Parking lots can be incredibly dangerous. Not only do you have to contend with other drivers, there’s also shopping carts, inadequate lighting, potholes and possibly people waiting to assault you. A parking lot is supposed to be a place where you can park your car and walk towards a store without having to worry about what danger is lurking. The sad fact of the matter is that many people suffer injuries in parking lots of Dollar General and Dollar Tree stores across the country.

 

One of the most common accidents in parking lots is that of the trip and fall. Customers of dollar stores can easily suffer an injury if they trip and fall in the store’s parking lot. Trip and fall accidents can lead to serious injuries that can put you out of work for an extended period. Not only will you be faced with mounting medical bills, you might also have trouble paying your other monthly expenses as you recover from your injuries. That’s why it’s important to understand how premises liability works when visiting a store.

 

The Dangers of a Parking Lot

Parking lots can be very dangerous if you aren’t aware of your surroundings. It doesn’t take much to find yourself involved in a trip and fall incident that leads to an injury. If it has been a bad winter in your neck of the woods the parking lot might be chopped up from plows. There could be potholes everywhere. You could trip in one of those potholes, injuring your leg, foot, or even hitting your head if you lose your balance and fall to the ground.

 

Parking lots aren’t only dangerous because of their potholes. Parking lots should have adequate lighting that is strategically placed throughout the lot. When there is adequate lighting you will be able to see potholes, cars will be able to see you walking, and you should be able to see other pedestrians walking near you. Inadequate lighting in a Dollar Tree parking lot could lead to a trip and fall accident with injuries.

 

When there is not enough lighting in a Dollar General parking lot, or there are potholes, or the property has been the site of violent crime in the past; an incident involving a customer could file a claim against the store owner. If the Dollar General is a standalone store, the store owner might be the only person who can be held accountable for the trip and fall accident that led to your injuries.

 

Proving Fault in a Trip and Fall Claim

If you were injured in a parking lot trip and fall accident at a Dollar Tree you will want to file a claim for compensation. Your medical expenses and lost wages shouldn’t come from your own pocket, which can land you into serious financial trouble. In order to prove fault in a trip and fall claim you will need to show the following:

 

  • The defendant owed you a duty of care
  • The duty of care was breached by the defendant
  • An accident occured because of the breach
  • Your injuries were a direct result of the accident

 

A trip and fall in a Dollar Tree parking lot can leave you seriously injured and out of work for an extended period. Report the incident to the store owner, seek medical care, and speak to an experienced personal injury attorney immediately.