Slip and fall accidents are unfortunately very common in retail stores like Target. With hundreds of customers walking through the aisles each day, spills and other hazards often go unaddressed by staff, leading to serious injuries for unsuspecting shoppers. If you have suffered a slip and fall injury at a Target store in Florida, you may have a premises liability claim against the retailer. But these cases can be complicated, so having an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side is essential.
In addition to hundreds of other major big box stores like Home Depot, Costco, Walmart, and Lowe’s, there are over 120 Target locations in Florida (as of 2023). These massive enterprises have injury risks because of their high inventory, volume of customers, and continuous activity. So what happens if you slip, trip, or fall at a Florida Target?
This comprehensive guide will provide everything you need to know about pursuing a slip and fall injury claim against Target in Florida. We’ll cover the legal basis for these cases, what evidence you need, how much compensation you can recover, and more.
This is a general primer; for legal guidance specific to your situation, please don’t hesitate to consult with the Philip DeBerard law firm for free. With the right approach and representation, you can get the justice and financial recovery you deserve.
Target’s Legal Duty to Customers
Under Florida premises liability law, property owners like Target have a legal duty to keep their stores reasonably safe for customers. This includes:
- Properly maintaining floors, aisles, shelves, and displays
- Quickly cleaning up spills, leaks, and other slip hazards
- Fixing any defective conditions like uneven tiles or torn carpeting
- Providing adequate lighting in all areas of the store
- Following all safety rules and procedures consistently.
When a customer gets injured because Target failed to fulfill these duties, the company or store can be held financially liable through a personal injury lawsuit. The injured person does not need to prove Target was negligent. Simply showing that an unsafe condition existed that caused the fall is enough to establish liability in most cases.
Why You Need A Slip and Fall Lawyer For Your Accident at Target
Pursuing compensation after a Target slip and fall accident can be complicated. The retailer will often deny responsibility or make lowball settlement offers. Having a knowledgeable personal injury attorney on your side levels the playing field.
An attorney can thoroughly investigate your accident, preserve evidence, calculate full damages, negotiate aggressively, and take your case to trial if needed. This makes it much more likely Target will offer a fair settlement that covers your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Attorneys like Philip DeBerard who specialize in retail store accident cases know exactly how to build a strong claim against major chains like Target. They have successfully handled many cases just like yours and won millions of dollars for past clients. Philip DeBerard only gets paid if you win your case, too. This means you don’t risk your hard-earned money by working with the DeBerard firm.
Key Evidence Needed in Your Personal Injury Target Slip and Fall Claim
Proving that Target is legally liable for your injuries requires gathering the right evidence. This can include:
- Store surveillance footage – Video of your actual fall and the hazardous condition that caused it is incredibly helpful. An attorney sends a “spoliation letter” to Target demanding they preserve footage right away.
- Photographs – Pictures of the dangerous condition like a puddle or slippery substance, along with any injuries or stains on your clothes, can also strengthen your claim.
- Incident reports – You or your lawyer must obtain any reports created by Target staff documenting your accident or the location hazard.
- Witness statements – Eyewitnesses can provide written statements on what they saw, which is useful evidence.
- Medical records – All your records from the doctor, hospital, therapy, and pharmacy can show your injury diagnosis and treatment. These are essential when seeking injury damages.
- Expert opinions – For complicated cases, an expert like a biomechanical engineer or safety specialist may examine factors like store lighting, floor traction, or strength of shelving to show Target’s negligence.
A competent premises liability lawyer will thoroughly investigate the accident scene, gather evidence, and take sworn statements from Target managers to build the strongest case.
Steps to Take After Your Florida Target Slip and Fall Accident
If you have suffered a fall inside a Target, taking quick action is vital to prove liability and recover maximum compensation. Here is a checklist of what to do:
- Get medical care – This documents your injuries and prevents medical issues from worsening.
- Report the fall – Alert Target staff about the incident and unsafe condition. Get contact information for the manager on duty.
- Take photos – Use your phone to photograph the hazard, such as substance spill, cracked flooring, lack of signage, etc.
- Document injuries – Take pictures of any cuts, bruises, or other trauma suffered in the fall.
- Get witness info – Talk to anyone who saw your fall and get their phone number or email.
- Keep purchase receipts – These help prove you were in the store when the incident occurred.
- Call an attorney – Contact the Philip DeBerard office immediately so we can evaluate your accident, advise you on your best next steps, and protect you from potential disputes by Target.
Determining the Value of Your Injury Compensation Claim
If Target is found liable for your slip and fall accident in Florida, what compensation could you recover? Some fall accident claims result in seven- and six-figure settlements. However, each case is unique, and outcomes vary widely. Key factors include:
- Medical costs – Any expenses related to doctor visits, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, medical devices, prescription medication, and other treatment are included.
- Lost income – If injuries prevent you working for a period of time, you can seek damages for lost wages. Documented past and future earning losses boost your claim’s value.
- Pain and suffering – Money damages can be sought for physical pain caused by your injuries, along with emotional distress from the trauma. They are typically calculated at a daily or hourly rate.
- Disability – If accident injuries leave you permanently impaired or disabled, the dramatic life impact warrants significant compensation.
- Out-of-pocket costs – Things like medical equipment, modified transportation, and home health aides that you require due to injuries can be reimbursed.
- Punitive damages – If Target’s conduct was particularly egregious or reckless, you may receive an additional award meant to punish their recklessness.
Experienced personal injury lawyers use sophisticated methods to accurately calculate both economic and non-economic damages for a case. This ensures you receive every penny you deserve from Target.
Accident and Injury Settlements in Slip and Fall at Target Stores
To understand potential case value, it helps to look at past verdicts and settlements in similar Target slip and fall claims. For example:
- Target settled to pay $7 million to an elderly Illinois woman who was knocked to the ground by their automatic doors.
- A woman in Pennsylvania received a $2.1 million jury award after she slipped on a wet aisle at Target.
- A person in California slipped on a puddle at Target and received a $216,000 settlement.
As these examples show, Target injury settlements often reach well into the six figures or higher when victims suffer major injuries like fractures, head trauma, back injuries, or paralysis. But again, every case has unique factors, so there is a wide range of possible settlement amounts. An attorney can evaluate your specific claim and provide insight on potential damages.
Choosing the Best Slip and Fall Personal Injury Attorney for Your Needs
Not all personal injury attorneys have the same track record of success in Target accident claims. When selecting legal representation, look qualifications like:
- Substantial experience handling retail store injury claims
- Past cases tried against Target specifically
- Board certified civil trial attorney status
- History of securing large verdicts and settlements
- Strong knowledge of premises liability laws
- Resources to thoroughly investigate store falls
- Willingness to go to trial if needed.
Ideally, you want someone like attorney Philip Deberard, Injury Attorney who has years of experience fighting major chains like Target in slip and fall lawsuits. He knows exactly how these companies defend claims – and how to defeat them. With an impressive case record and recognition, he has the expertise to maximize your injury compensation.
Other Premises Liability Issues That Occur At Target
Slip and fall incidents are common at Target, but other dangerous conditions can also lead to customer injuries. For example:
- Falling merchandise that was unsafely stacked or shelved can hit shoppers, causing traumatic head wounds or orthopedic fractures.
- Defective automatic doors closing too quickly is another hazard. They can trap fingers or hands, sometimes requiring amputation. They can also knock over passing customers.
- Unsafe conditions in the parking lot like uneven pavement, potholes, poor lighting, or inadequate security can also cause customers to trip and fall.
Target has a duty to ensure safety throughout the premises, both inside the store and in exterior areas like the parking lot, sidewalks, access ramps, and cart corrals. If injuries occur due to unsafe conditions anywhere on their property, Target can be held liable through a Florida premises liability lawsuit.
Act Now to Protect Your Rights
Note that there is a law called the statute of limitations which sets a deadline on when to file a lawsuit. For premises liability cases in Florida, the general time limit to sue is two years from the date of injury. Certain conditions may extend or shorten this time limit, so it’s best to consult a premises liability attorney as soon as you can to avoid missing deadlines.
Suffering a painful slip and fall injury inside a Target can be traumatic. But you have legal rights in Florida, including the right to financial compensation. With evidence that Target failed to provide reasonably safe premises, they can be held liable for your medical treatment, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
To make the strongest injury claim possible, be sure to follow the checklist above after an accident. Finding an accomplished personal injury lawyer from a reputable law firm is also key. With an aggressive approach and demand letter, most cases settle out of court. But your attorney must be fully prepared to go to trial if Target does not agree to fair compensation. The time to act is now, so contact a qualified slip and fall attorney serving Florida today!
Contact Philip DeBerard for Your Florida Target Slip/Fall Injury
Philip DeBerard, the top-ranked personal injury attorney, has a proven track record of winning cases for people hurt on dangerous property. In a painful slip and fall injury case, Philip DeBerard delivers vital expertise to preserve your rights since he has handled these accident claims for over 40 years. His office knows Florida’s laws regarding premises liability and how to strongly counter Target’s denial and discrediting techniques.
In order to get you the most compensation possible, Philip DeBerard can conduct a thorough investigation of your accident, compute all damages, and engage in tenacious negotiation.
Your initial consultation with the DeBerard firm is free. Contact Philip DeBerard Injury Attorney at 1-800-299-8878 for a competent, sympathetic legal team.