Slip and fall injuries are the most common type of injury to Walmart shoppers. These often result from wet or slippery floors, cluttered aisles, or falling merchandise inside stores. The National Flooring Safety Institute reports that slip-and-fall injuries have a 5% fatality rate and are more likely to happen to women.
At Christie Farrell Lee & Bell, we believe big corporations should be held accountable when their stores become unsafe. Today, our slip-and-fall accident lawyers explain what you should do after an accident in Walmart to protect your rights.
What to Do Immediately After a Slip and Fall at Walmart
After a fall at Walmart, what you do next can significantly impact any future legal claim:
1. Report the Incident to Walmart Management Immediately
Tell a store employee or manager what happened as soon as possible. Insist on completing an incident report before leaving the store, describing where and how you fell. Always ask for a copy of the report or a way to access it later, as this documentation can be key evidence.
2. Take Photos and Gather Evidence
Document the hazardous condition that caused your fall, whether it’s spilled liquid, debris, or poor lighting. Photograph the scene, your clothes if they’re wet or stained, and any visible injuries. Visual evidence shows what Walmart failed to fix or warn about, thus strengthening your case.
3. Get Medical Attention, Even for Minor Injuries
Not all injuries you can sustain from a slip-and-fall show up right away. Concussions, soft tissue injuries, or internal damage might not be obvious immediately after a fall. See a doctor promptly, as medical records link your injuries directly to the incident and support your claim for compensation.
Speak with a personal injury lawyer today. Call: 317-488-5500
Common Causes of Slips and Falls at Walmart Locations in Indiana
- Spilled liquids or food in aisles.
- Uneven flooring or cracked tiles.
- Poor lighting that makes it difficult to see obstacles.
- Snow or ice that wasn’t cleared at store entrances.
- Leaking refrigeration units that created slick spots on floors.
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Who’s Liable for a Slip and Fall at Walmart in Indiana?
Liability in a slip and fall case means determining who is legally responsible for the dangerous condition that caused your injuries. In Indiana, Walmart can be held liable if it knew or should’ve known about a hazard but failed to fix it or warn customers.
Walmart’s Legal Duty of Care Under Indiana Premises Liability Law
Under Indiana Code § 34-30-11, Walmart owes a duty of care to customers as “invitees,” meaning it must keep the store reasonably safe and warn of dangers that shoppers might not discover on their own. Failing to clean spills, repair uneven floors, or post warning signs may be considered negligence.
Proving Walmart’s Negligence: What You Need to Show
To win a slip-and-fall case against Walmart, you typically must prove four legal elements:
- Duty: Walmart owed you a duty of care as a customer to keep the store reasonably safe.
- Breach: Walmart failed to keep the store safe or warn of hazards. For example, if soap spills in an aisle and employees either ignore it or don’t notice it despite having time to do so, that’s a breach.
- Causation: The breach directly caused your fall. In this example, slipping on the uncleaned soap led to your accident.
- Damages: You suffered harm as a result, such as medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering from injuries caused by the fall.
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What Compensation Can You Recover After a Slip and Fall Injury?
A slip and fall injury can generate significant costs, both financially and emotionally. Compensation helps victims cover these costs and provides resources for rebuilding their lives.
Economic Damages
- Medical bills for emergency treatment, hospital stays, and surgery.
- Rehabilitation or physical therapy expenses.
- Future surgeries or medical care costs.
- Lost income from missed work.
- Transportation expenses for medical appointments.
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering due to physical injuries.
- Emotional distress, such as anxiety or depression.
- Reduced quality of life if injuries limit daily activities.
How Serious Injuries Affect Settlement Value
Common slip-and-fall injuries include broken hips, back injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Severe harm can increase settlement value because it requires longer medical treatment, results in higher medical bills, and causes greater life disruption.
Attorney Lee Christie notes:
“People often ask me, ‘How much is my slip-and-fall case worth?’ The reality is, it depends on your injuries and how they change your daily life. In Indiana, we look at how your injuries might affect your ability to work, care for your family, or even enjoy your hobbies. Those factors often drive settlement negotiations higher than people expect.”
Time Limits: Indiana’s Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Claims
Indiana imposes strict time limits on personal injury lawsuits, including slip and fall claims. Victims need to act quickly to preserve their legal rights.
Indiana’s Statute of Limitations for Injury Cases
Under Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4, you generally have two years from the date of your slip and fall to file a lawsuit. However, exceptions may apply—Consult a lawyer as soon as possible after the incident to know the deadlines applicable to your case.
How Christie Farrell Lee & Bell Can Help You After a Walmart Slip and Fall
At Christie Farrell Lee & Bell, we understand how challenging it is to go up against a corporation like Walmart. Our firm has decades of experience in premises liability cases, successfully recovering compensation for those hurt by unsafe conditions in large retail stores.
Learn more about us to know how we’ve helped others secure justice and hundreds of millions in financial recovery.
Contact Our Indiana Slip and Fall Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall at Walmart, you deserve local legal representation that knows how to handle big companies. Our Indianapolis personal injury lawyers are ready to guide you through the claims process and fight for fair compensation.
Contact us today for a free consultation. There’s no cost to speak with us, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Call 317-488-5500 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form