Walmart is a well-known global brand, operating more than 11,000 stores across 27 countries. It has 16 locations in Philadelphia alone. In 2020, Walmart earned more than $559 billion, making it one of the world’s largest companies by revenue. While Walmart eagerly accepts your money, when you slip, trip, or fall and injure yourself on their property due to their negligence, they become highly skilled at making it difficult to obtain fair compensation for your injuries.
This article will reveal some of the practices Walmart doesn’t want you to know about regarding customer and employee injuries in its stores. Despite giving the impression that they care about your well-being following a slip and fall accident, this is not the case.
Recent Examples of Walmart Slip and Fall Settlements in PA
Settlements for slip and fall cases can vary greatly depending on the unique circumstances of each situation. As such, we cannot promise a fixed settlement amount, as numerous factors affect the outcome of Walmart slip and fall cases.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident at Walmart in Pennsylvania, you may wonder how much your case could be worth and if pursuing legal action is worthwhile. Based on the examples of Walmart slip and fall settlements provided, typical settlements range from $2,000 to $17,000. However, the actual amount can vary significantly depending on the details of each case, so there is no average settlement figure for such incidents in Pennsylvania.
$2,000 – Premises Liability – Fall – Nonfracture – 2021
A female shopper suffered left thigh abrasions, contusions, and mental distress after walking into an extended section of the cart corral in Walmart’s parking lot. She claimed the retailer was negligent for failing to keep the lot safe and not properly maintaining the cart corral. Walmart denied negligence, attributing fault to the plaintiff for not noticing the hazard. The arbitrators awarded $2,000 in damages.
$5,000 – Premises Liability – Fall – 2019
A woman sustained bruising to her back and buttocks after slipping on a patch of ice in Walmart’s parking lot. She argued that Walmart failed to address hazardous conditions and did not provide proper warnings. Walmart denied responsibility, citing comparative negligence and assumption of risk. The arbitrators awarded her $5,000.
$17,000 – Premises Liability – Accident – 2018
A woman suffered a concussion from a speaker bar that fell and struck her head while at Walmart’s customer service desk. She alleged that Walmart’s employee failed to secure the speaker, causing it to fall. Walmart denied negligence and claimed the plaintiff assumed the risk. The arbitrators sided with the plaintiff and awarded $17,000 in damages.
How Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur on Walmart Property?
Slip and fall accidents resulting in injuries can happen in many ways on Walmart’s property. These incidents occur frequently, and Walmart is adept at avoiding compensation for victims. Here are some common causes of slip and fall injuries at Walmart:
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Holes and uneven surfaces in parking lots and sidewalks.
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Uneven walking surfaces without warning signs.
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Torn or bunched carpeting, especially near entryway floor mats.
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Floor mats that are curled up at store entrances.
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Spilled liquids left unattended.
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Cluttered aisles with merchandise or boxes.
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Electrical cables or cords crossing aisles.
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Display bases extending into aisles.
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Poor lighting conditions.
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Inadequate housekeeping or cleaning practices.
Injuries From Walmart Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall injuries can range from minor to severe, even leading to fatalities. According to the CDC, one in five falls results in serious injury, and falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. Here are some common injuries associated with slip and fall accidents at Walmart:
- Broken Bones
- Soft Tissue Damage
- Back and Neck Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Hip Fractures
- Concussion
- Sprains and Strains
- Cuts and Abrasions
- Emotional Trauma
- Dislocated Joints
When you suffer a serious injury due to Walmart’s negligence, you expect the company to help cover your medical bills and recovery. Unfortunately, Walmart goes to great lengths to make it difficult to recover the compensation you deserve. Instead of using some of its massive revenue to settle claims, Walmart relies on its self-insured subsidiary, Claims Management, Inc. (CMI), to handle all personal injury and workers’ compensation claims.
Claims Management, Inc
When we say Walmart has its own adjuster, we don’t mean the company has a dedicated adjuster through its insurer. Walmart is so big that it’s self-insured by its own subsidiary, called Claims Management, Inc., or CMI, which acts as the company’s own insurance adjuster. For purposes of handling personal injury claims against it, the retailer established Claims Management, Inc. to operate as its first line of defense in personal injury claims against Walmart. That’s right, there’s a whole corporation that exists solely to try to avoid responsibility and minimize what Walmart pays when people sustain injuries because of Walmart’s own negligence.
If you suffer injuries on the premises of a Walmart anywhere in Pennsylvania, it’s highly likely that CMI will be stepping in on behalf of Walmart from the onset. It’s the job of CMI to try and devalue a personal injury claim against Walmart as much as possible or deny it in its entirety. After all, who better to defend a company than that company? CMI knows the ins and outs of Walmart slip and fall claims. They know what works to limit Walmart’s liability, and they’ll repeat the formula as often as necessary to avoid paying Walmart’s victims. Their loyalty belongs to Walmart and Walmart only, and they have no sympathy for anyone, no matter how serious their injuries may be. In fact, Walmart instructs CMI to defend the company and limit those payouts by any means possible.
CMI is known to say and do just about anything in an attempt to trick a victim into providing a recorded statement that they can then pick apart and use against them to avoid their responsibility. We have heard a variety of stories about CMI and its tactics for tricking people into providing information, and are frequently amazed by how low they will go in an effort to avoid paying the medical expenses owed to its victims. Investigators will appear kind and caring on the phone, and then twist your words in order to use them against you in an effort to deny your claim. In fact, sometimes they go so far that they may even violate the insurance adjuster Code of Ethics, assuming that an accident victim won’t be aware of what is appropriate and what is not in an investigation. Why would an investigator willingly violate their industry’s code of ethics? Most simply put, when their employer, CMI, instructs them to use these questionable or even unethical tactics, they want to keep their jobs. Sometimes they even earn bonuses for limiting payouts.
Walmart’s Duty to Its Customers
Walmart has a duty to ensure the safety of its customers. While they aren’t expected to guarantee complete safety, Walmart must address any hazards that they know about or should have known about to prevent harm. This duty is why Walmart has implemented safety policies, but in practice, these procedures may not always be followed.
What to do After Being Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident at Walmart
If you are injured in a Walmart store, take the following steps:
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Seek assistance – Immediately alert an employee and ask for a manager to come to the scene.
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Accident report – Request a copy of the accident report but avoid signing it.
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Medical attention – Insist on paramedics being called to assess and transport you to the hospital for treatment.
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Hire an attorney – Contact a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer to represent you, ensuring that your legal rights are protected.
Avoid dealing directly with Walmart or CMI, as they may use any information you provide against you. Instead, consult a skilled Walmart injury lawyer to ensure that your case is handled properly and that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Contact Walmart Slip and Fall Lawyer in PA
To maximize your chances of receiving fair compensation, it’s important to consult with an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney. Our firm is well-versed in how Walmart handles injury claims, and we know how to navigate their complex claims process. We will work on your behalf to ensure you get the full value of your claim.
Our legal team will assist you in several ways, including:
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Proving Walmart’s negligence – We will investigate the circumstances surrounding your injury to show that Walmart was responsible for the hazardous condition.
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Determining your claim’s value – There are various factors that contribute to the value of your claim, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
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Handling communications – We will manage all interactions with CMI, ensuring you avoid stress and don’t inadvertently harm your case.
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Reviewing settlement offers – We will review Walmart’s offers and ensure they adequately cover your expenses, rejecting any lowball offers.
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Representing you in court – If necessary, we are prepared to take your case to trial to get you the compensation you deserve.
Unlike large firms with many attorneys, Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case, offering compassionate and dedicated service to each client. Contact us today to begin the process of recovering your rightful compensation.
