Black Friday Injuries? You Have Legal Recourse

For many families, going to the mall the day after Thanksgiving to snag steeply discounted merchandise is becoming as much of a holiday tradition as Thanksgiving itself. Every year, swarms of shoppers line up outside department stores—sometimes camping out the night before the doors open—to secure the best deals possible.

But the biggest shopping day of the year also carries with it real safety risks. Black Friday is a day on which seemingly every modicum of common courtesy is tossed aside in favor of frantic, cut-throat shopping. This day sees a surge in serious shopper injuries, ranging from broken bones to death.

In today’s post, we outline some of the common Black Friday safety concerns:

Inside the Mall

All store owners have a legal obligation to take steps to keep their customers safe—or warn their customers of any hazards. If, for example, you slip and fall on a wet floor that did not have a warning sign, you could hold the retailer responsible for your injuries.

However, on Black Friday, the majority injuries are caused by other shoppers—not by the retailer. Shoppers have been beaten, stabbed and even shot at Black Friday events. There have also been reports of shoppers who have fallen and been trampled by large crowds—sometimes to death. This phenomenon—known is “retail rage”—is becoming increasingly common.

Outside the Mall

If you make it out of the mall unscathed, the safety risks don’t end there. Since many Black Friday shoppers wait in line all night, they are often operating on no sleep. Once the shopping spree is over, they get behind the wheel in an exhausted state. Consequently, the rate of car crashes sees a spike on this day.

If you suffered injury on Black Friday, first and foremost, see a doctor for medical treatment and evaluation. Then, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to seek justice for your pain and suffering.