We all know that feeling when we visit a grocery store, pick up a cart, and a wheel sticks. Picking up a defective cart is usually little more than an annoyance. However, carts can pose a serious danger to shoppers, particularly the elderly and children.
This week a jury in Tennessee awarded a 91-year-old woman $2.7 million for her injuries caused when a wheel fell off her cart in a Memphis Kroger store.
The case was brought two years ago by Zula Wortham. She said the wheel popped off the cart without warning. She fell to the ground, injuring her knee.
The woman filed a lawsuit in Shelby County Circuit Court, according to reports. The complaint stated Ms. Wortham required surgery on her hip. She sought compensation for her medical bills, pain and suffering, and other bills.
The incident occurred on August 25, 2016, at the Kroger on the 1200 block of East Shelby Drive, according to the complaint.
After the accident, the FOX13 news channel quizzed Kroger about how often the store’s carts are inspected. A spokesman for the company declined to reply.
The lawsuit claimed Kroger failed to “maintain the premises in a reasonable and safe condition.” Injury lawyers acting for Wortham said the store failed to inspect the shopping carts in a timely manner. They accused the store of not warning visitors about the dangerous condition of the carts.
Although the accident in Memphis seems like a freak occurrence, it highlights a more widespread danger. We are skeptical about claims by stores that carts are regularly checked. This is not the only potential danger at a store that can lead to injuries and premises liability lawsuits against stores.
The Leading Dangers at Stores in Virginia
Stores and shopping malls have many hidden dangers. Many people are unaware of the hazards. The leading dangers at stores in Virginia include:
- Slip and fall injuries on substances spilled on floors;
- Objects falling from shelves on shoppers;
- Hazards like pallets on the floor;
- Accidents in elevators and on escalators;
- Falls on ice or slippery surfaces outside a store;
- Accidents in parking lots;
- Attacks on shoppers in shopping malls with inadequate security;
- Injuries caused by shopping carts;
- Injuries caused by dangerous products in locations like hardware stores.
People who get hurt in stores should always inform the store of their injuries so as a report can be compiled. However, you should not assume the store will follow the correct procedures. Often stores lose or conceal evidence to avoid liability
Take pictures at the scene and get details of witnesses such as their names, and contact details if you can. You should talk to a Virginia injury lawyer with a long record in helping people who were hurt in stores. It’s important to act fast. Stores may seek to destroy evidence such as video footage of the accident. The cases are complicated and difficult. Talk to a Virginia injury lawyer as soon as possible at (757) 231-6443.
