Miami Personal Injury Attorney Blog
In this day and age, robots are taking over more and more jobs. Some of the largest stores in the country are developing the technology to put robots in its stores. One of those stores is Walmart.
Walmart has recently been testing out using robots for tasks that people do not enjoy doing. It also has the added benefit of significantly cutting labor costs and being more efficient. The robots could be used to clean the floors, sort inventory, or stock items.
Currently, Walmart has been using robots as floor cleaners. The company expects to have these robots start out at 1,500 stores and then hopefully expand from there. Moreover, Walmart is expecting to add 600 conveyor belts to the stores. These conveyor belts will be able to automatically sort inventory. Walmart is also hoping to bring in 300 robots that will be able to check to see if shelves are running out of a particular item.
While these new technological trends may seem incredible, there are several issues that need to get hammered out. One of the issues is that of the sheer legal liability that Walmart will open itself up to by using such robots.
Walmart Robot Accidents and Injuries in Florida
With Walmart using such new technology comes the enhanced risk of negligence and accidents. If you have been injured at Walmart that is using such robots, it is important that you know your rights and how to get your fair compensation. You could potentially get compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, or even emotional distress.
Walmart is a large multi-national corporation, which most likely has an entire team of lawyers whose entire job it is to stop or limit accident claims. The good news, however, is that as a large chain, Walmart likely carries premium insurance that is able to pay for your fair compensation.
There are several things that you need to know in order to get through Walmart’s army of lawyers and obtain your fair compensation.
Store owners in general take pride in their businesses, and Walmart is likely no exception. The truth is, however, that employees can be negligent. That negligence can lead to people getting seriously injured.
As a retail store, Walmart has a high degree of responsibility to ensure its store premises are safe and remain clean. U.S. law calls this premises liability. Under this type of liability, retail stores such as Walmart have a duty of care to its customers. Walmart must make sure that its store premises are kept in a reasonably safe condition. In other words, Walmart has to make sure that its customers are not unreasonably exposed to hazardous situations.
By law, Walmart must continually inspect its premises. If any dangerous condition is found by an employee, an employee must quickly correct the condition or make the public aware of the condition. Thus, Walmart may be responsible for any injuries that are caused by dangerous conditions that the employees either knew or should have known about.
In an employee discovers a dangerous condition, the employee must take all reasonable steps necessary to correct the situation. For example, if an employee discovers that there is a water leak in a refrigeration system, which creates puddles of water on the floor, then that employee needs to quickly place warning signs around the puddle and remedy the situation. If the employee just allows the puddle to remain and will get to it later, then the store can be responsible for any injuries stemming from the puddle being negligently left there.
While you may not think it, a store can be full of dangers. Stores can have everything from a slippery floor to uneven stairs. Products could have even fallen from the shelves and blocked the walkways. The store may also be responsible for maintaining the parking lot, so any potholes or inadequate lighting could be a serious hazard.
Further examples of hazards include:
- Exposed shelves, wiring or metal stands.
- Cracked or broken ceilings or floors.
- Malfunctioning elevators and escalators.
As for injuries, one of the most common injuries people suffer in stores is slip and falls or trip and falls. Such accidents are by their very nature a surprise, it is very important that you are prepared and know what to do when you are involved in an accident.
The most important thing to remember is that you need to collect evidence! In essence, the more evidence you can gather, the stronger your case will be. Photographs are one of the strongest forms of evidence due to their visual nature. Fortunately, everyone has a camera phone now, so it is not too difficult to photograph the scene of the accident. For example, if you slipped in a puddle in the middle of Walmart or tripped over a robot, be sure to take a picture and the area immediately surrounding it.
You should also speak with an employee, specifically a manager if possible. Be sure to write down your experience as quickly as you can, and whatever the employee says. Memory fades quickly, so it is best to jot down as much of what happened as soon as you can. Be sure to include as much detail as possible.
If you do speak with a manager, make sure to get their name. It is also a good idea to ask what their process is. Most of the time, a big company like Walmart will have a set procedure to handle such accidents. See if you can get the information for anyone at Walmart’s corporate office. Be sure to follow up with the company regarding your report.
Walmart Accident Lawyers in Florida
After all of this, it is incredibly important for you to call the best Florida personal injury for Walmart accidents that you can identify. It is common sense that after your medical care, you want the best lawyer you can find.
At Wolfson & Leon, our Walmart accident attorneys have represented people throughout Florida since 1963. With offices in Fort Myers, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, we are prepared to assist anyone injured in a Florida Walmart. We offer free consultations and never charge a fee unless we make a recovery for you. So, if you were injured in a Walmart slip and fall or trip and fall, call us today at 305-285-1115 for your free consultation.