Commonly Asked Questions

When it comes to suffering an injury, plaintiffs should know as much as possible about their rights and who can be held accountable for their injury. Injuries suffered on someone else’s property fall under premises liability law, which protects visitors of residential and commercial properties. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding premises liability, negligence, and personal injury incidents at Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree stores across the country.

What is the Duty of Care?

Duty of care is a term used under the premises liability umbrella. When another person violates the duty of care by acting negligently, the person harmed by the negligence can file a lawsuit for compensation. In order to win the case the plaintiff must show that there was a duty of care present, that duty of care was breached, there were damages incurred by the plaintiff and those damages were caused by the breach.

What are some common premises liability cases?

Some of the most common premises liability cases include slip and fall accidents, trip and fall accidents, inadequate maintenance of a property, accidents involving snow and ice, defective property conditions, inadequate property security, inadequate lighting, food spills, liquid spills, cleaning item spills and more.

How is liability determined in a premises liability case?

When a premises liability case arises involving a Dollar Tree or Dollar General, the following will be examined to determine liability:

• If the visitor was legally permitted on the property
• The property conditions and the actions of the visitor and property owner
• If the visitor who suffered injury was trespassing
• If both the visitor and the owner were responsible for the injury
• Any special rules set forth for landlords

How are customers to be protected by store owners?

Customers of Family Dollar stores across the country have a right to be protected when they are shopping in these stores. Store owners have a duty to protect their customers from various threats and hazards, including all of the following:

• Dangers from ice and snow
• Falling objects from shelves
• Wet floors
• Poorly lit parking lot
• Broken sidewalks
• Unmarked pallets left on the floor
• Boxes and crates left in the aisles
• Protection from assault and other violent acts

What can I seek compensation for in a premises liability case?

If injured in a slip and fall accident at a Dollar Tree you can seek compensation for your medical expenses (ambulance transportation, medication, medical equipment, etc), pain and suffering, and any time missed at work (current and future).

How can I document a slip and fall accident?

The minute you are injured in a slip and fall accident at a Dollar General you need to notify the management. Make a report that includes the date, time, and location of the accident. Ask for a copy of the report. Take pictures of your injury and the location of the accident. Avoid speaking to insurance companies and call a personal injury attorney.

Who can be held liable for a slip and fall accident?

There are multiple people who can be held responsible for a slip and fall accident at a Family Dollar or Dollar Tree store. These possible defendants can include the store owner, the tenant, the building owner, the property management company, the security firm hired to patrol the parking lot, the snow removal company and many others.