Every year, thousands of shoppers come together on Black Friday to purchase the items they have been waiting for. This usually results in mass crowds and hazardous shopping conditions for many stores across the country. While on a normal day, people can try to avoid shopping hazards, the hectic scenes of Black Friday can make this difficult. It is because of this that it is common for accidents to occur that lead to severe injuries. When facing these situations, it is important to retain the services of an experienced personal injury attorney for assistance with your case.
Premises Liability
All property owners in the state of Pennsylvania have a legal obligation to make sure their grounds are safe for those who come onto it. This includes store owners and those they employ to run them. It is an employer’s responsibility to make sure the environment is safe for employees just as it is the responsibility of the building owner to make sure the store is safe for shoppers. This can be accomplished by conducting routine inspections of the area so they are aware of any possible hazards the moment they arise instead of after an injury already happens. Common dangers that can lead to accidents can include but are not limited to the following:
- Spilled liquids
- Uneven walkways
- Inadequate security
- Poor lighting
- Parking lot hazards
- Construction hazards

Proving Negligence
When an injury occurs due to the negligence of a retail store owner, they often want to hold this party liable for their suffering. This can be done by filing a personal injury claim. This process works to hold a negligent party responsible for their failure to provide the proper standard of care to an individual on their property. It is important to know that the injured party is required to prove negligence with evidence that satisfies the burden of proof. This can be done by answering two questions:
- Was the store owner aware of the danger?
- Should the store owner have reasonably known about the danger?
This can often be difficult to accomplish, which is why it is crucial to retain the services of an experienced personal injury attorney. An attorney can help demonstrate how the accident occurred in addition to proving the store owner knew about the hazard and failed to fix it. Evidence to do so can consist of any previous constructive or actual notice. Constructive notice occurs if the owner failed to inspect the property. Actual notice is any record showing they knew the hazard existed.
Contact our Firm
If you or a loved one has been in a personal injury accident in Pennsylvania, it’s important that you contact an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney to help you with your case and to make sure that you are not taken advantage of. Contact Spear Greenfield to get the right attorney in your corner.
Call or text (215) 985-2424 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form