St. Louis Shopping Center Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys
Missouri premises liability law firm represents clients injured at malls
When you’re on a trip to a shopping center, you don’t expect a sudden slip and fall to ruin your day, and worse, to cause you painful injuries. However, shopping centers are common sites of accidents that leave shoppers with expensive medical bills and lasting pain. If you’ve been hurt because of a hazard at a mall, big-box store or other retail outlet, the St. Louis shopping center slip and fall accident attorneys at the Guirl Law Firm can capably pursue the compensation you deserve.
Why slip-and-fall accidents are common at shopping centers
Shopping centers are highly trafficked areas with minimal supervision, so that multiple hazards can lie in wait. Floor workers at large stores are busy pushing stock or restocking shelves, so they may not notice dangerous conditions immediately. Most malls have food courts where customers can purchase meals and beverages, portions of which can find their way to the floor and create slippery conditions. Floors can be left wet from mopping or can accumulate water from internal or external sources.
Only constant vigilance and frequent maintenance can fully ensure the safety of customers. However, many large stores are thinly staffed and do not have protocols to deal with dangers when they arise.
Proving negligence in a shopping center fall
A shopping center slip-and-fall can justify a premises liability lawsuit, alleging that the owner or tenant in control of the property failed in its duty to keep the premises safe for visitors. An owner/operator of commercial property has a duty to inspect for hidden hazards and to remove them or provide adequate warning to customers. The owner/operator can be liable for known hazards and for those that should have been known. This means an owner/operator of a business can be found negligent if:
- Their inspection procedures were inadequate
- Their response to a known hazard was slow or inadequate
- Their warnings about a hazard were inadequate
In other words, the owner/operator is legally responsible for the resulting injuries if their actions were unreasonably lax and that laxity allowed the fall to occur.
Who can be liable for a Missouri shopping center slip and fall injury?
Liability depends on the nature of the hazard and where it occurred. Potential defendants in a shopping center slip-and-fall include:
- The property owner or occupier
- The property manager
- Maintenance contractors
- Vendor or commercial tenants
Commercial leases include clauses about responsibilities for the maintenance of spaces. Generally, the property owner would be responsible for common areas and thus liable for a sidewalk injury. However, once a customer is inside a store, the individual vendor is be solely responsible for safety.
Our St. Louis lawyers help victims of shopping center accidents
Slip and fall accidents are challenging to resolve. A St. Louis premises liability lawyer can take decisive steps to strengthen your case for compensation, such as:
- Gathering evidence and documentation
- Securing and reviewing surveillance cameras
- Interviewing witnesses
- Negotiating settlements or taking the case to trial
Shopping centers don’t like negative publicity and often will make a settlement offer quickly. To ensure a fair settlement, seek professional counsel from our experienced attorneys.
Contact a dedicated St. Louis slip and fall lawyer for a free consultation
The Guirl Law Firm in St. Louis represents clients who have sustained injuries in slip and fall accidents in shopping centers throughout Missouri. Please call 314-391-2585 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. If you cannot travel, we can come to your home or hospital.
