Whether you’re on a fixed income or love a good bargain, Dollar Tree is a great place to find all sorts of items at discount prices. With the current spike in prices for everything from food to utilities, dollar stores are more popular than ever. Most Dollar Tree locations are packed with customers from morning till night, thereby increasing the likelihood of an accident on the premises. Unfortunately, many of these stores are not taken care of as well as they should be, which you can tell from conditions like overflowing shelves, cluttered aisles, and slippery floors.
Have you been injured at a Dollar Tree store due to a hazard that the store failed to take care of? If so, you may have grounds for an injury claim against the store. Filing an accident report is the first step to obtaining monetary compensation, but how do you go about this process? What happens after you file the report? What if Dollar Tree’s insurance company rejects your claim for compensation?
These are some of the topics we will explore in this article, but keep in mind that we can only provide general information. Our attorneys are available 24/7 if you have questions or concerns that are specific to your own case. Here are some of the accident claims that we can assist you with:
- Slip and fall
- Trip and fall
- Falling object injuries
- Parking lot accidents
- Injuries from shopping carts
- Assault and battery incidents – mugging / robbery on property / sexual assault
Contact Normandie Law Firm to schedule a free consultation and learn about the legal actions that are available to you.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
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Is Dollar Tree Responsible for my Accident?
In order to sue Dollar Tree for being injured at one of their stores, you will need to prove that they are legally responsible, i.e., liable for your accident. In general, liability is proven by the following elements:
- The party in question (the store) owed you a duty of care as someone that had a right to be on the property.
- The store breached that duty of care by causing or failing to resolve a hazard, or by failing to warn you of that hazard.
- Due to the store’s negligence, you suffered bodily harm from an accident on the premises.
- Your injuries resulted in financial losses, which gives you the right to seek damages through an accident claim or lawsuit.
Proving that another party is negligent can be quite challenging depending on the circumstances of your accident. For example, the at-fault party in a sexual assault is the perpetrator that committed the attack. However, it’s possible that lack of security measures by Dollar Tree made it easier for the perpetrator to target and take advantage of an unsuspecting victim. In this type of situation, both the attacker and the store may be responsible for the victim’s injuries.
Due to the complexities that may be involved, it’s in your best interest to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury attorney.
How to File an Accident Injury Claim for Injury in Dollar Tree Stores
Filing an incident report right after your accident is crucial to receiving the settlement you deserve. That’s why it’s important to stay at the store and speak with a manager, even if your injuries don’t seem that serious. Please take the following steps to ensure the best possible outcome from an accident claim against Dollar Tree.
- Report the accident right away.
Unless you have life-threatening injuries, don’t leave the accident scene without filing an accident report. Make sure to do this with someone in charge, like a store manager, and ask for a copy of the report for your own records.
- Stick to the facts.
When you are speaking to the manager, stick to the facts and avoid subjective statements, like “I guess…” or “I may have…” In addition, don’t say anything that can later be used against you by the store’s insurance company. For example, saying “I should have watched where I was going” implies that you may be responsible for the accident.
- Gather evidence.
If at all possible, take photos or video of the accident scene, particularly the hazard that caused you to be injured. Capture images of your injuries as well to show the extent of the harm you’ve suffered. Then, look around for any security cameras, as they’re likely to have footage of your accident.
- Obtain contact information from witnesses.
It would be best to get written statements from anyone that saw what happened to you. However, this is not realistic in most cases, considering that most people are in a rush and do not have time to write an entire statement. Instead, ask for phone numbers and/or email addresses so that your lawyer can contact them.
- Go to a hospital.
Don’t put off seeking medical attention, as you will need clear evidence of the injuries you’ve suffered. If you wait even a few days to go to a hospital, the insurance company may deny your claim on the basis that you may have been injured somewhere other than the store.
- Hire an experienced attorney.
Even if you’ve taken all the right steps, it can still be an uphill battle to obtain a fair amount of compensation. Representation from a personal injury lawyer is the best way to recover the full value of your losses. Contact our office as soon as possible to speak with a Dollar Tree accident injury lawyer.
If an Insurance Adjuster Calls, What Do I Say?
Most accident victims are contacted by an insurance adjuster within days of filing an accident report. That’s why we advise you to retain legal representation right away, since you should not deal with the insurance company on your own. If you do end up speaking with them, refuse any requests for a recorded statement, as this is a common ploy to trick you into saying something that’s damaging to your case. If they offer you a settlement, tell them you need to discuss it with your attorney and end the call.
Afterwards, you may find yourself spammed with calls, emails, and texts from the insurance adjuster. They may tell you that this is a one-time offer, and that it’s only good for a limited period of time. This is a tactic to pressure you into a low settlement, so please don’t worry about these messages. Just refer them to us and let us handle any communications with the insurance company. Unlike an insurance adjuster, our loyalty is to you and fighting for every penny of the damages you’re entitled to.
Statute of Limitations to File a Lawsuit against Dollar Tree
One very important consideration in any lawsuit is how long you have to bring forth a legal action against the negligent party. For an accident injury claim, the statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of the incident. The courts are very strict when it comes to filing deadlines, so it’s essential to initiate an injury claim as soon as possible if you’ve been injured at a Dollar Tree store. Otherwise, it’s unlikely that you will be allowed to proceed with a lawsuit, even if you have a solid case against the store.
Dollar Tree Lawsuit Settlement Values
Frankly, there is a very wide range in settlement values when it comes to injury claims against major retailers. If we look at past verdicts and settlements that we’ve recovered for our clients, these cases are worth anywhere from $25,000 to $3.5 million or more. But these are only estimates at the end of the day, and they should not be used as a reflection of what your Dollar Tree lawsuit is worth. If you’re interested in figuring out the approximate value of your claim, please take some to speak with one of our attorneys.
How Long Does it Take to Get Paid on These Cases?
The process of achieving a settlement can be very quick in some cases, meaning that a case may be resolved within 30 days to a few months. But the majority of cases take longer, especially when serious injuries are involved. We are honest with our clients about the fact that it can take 12 months or longer to recover their payment, especially if we need to file a lawsuit. It’s worth noting that over 90% of lawsuits are settled without the need for a trial, but getting to that point can still take 1 or more years.
We Offer Free Second Opinions
Are you being represented by another law firm, but have concerns about the way they’re handling your case? This is not unusual among accident victims, and it’s a good idea to look into these issues right away before there is any damage to your case. Our lawyers will provide you with a free consultation, known as a second opinion, and offer recommendations that can help you get your case back on track. This is a completely free service, by the way, so we hope you’ll take the chance of contacting us for a second opinion with one of our attorneys.
Speak to a Dollar Tree Accident Injury Lawyer
An accident is not something you normally expect, especially when you’re doing something as ordinary as shopping at a dollar store. Unfortunately, the potential for an accident is very high at these stores when business owners and employees are lax in their duties. However, you are not alone in your fight for justice when you contact the attorneys of Normandie Law Firm. Our lawyers have decades of experience in the recovery of personal injury settlements, and we know what it takes to get results on behalf of our clients.
As part of our commitment to you and your finances, we never charge upfront when you choose us to represent you. That’s because we get paid by Dollar Tree at the same time you receive your settlement. In the event we fail to win your case, you won’t be responsible for any legal fees.
Our legal experts are waiting to assist you, so please call anytime to schedule a free case evaluation.
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