When it comes to future events, it’s always a good idea to look at what transpired in the past. For Black Friday shoppers here in New York City, that means being aware of the incidents and injuries that befell bargain hunters in years past.
From shopper-on-shopper violence to people falling and being trampled underfoot, the stories are legion. People all over the country have been seriously injured and killed trying to nab the deeply discounted merchandise lining store shelves on Black Friday.
You definitely don’t want to be one of this year’s statistics. Even if you don’t suffer severe injuries, getting into an altercation with another Black Friday shopper, store employee or security personnel can land you in jail. That’s hardly how most people intend to spend their extended weekend.
The stores themselves bear liability for ensuring that their premises are safe and free of hazards. On Black Friday, that usually means hiring additional help and security to manage the hordes of bargain hunters that descend en masse. Store managers must also arrange displays of items so that nothing can tumble down from a high shelf onto the shoppers below.
If store owners and managers are remiss in their duties to secure and maintain their premises, it sets the stage for dangerous accidents and incidents to occur. You may not think of shopping as a particularly hazardous pastime, but on Black Friday, all bets are off. You could be badly injured — or never make it home again.
If you get hurt while hunting bargains this Black Friday, you may be able to seek recovery for your losses and damages by filing a premises liability lawsuit.
