If you have been injured at a shopping mall or while visiting a retail business, you may have a right to seek compensation under a theory of premises liability. In Pennsylvania, as in other states, the owner of commercial property has a duty to maintain the premises so as to minimize the risk of injury to anyone legally on the property. If there are dangers that the owner knew or should have known about, the owner must either fix them, or provide reasonable notice of the risks, so that visitors may take appropriate measures to avoid injury.
What to Do When You Have Been Injured at a Mall or Store
The first thing you want to do anytime you have been injured is get the medical treatment you need. If you are unable to move under your own power, ask someone to call an ambulance. Wait until the emergency medical technicians arrive before you try to move. Doing otherwise may unnecessarily aggravate your injuries.
If you can move under your own power and your injuries are not life-threatening or seriously debilitating, take time to gather the following information:
- Contact information for anyone who witnessed your accident—name, address, phone number
- Pictures of the condition of the premises at the time of your accident
- Contact information for the owner of the premises
As soon as possible, notify the owner or store manager that you have been injured and will be seeking medical attention.
When you go to the hospital, to a clinic, or to your own physician, make certain you tell them about anything that is unusual. Don’t ignore the pain in your back just because you have a broken arm. Often, the injuries that will be most problematic in the long run, do not seem as serious at first, or take a longer time to fully appear.
Once you know that any immediate medical needs have been addressed, you should contact an experienced lawyer. You may encounter difficulties simply trying to get your insurance company to cover medical costs. Your attorney will be your advocate, helping you pursue full and fair compensation for all your losses.
Contact Our Office
At Metzger & Kleiner, we offer a free initial consultation to every client. To schedule an appointment with an experienced Philadelphia premises liability injury lawyer, contact us by e-mail or call our office at 215 622-2210 in Philadelphia, 610 563-2186 in the Lehigh Valley, or toll free at 800 228-1760.
We take all premises liability injury claims on a contingency basis. We won’t charge attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your losses. Se habla Espanol.