Nordstrom Rack began in 1975 as a discount outlet in the basement of a Nordstrom department store in Seattle, Washington. Since then, the stores have experienced tremendous success with over 300 locations throughout the U.S. Nordstrom Rack is popular among fashionistas and bargain hunters alike, and is a direct competitor of discount department stores such as TJ Maxx and Burlington.
While Nordstrom Rack likes to set itself apart from the competition, they are no less prone to hazardous conditions that can lead to an accident. These accidents include slip and falls, trip and falls, and falling merchandise, just to name a few. Being injured through any of these accidents is a scary experience. Most likely, you’re wondering about the costs of recovery and what you can do to cover these losses. Fortunately, California law allows you to sue for monetary compensation if your accident was caused by an act of negligence. However, proving a case of negligence, as well as the store’s liability for your accident, can be challenging.
To protect your rights in a claim for monetary damages, contact Normandie Law Firm and speak to a Nordstrom Rack accident lawyer. We will be happy to advise you of your legal options during a free consultation.
Common Causes of Injuries at Nordstrom Rack
We mentioned before that discount department stores are highly prone to accidents. Here is a list of just some of the hazardous conditions you will find at a Nordstrom Rack store:
- Clothes and other items dropped on the floor
- Liquid spills from leaking or damaged items
- Slippery surfaces without floor mats
- Torn carpeting
- Missing or broken tiles
- Uneven flooring / pavement
- Overcrowded shelves
- Unstable product displays
- Falling objects (light fixtures, picture frames, etc.)
- Broken steps / handrails
- Poor lighting
- Shelves with sharp / jagged edges
- Lack of warning signs
- Lack of security
- Ice and/or snow on the sidewalk and parking lots
Nordstrom Rack has a duty of care to protect customers and visitors from these hazards. If, for example, there is a product spill, an employee must clean it up right away and leave a “wet floor” sign until the area is dry. If the problem can’t be resolved immediately, the store must put up a sign warning visitors to stay away. In essence, the store must take any and all reasonable measures to prevent an accident. If they fail to take such actions, Nordstrom Rack may be liable for any injuries resulting from that hazard.
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Accidents at a Nordstrom Rack Store
Slip and falls and trip and falls are the two most common accidents that occur at Nordstrom Rack and other discount department stores. It’s easy to see why just from walking into one of these stores. You may see clothing, accessories, and other debris in the aisles. There may be a spill from one of the products or a drink someone brought in. Then, there are the shelves, which are often jam packed with merchandise that can easily fall to the ground.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall or trip and fall at a Nordstrom Rack, please get to a hospital right away. Fall-related accidents account for almost 700,000 deaths every year, and many of these fatalities could have been prevented with timely medical treatment.
However, fall-related accidents are not the only ways you can be injured at a Nordstrom Rack. Other possible accidents include:
- Falling objects
- Broken step / stair injury
- Assault and battery
- Sexual assault
- Parking lot accidents
Regardless of how you were injured, it’s essential to find out about your legal rights from an experienced store accident attorney. Contact our office as soon as you can and schedule a free case evaluation.
Nordstrom Rack’s Liability in Your Accident
Nordstrom Rack is legally responsible for ensuring the safety of legitimate visitors on their property. While they can’t foresee every injury that will occur on their premises, they must take all reasonable actions to eliminate hazardous conditions. Thus, it’s not acceptable for store management to say they were unaware of an icy patch in front of their store. Managers should have a system of regular inspections, which would have caught the hazard. So if a customer is injured from slipping on the ice on their way out of the store, Nordstrom Rack can be sued for the customer’s economic and non-economic damages.
A store can also be liable for the misconduct or negligence of their employees. Under California’s laws of vicarious liability, an employer shares responsibility for an employee’s actions that occurred within the scope of their employment. This means the negligent act occurred while the employee was on duty and doing something that is reasonably expected by the employer.
Filing a Lawsuit against Nordstrom Rack
To file a lawsuit against Nordstrom Rack for your injury, you must show evidence of their liability for your accident. This can be proven through the following elements:
- Duty
Nordstrom Rack had a duty of care to you as a legitimate “invitee” on their property.
- Breach
The store breached that duty of care by an act of negligence, like failing to remove debris from the aisles or not cleaning up a spill in the bathroom.
- Causation
The act of negligence was the direct cause of your accident.
- Damages
You have suffered compensable injuries as a result of the accident.
These factors may seem easy to prove, but major retailers will fight hard to deny responsibility for an accident on their property. One common tactic is to blame you for the accident by saying you were acting in a careless or reckless manner. They may also deny the severity of your injuries, or say that a pre-existing condition is responsible for the level of damages you’ve suffered.
A personal injury attorney can protect from these accusations and fight for the settlement you’re entitled to. Contact our office and speak with a lawyer that’s experienced with retail liability lawsuits.
Injuries from a Nordstrom Rack Accident
There are many types of injuries you can sustain from an accident at Nordstrom Rack. It’s important to get medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor. We’ve seen many cases of seemingly minor injuries get worse in a matter of days, and at that point, the recovery process will be much more difficult. Furthermore, not seeing a doctor right away can hurt your chances for monetary compensation, as the insurance company will question if the accident was the true cause of your injuries.
Below is a list of the most common injuries that can occur while you’re at a Nordstrom Rack:
- Bone fracture / broken bones
- Sprained ankle / wrist
- Hip fracture
- Dislocated shoulder
- Torn ACL / MCL
- Dislocated kneecap
- Traumatic brain injury
- Soft tissue injury
- Nerve damage
- Coccyx fracture (broken tailbone)
- Neck injury (whiplash)
- Spinal cord damage
- Internal bleeding
While this is not a complete list of possible injuries, it goes to show the serious nature of a retail store accident and why compensation is necessary in these cases. In the next section, we will talk about the types of damages you can recover from a Nordstrom Rack accident lawsuit.
Monetary Compensation from a Nordstrom Rack Lawsuit
When we demand compensation on your behalf, there are various types of damages we will ask for. These damages depend on the extent of your injuries and your personal circumstances, but they generally include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages due to missed time from work
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Pain and suffering for emotional trauma
- Property damage
- Legal fees
- Punitive damages
It’s important to understand each form of compensation and how much you should ask for based on the level of harm you’ve suffered. Our lawyers can guide you through this process and ensure that you recover a fair amount of compensation.
Contact Our Law Firm
Retail store accidents are extremely common, and stores like Nordstrom Rack deal with thousands of lawsuits every year. That’s why they rely on insurance adjusters, who are experts at denying injury claims or negotiating low settlements. They get away with it for many reasons, including the victim’s lack of legal representation. While lawyers are often seen as a last resort, you should consult an attorney as soon as you can if you’ve been injured at a Nordstrom Rack. In most cases, having a lawyer makes the difference between winning a fair settlement and struggling with the losses resulting from your accident.
On the other hand, injured individuals are scared of the fees that are associated with legal representation. There’s no need to worry about that when you retain one of our attorneys. Our Zero fee guarantee is a contingency based agreement, where you pay us nothing upfront. Our fees are paid by the defendant as a part of your settlement, so the only way we recover our fees is by winning your case.
As you can see, there’s nothing to lose by speaking with one of our attorneys. Please give us a call and schedule a free consultation to discuss your rights and legal options.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
TJ Maxx Slip and Fall Attorney
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