Hit by falling merchandise in a store: what to know
Items stacked high on shelves, end-cap displays, and overhead storage can fall and cause head, neck, shoulder, and foot injuries. Heavy cases of drinks, canned goods, and bulk items are common culprits.
How these injuries happen
- Merchandise stacked too high or unevenly
- Overloaded or damaged shelving
- Unstable promotional displays
- Items left on top shelves or overhead racks without barriers
- Stocking carts or forklifts operating during store hours
Who may be responsible
A store may be responsible if it stacked or displayed merchandise unsafely or failed to fix a known hazard. A vendor that sets up its own displays, or a shelving manufacturer if the shelf itself failed, may also be involved. Whether you touched the item first does not automatically end a claim; it depends on the facts.
Document it
- Get medical care, especially for any head injury.
- Photograph the shelf or display, the item that fell, and your injuries.
- Keep the item if you can, or note its brand, size, and weight.
- Report the incident and get the report number and manager’s name.
- Collect witness names and ask that video be preserved.
Have questions about your situation? An attorney can review the facts with you for free and with no obligation.
General information only, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and no particular outcome is guaranteed.
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