Department Store Accidents

The injury attorneys at the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III represent people who have been involved in various accidents, including those that happen in department stores. Whether it is a slip and fall on a wet surface, a tumble down poorly lit stairs, or a slide on an icy walkway, a person injured in a department store accident has the right to seek compensation from those responsible. Our Cape Cod premises liability attorneys work aggressively to help get clients all of the money damages that may be available to them under the law. We are dedicated to helping the people whom we represent get their lives back on track by guiding them through the legal process with experience and personal attention.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall or another accident caused by a dangerous condition at a department store, Massachusetts law gives you the power to seek money damages from those responsible. Possible defendants usually include the property owner and the department store company (if those entities are different). The damages typically available in slip and fall cases include compensation for related medical bills, lost income and earning capacity, and more subjective forms of harm like pain and suffering. You may be able to get reimbursed for both the damages already incurred and those that you may be expected to incur in the future, like additional doctors’ bills or a permanent reduction in your quality of life. In the tragic event that a person dies in a department store accident, his or her family also has the right to seek compensation for this wrongful death.

To get either personal injury or wrongful death damages, you may need to file a lawsuit. It is important to consult an experienced injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident to explore your rights and options. Insurance companies often try to swoop in with minimal settlement offers shortly after an accident. Rather than jumping at the first offer, you should speak to a lawyer before signing anything.

Premises liability is a legal theory that holds property owners responsible for failing to adequately address any safety hazards on the property and warn people of those hazards that cannot be immediately addressed. Property owners generally owe anyone on the premises what courts call a “duty of care.” They are required to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition. That means, among other things, clearing clutter from department store aisles, keeping floors dry, cleaning up spills, maintaining staircase handrails, and clearing snow and ice from parking lots. The owner is also obligated to warn people of any hazards of which the owner knows or should know through a reasonable inspection.

To get money damages in a premises liability case, you first need to prove that the owner did not live up to the duty of care. Witness testimony about how the accident happened and evidence showing that the owner was aware or should have been aware of the hazard are often vital. You also need to show that the specific hazard directly caused the fall and that you were injured in the fall, which means compiling medical evidence to detail the full extent of your injuries and how they were caused.

At the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, we have been representing people throughout Massachusetts in slip and fall and other personal injury cases since 1994. We work tirelessly in settlement negotiations and at trial to assert the rights of our clients. We have a strong track record of success for the people who enlist our services. Our Cape Cod attorneys make ourselves available outside the office as needed, and we take most of our cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that we do not get paid unless you do. Call us at 888-262-6664 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. Nós Falamos Português.