Personal injury cases don’t take a break while you’re shopping around the holidays. In fact, each year hundreds of people are hurt in the chaos of Black Friday. 

Our client was shopping at Walmart when he slipped and fell, awkwardly twisting his back. He was in tremendous pain and an MRI revealed he had severely herniated a disc in his lower back. He needed time and work and multiple steroid injections to manage the pain. We fought hard for him and he received a settlement of $30,000. 

Here’s what to do if you’re injured in a Black Friday shopping accident: 

Call 911

If you are severely injured, the first thing you should always do is call 911. If you have fallen and hit your head the potential for serious injuries like brain damage, internal bleeding, and concussions is always present. 

In the past, Black Friday shoppers have even suffered from trampling injuries and crowd crush. These aren’t mishaps that cause injuries you just want to go home and monitor on your own. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Next, report what happened to the store’s staff

Ask for a manager and tell them you want a written report of what occurred. This way, there is a record for insurance companies to look back on later in the process. Without a report, things can easily dissolve into hearsay. You are protecting yourself by asking for one of these. You aren’t being difficult.  

When speaking with the manager, be sure to focus as much on the facts as you can. Ask them to take photos of your injuries and the accident scene. Things like spills, broken merchandise or overcrowded areas.

Sometimes insurance companies can try to twist your words later on to reduce their liability — but they will have a harder time twisting photos. 

If someone saw you get hurt, it’s also a good idea to see if they might give a statement, too. This can be especially helpful if they are not a friend or family member, as their words might hold more weight due to less “skin in the game” so to speak.  

If you have any questions about this, give us a call.

Before you go shopping, make a safety plan

In the days of Cyber Monday sales that can be enjoyed from the comfort of home, the deadly chaos of Black Friday might seem like a distant memory. But things can still get pretty crazy out there. 

There are a few common dangers on Black Friday.

• Overcrowding
• Slip and falls
• Tripping over merchandise
• Crowd crush / trampling 
• Escalator malfunctions 

Keep an eye out for these dangers so you have a better chance of avoiding them. 

If you are already expecting that these things might happen, you will be better prepared than most folks to avoid getting hurt in the first place, as you’ll be more aware. 

Contact us to handle the legal side of things

There is no need to stress yourself out. You are already hurt, so let us do the paperwork while you focus on getting better. 

Yes, it’s the store’s duty to keep premises safe. Negligence, inadequate crowd control, or poorly organized displays can lead to liability. As you move through treatment, it’s also important to keep things like receipts, medical records, and proof of missed workdays to really strengthen your claim.

But you don’t need to worry about any of that.

We’ve won thousands of cases over the years and are ready to guide you through every step in the process without any stress.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Black Friday accident, we are ready to help you get the best treatment possible.

Contact McCready Law today — this isn’t your fault