If you fell at a store entrance in Collingdale, Pennsylvania, the business may owe you money for your injuries. Many of these slip and fall accidents start right at the door. A raised threshold, a soaked floor mat, or a hidden step-down can catch your foot as you walk in. Pennsylvania law lets an injured customer seek payment when a store fails to keep its entrance reasonably safe.
At Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer, our Collingdale slip and fall accident lawyers handle these entrance falls. We know the older storefronts on MacDade Boulevard and Clifton Avenue. This discussion explains how a store doorway turns into a fall. It also explains what you should do if that happens to you.
Older Storefront Entrances Line MacDade Boulevard and Clifton Avenue in Collingdale
Collingdale’s storefront falls tend to happen right at the doorway. Most shops here are old walk-up storefronts, so a customer steps straight from the sidewalk over an aged sill and into the store. That doorway transition is where the danger sits, not the aisles deeper inside.
Most of these shops line two streets, MacDade Boulevard and Clifton Avenue. This small Delaware County borough sits southwest of Philadelphia, and many of its entrances were built decades ago. Little about those doorways has changed since.
A customer stepping into Femi’s Pizza on Clifton Avenue crosses one of these older doorways. The same is true up and down MacDade Boulevard, where small shops sit near the Collingdale Public Library. That short step, from the sidewalk into an old shop, is where many falls begin.
Why Do Raised Door Thresholds Cause Falls at Collingdale Storefronts?
A raised threshold is the small ledge at the bottom of a doorway. Your foot expects flat ground, so even a low lip can catch it. Many Collingdale storefronts were built decades ago.
Their doorways predate the level-entry rules of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the 1990 law that sets safe-access standards. Over the years, metal sill plates loosen, and edges lift. A rubber transition strip can smooth the change, but many old doors never got one.
A customer carrying a coffee or a pizza box looks ahead, not down. The lip catches a toe, and the fall happens in a blink. At Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer, we handle these entrance-threshold falls.
Can a Wet Walk-Off Mat at a Collingdale Store Entrance Cause a Fall?
Yes. A soaked or curled floor mat at the door is a common fall hazard, especially after rain. When it rains, customers track water onto the walk-off mat just inside the entrance.
A wet mat can slide on smooth tile. A curled or bunched edge can grab your toe. The tile underneath is often slick once water gets on it.
Store staff are supposed to swap out soaked mats and flatten curled corners. A mat with a rubber backing stays put, but a cheap one does not. When no one checks the mat, a customer can pay for it with a hard fall. Our Collingdale slip and fall accident lawyers see these entrance-mat falls often.
What Makes a Recessed Doorway Step-Down Dangerous in Collingdale?
A recessed doorway sits back from the sidewalk, and the floor inside can drop below the sidewalk level. That hidden step-down is easy to miss. Two things make it worse at older Collingdale shops.
First, there is often no paint stripe or warning sign to mark the drop. Second, your eyes move from bright outdoor daylight into a dim interior. They adjust slowly, so the step stays hidden for a second.
That second is when people fall. A bakery or a small takeout counter can have this exact setup. When the drop is not marked, a first-time customer has no way to know it is there.
Are Storefront Slip and Fall Accidents Serious?
A fall at a doorway can be worse than it sounds. When you trip on a threshold, you pitch forward before you can catch yourself. You land on your hands, your wrist, or your head.
CDC data shows falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries, which are head injuries from a blow or jolt. A head strike on tile or concrete is serious at any age.
Older shoppers can break a wrist or a hip in the same fall. These injuries can mean surgery, weeks away from work, and months of recovery. Medical bills add up fast. That is why a fall at an entrance is not a minor matter.
Pursuing a Slip and Fall Claim After a Collingdale Storefront Fall
A slip and fall accident at a store entrance can leave you with real costs. If the store’s carelessness caused your fall, it can be made to pay for the harm, and a personal injury claim is how you collect. What you can recover depends on how badly you were hurt and how the fall happened.
A claim can pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. It can also cover the care you still need. At Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer, our Collingdale slip and fall accident lawyers represent people injured at unsafe store entrances. We can review how your fall happened and explain your options.
FAQs: Storefront Slip and Fall Accidents in Collingdale
- Who Is Responsible if You Trip at a Collingdale Store Entrance?
Under premises liability, which is the rule that a business must keep its property reasonably safe for customers, the store is usually responsible for a fall at its entrance. That includes a raised threshold, a loose mat, or a hidden step-down that the owner should have fixed.
- How Long Does a Slip and Fall Case Take in Collingdale?
It depends on your injuries and how clear the fault is. A simple claim can settle in a few months. A serious injury that needs long treatment can take longer, and your lawyer can give you a better estimate as the facts come in.
- What Should You Do After a Fall at a Collingdale Shop?
Get medical care first. Then report the fall to the staff and ask them to write it down. Take photos of the threshold, mat, or step that tripped you, and get the names of anyone who saw it happen.
If You Fell and Got Hurt, Talk to Our Collingdale Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers at Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer
A fall at a store entrance can leave you with bills you did not expect. Rand Spear – The Accident Lawyer is ready to help you recover. Our Collingdale slip and fall accident lawyers know the older MacDade Boulevard and Clifton Avenue storefronts. We know how to prove what went wrong at the door. Call 215-985-0138 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, as well as Cherry Hill and Marlton, NJ, we assist clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
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