short on any of those obligations and you got hurt as a result, they can be held financially responsible.
Contact a Chicago Falling Merchandise Attorney for a Free Consultation
Were you injured in a falling merchandise accident in Chicago, IL? Mark L. Karno & Associates has the experience to take on major retailers and fight for the maximum possible compensation. Call us at (224) 481-1926 or reach out online to schedule your free consultation today.