You have rights when it comes to visiting retail stores. The main right is one of safety and security. The store owner must make things safe for visitors and they must address both current safety issues as well as forestall any in the future. If you or a loved one visited a store and ended up hurt, read below to learn what to do.

A Duty to Create a Safe Environment

The above phrase means that the store has a duty to take action to ensure the safety of visitors. The store has to follow all the regulations that apply to businesses that ensure public safety but they must also take action to address issues that might not be covered by rules and regulations. Stores need to constantly access the safety of the environment, monitor ever-changing conditions, and be alert to anything unexpected that occurs. For example, if the store is serving food samples, more care is necessary to watch the floors for spills and clean them up before someone slips down and gets hurt. Here are a few measures retail stores should take to keep customers safe while on the premises:

1. Avoiding having cords, cables, wires, and other dangerous electrical items in the pathways or accessible to customers.
2. Replacing rugs and flooring that could present a tripping hazard.
3. Not stacking stock so high it could topple and hurt someone.

A Duty to Alert Customers

A prime example of alerting people to danger is the placement of warning signs and cones. When a hazard cannot be addressed in a timely manner, the customer should be warned in an obvious way. If it's raining, a few orange cones at the entrance might keep customers from slipping down while the rain is ongoing and drying the floor is impossible. Other deterrents to injury at stores include:

1. Cameras and good lighting in parking areas.
2. Locks on doors that lead to unsafe areas.
3. Warnings signs and tape near dangerous work areas in stores.

Customer Duties

When an injury occurs, there are always two sides to consider. It's up to you to obey the warning signs and be as careful as you can. If you are injured, the question will be raised about your part in the injury. In some cases, the store did what it could to protect customers but someone got hurt when they failed to use due care.

In many cases, retail stores err from time to time and an injury can affect a customer in a major way. Talk to a personal injury lawyer about your case and find out whether or not you are owed money for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more.

If you have more questions, check out a resource like Phillip Koutsogiane Attorney at Law.