Slip and Fall Walmart Lawsuits
With nearly 5,000 located across the United States and 191 of those stores located in the state of Illinois, visiting a Walmart is a pretty common occurrence for many people in and around the Chicago area.
Furthermore, with an average store size of 100,000 square feet, there are many hazards that could result in tripping, slipping, and falling present in a given Walmart – perhaps more than you might realize.
Walmart is a major corporation, of course, and it is their job to prevent hazards that may cause tripping or slip and fall accidents.
However, they do happen and you may sustain injuries as a result.
And if a Walmart store’s negligence or carelessness caused your injuries, you are entitled to compensation for the cost of your medical bills and associated pain and suffering.
Therefore, if you or a family member have sustained injuries during a slip and fall incident that occurred at a Walmart store or on Walmart property, you may be considering legal action or wondering if you have a case for a lawsuit.
You might also be wondering what kind of settlement you could potentially recover and how much a Walmart slip and fall lawsuit is worth.
To start with, it is probably not surprising that Walmart deals with personal injury claims and lawsuits on a regular basis.
Therefore, if you believe that you or a loved one have a cause of action for a slip and fall lawsuit for an accident that happened at a Walmart, you’ll want to speak to a personal injury attorney who has experience handling premises liability cases to help you file a case.
A slip and fall lawyer will assist you in all aspects of filing a lawsuit against Walmart for premises liability and help you pursue the compensation that you deserve.
Did You Slip and Fall at Walmart?
If you were in a slip and fall accident at a Walmart store and you sustained a documented injury, then you may have grounds for a lawsuit.
What Should You Do After You Slip and Fall at Walmart?
After you were in a slip and fall or tripping accident at Walmart (or anywhere, for that matter) is to seek medical attention.
You should also document your injuries with pictures or video on your smartphone and keep any reports from first responders or medical professionals you interact with as a result of the accident.
In addition to seeking the appropriate and necessary medical attention and documenting it accordingly, you should also attempt to identify the hazard or hazards that caused your fall.
For instance, if the floor was wet or slippery and there was no signage if there was debris or broken items in your path, or any other issues.
Take photographs or videos of the scene if you are able to at this time.
You should also identify any witnesses to your slip and fall accident and collect their contact information.
Notifying the store manager on duty and other relevant Walmart personnel as well, and obtain their contact information.
Perhaps most importantly, write down or record everything about the accident as soon as you can – memory fades with time so it is best to capture your thoughts and reactions while they are still fresh.
Last but not least, contact a slip and fall attorney with experience handling Walmart lawsuits as soon as possible to determine your next steps.
Refrain from speaking with representatives from Walmart (either the individual store or a corporate or insurance representative) until you can consult with your attorney.
Of course, if you were severely injured and required emergency treatment and cannot document the accident yourself, ask someone who was with you at the time or a witness to assist if you are able.
You should contact an attorney as soon as you are able – or have a family member or friend contact a premises liability lawyer on your behalf – and they will be able to advise you as to how to follow up.
Do You Need a Lawyer to Sue Walmart for a Slip and Fall Injury?
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident (or any kind of accident) on the premises of a business or on another person’s property, then you may have grounds or a cause of action for a lawsuit.
Consulting with a personal injury lawyer who has experience with premises liability cases in general and handling Walmart lawsuits in particular is the right first step to take if you or a family member sustained a significant injury.
What Is a Slip and Fall Accident?
A “slip and fall” is a term used for a personal injury case in which a person slips or trips and subsequently falls and is injured on someone else’s property (whether it is a private home or a business, or another type of property).
Slip and fall accidents that necessitate personal injury lawsuits typically occur on property or “premises” owned or maintained by someone else, and the property owner (or lease-holder) may be held legally responsible for damages.
If you believe that you or a family member have a case for a slip and fall lawsuit, then you will want to consult with a personal injury attorney about a premises liability case.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability or premises liability claims occur when a property owner, landlord, or another type of property manager (or any person who is responsible for the condition of the property) is negligent and that wrongdoing or negligence leads to an injury or loss.
When you or someone you care about has been involved an accident due to the condition of another person’s home or business such as a Walmart store, they may be eligible to bring a premises liability claim.
A premises liability personal injury lawsuit allows injured parties to collect damages against property owners and occupants who have been negligent in maintaining their property.
If you have suffered an injury due to an accident that occurred as the result of a poorly maintained or hazardous situation on a Walmart property where you had a lawful right to be, then you should contact our premises liability attorneys to discuss your claim and the next steps for a personal injury lawsuit in order to recover costs for your current and future medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and loss of earning capacity, or even a wrongful death.
Do I Pay a Fee for a Personal Injury Lawyer Consultation Regarding a Walmart Lawsuit?
Consulting with a personal injury lawyer at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys in Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, Peoria, Rockford, or Wheaton is always free and we work on a contingency basis.
You will not pay any attorney fees for our services until you receive and accept a settlement check or money handed down from a jury verdict.
Our personal injury lawyers operate in the greater Chicagoland area and we know the ins and outs of the Illinois legal system as well as handling cases that involve Walmart or their representatives.
As part of the personal injury or premises liability lawsuit process, we cover the costs of investigating your accident, seeking the counsel of professional subject matter experts, and negotiating or taking your case to trial.
If you have been involved in a slip and fall accident at a Walmart store in the Chicago or Northern Illinois area and an insurance company offers you a settlement check, see us before you sign on the dotted line.
We’ll explain your rights and all of the options that you have, and help you determine whether to pursue additional monetary damages.
Bringing a Premises Liability Lawsuit Against Walmart
Premises liability lawsuits are brought against owners or managers of both residential and commercial properties, such as Walmart.
Slip and fall accidents are some of the most common types of premises liability claims.
Note that while slip and fall accidents are somewhat common, if you do not suffer a serious injury as a result of your accident, you are unlikely to receive a substantial settlement.
You will also need to follow certain steps after your slip and fall accident in order to successfully make a premises liability claim against Walmart, including:
- Sending a written letter to the store where the accident occurred asking Walmart to preserve video surveillance and associated evidence
- Notify your health insurance company in writing that you are making a legal claim against Walmart
- Requesting medical records and bills from the paramedics, the hospital where you were treated, and all of your doctors along with any other applicable medical professionals
- Send emails and letters to Walmart confirming the receipt of any evidence or video footage and otherwise following up in writing with time stamps and postage dates
- Speak with Walmart Claims Services to follow up on any correspondence
- Negotiate bills and payments with your health insurance provider and pay them at the end of your case
Walmart Slip and Fall Policy
Like you’d expect from a major retailer, Walmart has a policy in place to handle slip and fall injuries and accidents.
They retain a company called Claims Management, Inc or CMI that was created by Walmart to handle liability claims against themselves and these agents are most certainly not on your side.
If you have sustained injuries during a slip and fall or tripping accident at Walmart (or any kind of Walmart accident), then you should know that you have the right to work with a lawyer who can handle all communications related to a lawsuit or liability claim on your behalf, including but not limited to:
- Establishing Walmart’s negligence or other liability, for instance that Walmart managers or employees were aware of the potential hazards that caused your injuries
- Assessing the situation and determining the value of your claim or what compensation you are deservedly owed
- Handling all communications with CMI, Walmart, and any relevant insurance providers
- Reviewing settlement offers and assisting during mediation, a hearing, or a court case
There are many steps and important factors in successfully bringing a slip and fall lawsuit against Walmart, so working with a legal team that understands the nuances of Walmart cases is essential for getting the settlement you are rightfully owed and recovering all the damages that you are entitled to under the Illinois legal system.
Current Walmart Lawsuit List
As one of the world’s largest companies, the list of lawsuits against Walmart is a long one.
Moreover, while some of the litigation is not necessarily connected to slip and fall cases, more than 265 million customers pass through Walmart’s doors on a weekly basis, so it is hardly unexpected that some of them sustain injuries while on the premises.
Lawyers That Fight Walmart
Lawyers who fight Walmart need specific knowledge of the company’s policies when it comes to injuries that occur on the premises of a Walmart store and how subsequent lawsuits are handled.
Unfortunately, despite the frequency of Walmart slip and fall accidents and their seemingly deep pockets, it can be complicated – to say the least – to get compensation from Walmart for injuries sustained on their premises.
Where Do I Hire a Lawyer to Sue Walmart?
If you have been in a slip and fall accident at Walmart or suffered due to the retailer’s negligence, you may have a cause of action or a case for a premises liability or personal injury lawsuit.
If this slip and fall accident occurred in a Walmart store in Chicago or anywhere else in northern or the greater Chicago suburbs, then you should contact the Walmart slip and fall lawyers at Zayed Law Office as soon as possible.
Your consultation is free and you have no obligation to take things further unless you choose to pursue a personal injury lawsuit with our counsel.
Why Do I Need to Work with Lawyers Who Sue Walmart
Working with a lawyer who has experience suing Walmart can be invaluable if you have a cause of action for a slip and fall lawsuit or another personal injury claim against the retailer.
This is because Walmart has a massive legal team and can dedicate resources towards dealing with these types of claims.
Therefore, in order to be successful in a slip and fall lawsuit where Walmart is the defendant, you need a lawyer who specifically understands how the company’s legal team handles such things, and all the intricacies and nuances needed in order to make sure you get the compensation that you are rightfully owed.
How Much Money Does Walmart Settle for In Slip and Fall Accident Lawsuits?
A Walmart lawsuit for a slip and fall accident can be worth in the hundreds of thousands or even millions, depending on the injury caused and the reason behind it. Slip and falls can cause serious injuries, disability, or even death (in which case the family of the deceased may have a cause of action for a wrongful death lawsuit).
What’s more, slip and fall accidents can be more serious than you may originally think.
In Illinois, slip and fall accidents are a major reason why people end up in the emergency room or are admitted to the hospital and a significant cause of death.
Because the injuries resulting from a slip and fall accident can be so extreme, slip and fall accident lawsuits are often settled for high amounts.
Based on available reports from Walmart and other public data, the average slip and fall accident settlement is often reported to be valued at between $15,000 and $45,000, but amounts vary according to the circumstances and details of a given case and Walmart has settled cases that involve particular grievous injuries for millions of dollars.
You should always consult with a personal injury attorney familiar with Walmart slip and fall lawsuits before considering the value of your particular slip and fall lawsuit case.
Under Illinois law, the plaintiff in a premises liability accident lawsuit involving an individual or company responsible for properly can pursue compensation for losses including but not limited to:
- Current and future medical costs include but are not limited to hospital visits, doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, ambulance fees, and other related costs for medical care necessary to recover from slip and fall accident injuries. This can include future costs of care as well, which is particularly valid in the case of catastrophic injuries such as the loss of a limb or limbs or paralysis.
- Pain and suffering or the emotional distress and anguish that result from the slip and fall accident, including the costs of mental care for post-traumatic stress disorder or similar conditions that were caused by the slip and fall accident at Walmart
- Lost wages from missing work due to injuries from the slip and fall accident, which can be one of the most financially devastating aspects of being involved in any of Walmart accident
- Loss of future income due to injuries from the slip and fall accident, including loss of limbs, paralysis, or other physical or mental impairment that may have occurred as a direct result of the slip and fall at Walmart
If you or a loved one were involved in a slip and fall accident at Walmart and you believe that you have a personal injury case and are owed damages, contact a slip and fall accident lawyer as soon as possible.
We are here to assist you throughout the entire process.
How to Sue Walmart for Personal Injury or Premises Liability?
If you were injured while shopping at a Walmart store and that injury occurred as a result of negligence on the behalf of a Walmart employee or someone responsible for maintaining the property which is owned or operated by Walmart, then you may have a case for a lawsuit.
For example, if you slip and fall as a result of a wet floor and break a bone or otherwise experience an injury that requires medical care or perhaps even time in a hospital, then you may be owed compensation by Walmart for your pain and suffering, along with any lost wages or income lost due to your injury and subsequent recovery time.
“I Slipped and Fell at Walmart. What Comes Next and How Do I Sue?”
If some form of negligence occurred at a Walmart store that caused you to slip and fall and become injured, then you may have a cause of action for a personal injury lawsuit, more specifically a premises liability case.
After you have sustained an injury at a Walmart store, it is likely that an employee of Claims Management, Inc (CMI) will contact you on Walmart’s behalf.
CMI is the company that Walmart created and now uses to attempt to mediate and mitigate the potential damage of the thousands of injury claims filed against Walmart on a regular basis.
They may try to minimize your case or misdirect responsibility for your injuries – which is why you need a lawyer who has experience fighting Walmart to help you get the compensation that you are rightfully owed.
The goal of CMI agents is to minimize Walmart’s liability in a slip and fall lawsuit, so keep in mind that they are never on your side – but your personal injury attorney will be and they will also know the ins and outs of the Walmart lawsuit claim process.
They are loyal to Walmart and may attempt to record your conversations and defend the company, and do anything legal and necessary to limit the amounts paid out.
You should be aware that CMI employees will attempt to assert that they have the right to record your statement or use other methods to convince you to make a statement before bringing in your lawyer.
They can also use anything you may say to them to potentially harm or undermine your cause of action for a lawsuit.
You should not speak to them without a lawyer present and know that the team at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys will represent your interests and communicate on your behalf with these agents, and we will not ask for a fee until your case is decided or settled.
Prior to making a claim and during a slip and fall Walmart lawsuit investigation, hearing, or trial, you should not speak to anyone without your personal injury attorney present, including insurance representatives, Walmart employees, or CMI employees.
Note that CMI agents will likely try to expedite your claim or make an offer that could seem satisfactory to you at first, but you owe it to yourself and your family to assess with the situation with an attorney who has slip and fall premise liability claim experience and can help you get everything that you are owed.
Where Do I Find a Walmart Lawyer?
The personal injury attorneys at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys have experience handling slip and fall cases and premises liability cases where Walmart is the defendant.
Accordingly, if you were injured at one of Chicagoland’s many Walmart retail centers, then you should contact our team of premises liability lawyers as soon as possible for a free consultation to determine if you have a case and what your next steps should be.
Walmart Lawsuit Settlements
Note that while there may be a precedent for Walmart slip and fall accident lawsuits where the situation is similar to yours, that is not a guarantee you will receive that much.
That is why it is so important to contact an Illinois slip and fall lawyer or premises liability attorney for assistance if you are injured in a slip and fall accident at a Walmart store.
How Much Could I Get in A Walmart Settlement Payout?
The amount that you could potentially get in a Walmart settlement payout depends on the injury or injuries you sustain, the cost of your medical bills and ongoing medical treatment, and a number of other factors.
The value of a personal injury or premises liability Walmart case in a slip and fall accident depends on the damages caused and the extent of harm incurred by the victim or victims.
Damages can be recovered or settlements made for a number of reasons, including but not limited to:
- Disability due to injuries from the accident
- Current or immediate medical bills
- Future medical bills
- Loss of earnings or wages (in the present)
- Loss of earning capacity in the future (in the event of a disability or catastrophic injury, or wrongful death)
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage or destruction
After being involved in an accident of any kind or at any location, you may have experienced significant discomfort, pain, injury, inconvenience, or catastrophic damage to your person such as the loss of a limb(s) or paralysis.
You may have missed and may continue to miss significant amounts of work or may even no longer be able to work in your previous capacity.
Many slip and fall accidents may even involve severe injuries, or may even involve eventual fatalities which could lead to a wrongful death or accidental death lawsuit.
If a loved one has suffered from a wrongful death due to a slip and fall, contact our Chicago wrongful death attorneys today.
Filing a lawsuit against the negligent parties after a slip and fall accident is a way of recovering or recouping the loss or damages for the accident and ensuring that medical bills, loss of income, and other pain and suffering that occurred as a result of the accident are taken care of as best allowed by the Illinois and United States legal system.
Walmart Personal Injury Settlements and Damages
The amounts you may garner from a lawsuit against Walmart vary depending on your injuries and a number of other factors; however, Walmart is a large corporation with deep enough pockets to handle any range of settlements and cover medical expenses and more if it is deemed the company’s employees were at fault.
Generally, Walmart slip and fall settlements or personal injury settlements come from negotiating with the company’s insurance carrier.
Walmart Lawsuit Trials
In some cases, a Walmart lawsuit may go to trial.
While a personal injury or premises liability slip and fall lawsuit case may be settled out of court for a monetary amount agreed upon by both the defendant (in this case, Walmart) and plaintiff and their lawyers, an accident-related personal injury case may go to trial if a satisfactory settlement cannot be reached.
Personal injury lawsuits go to trial due to a number of reasons.
For instance, if the negligent party or parties are solely at fault but their insurance won’t acknowledge the fault of the policyholder, the case may be taken to trial to enable a judge and jury to decide if damages should be awarded and in what amounts.
Finding A Lawyer Who Sues Walmart
Finding a lawyer that can help you sue Walmart and make a slip and fall personal injury claim does not have to be complicated.
The team of personal injury attorneys at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys have experience dealing with Walmart cases throughout the Chicago and northern Illinois area and we can help you assert your rights and get the compensation that you are owed after sustaining an injury during a slip and fall accident that happened on the premises of a Walmart store.
Our Walmart Personal Injury Lawyers Are Here to Help
At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, our first and foremost goal is to protect the rights of the injured.
If you or a loved one have been in a slip and fall accident at Walmart or been the victim of the company or their representative’s negligence and you have questions about personal injury and premises liability lawsuits or compensation for your medical bills and pain and suffering, are wondering how to pursue a premises liability personal injury case, or whether you have a cause of action to file a legal claim against the entity that caused your slip and fall accident, we can help you understand the associated laws and your options.
We know that any kind of accident can be a catastrophic and traumatic event that affects you, your family, and your career in many complicated and devastating ways.
Furthermore, the effects of being involved in an accident of any type including a slip and fall accident can last for many years into the future, affecting your health, medical costs, current and future income, and even your family’s future if you lose earning capacity or the ability to care for yourself.
What’s more, if you’ve lost a loved one to an accidental fatality or wrongful death that occurred due to an accident on the Walmart premises, you deserve a settlement and to deal with the grieving process as best you can without the extra stress of dealing with insurance companies and other third parties.
All of the above reasons are why you should work with a personal injury attorney who has experience dealing with slip and fall injuries that occurred as the result of an accident at Walmart or negligence by a representative of the corporation.
Our premises liability attorneys can help you recover costs for pain and suffering, loss of earnings, loss of earning capacity, medical bills, disability, and emotional distress.
Have you or a loved one been in any kind of slip and fall accident and need a personal injury lawyer to help you sue for damages?
We welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your legal situation and help you determine the next steps in filing a personal injury claim against Walmart.
Please contact Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys in Chicago, Wicker Park, Aurora, Joliet, Peoria, Rockford, or Wheaton, and schedule a free case review and confidential initial consultation by completing our short contact form.
We’ll schedule a time that is convenient for you and please note that you will not pay lawyer’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
