Lawyers urge holiday shoppers to document slip and fall accidents before leaving stores
Attorneys say reporting incidents and taking photos preserves evidence needed to prove liability during the busy shopping season.
By Riya Ross ·
Holiday crowds and stress often lead to shoppers losing focus on store floors, increasing the risk of slips and trips. Attorneys from Andijar and Levine said on Monday that documenting these accidents is essential for anyone who falls while shopping.
The firm argued that the pressure to buy gifts before the holidays causes people to rush and ignore their surroundings. Levine noted that this stress leads to accidents that require immediate attention. He advised shoppers to pause their shopping trip and assess their physical condition before doing anything else.
Levine stated that reporting the fall to store management is the most important step for a plaintiff. He said the person who fell bears the burden of proving the accident occurred. To meet this legal standard, he urged shoppers to take photographs of the specific hazard that caused the fall.
Many customers feel embarrassed after slipping and want to leave the store quickly, but Levine warned against this instinct. He said shoppers should not brush themselves off and walk away. Instead, they should record the scene and write down the names of employees who assisted them.
Levine explained that a formal report helps preserve surveillance footage. He said stores may erase video after a set period if they do not know an incident took place. Referencing a report ensures the store keeps the footage for potential review by legal teams.
Andijar said that leaving the scene without reporting the fall does not automatically end a person's legal options. He told viewers that they can still contact the firm if they leave out of embarrassment. The firm can still investigate the case and gather necessary evidence.
The attorneys said they manage the legal and administrative burdens for their clients. This includes coordinating medical treatment and handling communications with insurance companies and store legal departments. Andijar said the firm takes over these tasks from the start of the case until it concludes.
Andijar and Levine said the firm has operated for 21 years and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They listed cell phones, email, Instagram, and their website as contact methods. The attorneys said they handle questions of any size from potential clients.
Source: KASW
