If you are like most Americans, you venture to the grocery store at least once every couple of weeks. Grocery stores can be full of slip, trip and fall hazards, though. Indeed, you may lose your footing on sticky or wet floors, fall when trying to walk between displays or even trip after colliding with another customer.
Slip-and-fall accidents continue to be a leading cause of catastrophic injury in the U.S. In fact, according to Safety Step, a major supplier of anti-slip products to retail stores, more than 540,000 Americans require hospital care for slip-and-fall injuries annually. While it may be tempting to try to grab something to catch yourself during a fall, doing so also can be dangerous.
Crush hazards
Grocery store owners understand the importance of putting their products in front of their customers. For that reason, your go-to grocery store may be a crowded place. Still, if you reach for a pop-up display during a fall, you can pull heavy items onto you. This, of course, may cause you to suffer life-altering crush injuries.
Joint injuries
You probably do not have a ton of experience falling gracefully. Even if you instinctively reach for something to support you, you may move in an awkward or downright dangerous way. Uncertain movements during falls can cause joint injuries, such as dislocations or even ligament tears.
While you may not be able to control how your body behaves during a slip-and-fall accident, you should try to be careful when reaching for something to help you catch yourself. Ultimately, though, if you suffer additional injuries, you may be eligible for significant financial compensation.