Every year, thousands of shoppers walk into home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s expecting to leave with lumber, paint, or a new set of tools, not a trip to the emergency room. Yet these massive retail environments are filled with potential hazards. When a store fails to maintain a reasonably safe environment, the results can range from painful slip-and-fall injuries to life-altering spinal damage.
If you were hurt at a Home Depot or Lowe’s in Florida, you may have grounds for a premises liability claim. At McPherson & Thomas, P.A., attorneys Ian Thomas and Jack McPherson have years of experience representing injury victims throughout the New Port Richey area and Pasco County. The firm takes a personal, one-on-one approach to every case, and there’s no fee unless they win. If you’re unsure whether you have a claim, the only way to find out is to speak with an attorney directly.
What Types of Accidents Happen at Home Improvement Stores?
Home Depot and Lowe’s locations are some of the busiest retail environments in any community. High customer volume combined with ongoing restocking and warehouse-style layouts creates a range of accident risks. When it comes to premises liability claims, understanding how these hazards arise is an important first step.
Some of the most frequent causes of injuries at home improvement stores include the following:
- Falling merchandise: Heavy items stored at height can shift and fall without warning, causing serious head, neck, and back injuries.
- Wet or slippery floors: Spills, cleaning activities, and tracked-in rain create slip hazards throughout the store.
- Forklift and equipment accidents: Staff operating heavy equipment in customer areas puts shoppers at risk.
- Unstable shelving: Overloaded or improperly secured shelving units can collapse onto customers.
- Inadequate lighting: Poorly lit aisles and parking lots make it difficult to see hazards before it is too late.
These risks are not unique to any single store. According to the National Safety Council, falls are one of the leading causes of preventable injury in the United States, and retail environments rank among the most common locations where fall injuries occur.
How Does Florida’s Modified Contributory Negligence Law Affect Your Claim?
Florida follows a modified contributory negligence standard, which means that even if you are found partially at fault for your accident, you may still recover compensation, as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. However, your total recovery will be reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you.
Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys for large retailers often try to shift blame onto the injured customer. They may argue you were distracted, wearing improper footwear, or failed to notice an obvious hazard. Understanding how fault is determined in Florida auto and premises accidents can help you anticipate these tactics. An experienced attorney can help counter these arguments by gathering surveillance footage, incident reports, and witness statements.
What Should You Do After an Injury at Home Depot or Lowe’s?
The steps you take immediately after an injury can significantly affect the outcome of your slip and fall claim. After an accident at a home improvement store, consider doing the following:
- Report the Incident: Tell a store manager right away and ask for a written incident report. Request a copy before you leave.
- Document the Hazard: Take photos or video of the exact condition that caused your injury, including any lack of warning signs.
- Gather Witness Information: If anyone saw what happened, collect their names and contact details.
- Seek Medical Attention: Even if injuries seem minor, get evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. Delayed treatment can weaken your claim.
- Avoid Recorded Statements: Do not give a recorded statement to the store’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
These steps help preserve evidence that is critical to building a strong premises liability case. The sooner you act, the better your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve. You can also learn more about what Florida law requires you to prove in slip and fall cases involving transitory foreign substances, which often applies in retail injury claims.
Contact McPherson & Thomas, P.A. After a Home Improvement Store Injury
Home Depot and Lowe’s are large corporations with experienced legal teams and insurance adjusters ready to minimize their payouts on injury claims. Victims who try to handle these cases on their own often receive far less than what their injuries are actually worth. Ian Thomas and Jack McPherson understand how these retailers defend premises liability claims, and they fight to ensure injured customers in Pasco County and across the New Port Richey area are treated fairly.
McPherson & Thomas, P.A. offers free consultations with an actual attorney, not an intake specialist, and there is never a fee unless they win your case. If you or someone you know was injured at a Home Depot, Lowe’s, or another retail location, do not wait. Reach out today by visiting the contact form to schedule your free consultation.
