With Thanksgiving just days away, that means Black Friday is upon us as well. The infamous shopping day is an American "tradition" (for lack of a better word), but unlike other traditions, this one comes with a number of very dangerous risks. Thousands of people are hurt every year on Black Friday -- and, in fact, many people are killed during this crazed shopping day.
Most people make it out of Black Friday unscathed (and with that sweet deal on a 60-inch HDTV!), but for the unfortunate few that don't, there can be a lot of pain and suffering over the holiday season (and even well into the new year).
Black Friday tragedies usually center on poor crowd control and inadequate safety measures. For example, some of the most common types of Black Friday incidents are tramplings and fighting amongst shoppers. These are issues that malls, shopping centers, and any other store should be able to prevent, may that be through improved security and/or better training for their employees.
Along those lines, this time of the year is a reminder for everyone who goes shopping on Black Friday to be safe and cordial when you are out there. If things do turn bad, remember that if you are on the mall's premises, they have a duty to maintain proper crowd control and to keep their shoppers safe.
If they fail in this regard -- may it be for the safety of a shopper or even an employee of the mall -- they could be cited in a premises liability lawsuit.
Source: KCSG, "US Labor Department Reminds Retail Stores to take Precautions on Black Friday," Nov. 18, 2013
No Comments
Leave a comment