With the increasing popularity of big-box hardware stores in recent decades, many homeowners are deciding to tackle home-improvement projects on their own. Because hardware stores have hazards that other shops lack, you have some risk of sustaining a serious injury every time you visit one.
To stay safe when shopping for lumber, paint and other supplies, you should constantly check your surroundings for potential risks. Some parts of the hardware store, though, maybe more dangerous than others. Here are three places you may slip and fall in the hardware store.
1. The parking lot
Because of rain, snow and ice, the store’s parking lot may become hazardous quickly. A pothole in the parking lot may also cause you to lose your footing. Therefore, after parking your vehicle, you must be sure you take steps to stay safe in the parking lot.
2. The hardware aisle
At most hardware stores, you can buy nails, screws, bolts and other hardware in bulk. When customers fill bags with hardware, they may accidentally drop pieces of metal onto the floor. This metal may present a slip-and-fall risk, especially if the hardware store has tile or polished concrete floors.
3. The garden section
Employees in the garden section must water plants to keep them alive. This means you may encounter puddles, mud and hoses in the hardware store’s garden area. If employees do not remove the hazard or warn you to stay away from it, your health may be in jeopardy.
While you probably cannot avoid the garden section or other potentially dangerous parts of the hardware store, you can assert your legal rights. If you suffer an injury in a slip-and-fall accident, you may be able to pursue financial compensation from the hardware store’s owner.