Walmart is not always forthcoming about the number of claims filed against it. The company may use confidentiality agreements to prevent victims from speaking with the media about its settlements. While this prevents us from knowing the full range of settlements they pay out each year, it is likely a wide one.
Each slip and fall case is different, and victims incur unique costs and losses. Our team understands the process of valuing and fighting for appropriate settlements in these cases.
We Often Only Hear About High-Profile Verdicts
The public generally only hears about payouts for injuries at Walmart in big cases that go to trial and result in considerable judgments against the retail giant. The following are a few examples of such cases:
A West Virginia Woman Won More Than $16 Million in 2019
According to WTAP in West Virginia, the Supreme Court of Appeals confirmed a circuit court’s ruling and jury verdict that would pay a woman $16,922,000 following an incident in a Wood County, WV, store.
In February 2015, Diane Ankrom fell and suffered severe injuries to her abdomen after being knocked over when Walmart employees attempted to stop a shoplifter. She required numerous surgeries and lives with permanent effects from the fall.
A Jury Awarded an Alabama Man $7.5 Million for a Broken Hip
According to CBS News, a Russell County Circuit Court jury awarded a man $7.5 million for the injuries and disabilities he sustained in a fall in a Phenix City Walmart in 2015. The man was 61 years old at the time of the accident.
The man claimed his foot became stuck in a pallet displaying watermelons, causing him to trip and fall. Security video showed other shoppers also having the same issue.
The jury found that Walmart was guilty of wantonness and negligence in the fall, issuing a judgment of:
- $2.5 million in compensatory damages
- $5 million in punitive damages
A Tennessee Woman Received $525,000 in Damages for a Slip and Fall
In Corley v. Wal-Mart Stores East, LP, a federal jury awarded a fall victim $525,000 in damages after she slipped and fell in a store in Antioch, TN. The woman claimed she stepped in water and slipped in the Nashville-area store.
While there was no security video of the fall, the footage did confirm a puddle by documenting employees cleaning up a large area following her injuries. It also showed an employee walking through the area just before her fall.
The court determined Walmart was 90 percent liable for her injuries, and an appellate court confirmed the ruling and award.
A Louisiana Man Recovered Almost $75K in 1989
In Donald Kimble v. Walmart, a young man in Louisiana recovered $73,525.18 after tripping over small rocking chairs in an aisle-end display. This 1989 incident left him with injuries to his:
- Face
- Jaw
- Neck
- Shoulder
- Back
He also reported blackouts and dizziness. The jury decided that the 18-inch children’s rockers posed a trip hazard, but the man was also partially responsible. They determined Walmart was 75 percent liable.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-537-8185
How Much Is Your Case Worth?
It is important to remember that the outcome of these cases has little to do with the value of your settlement. Most fall injuries are not serious and may not support a six- or seven-figure payout.
The factors that our team will use to calculate a fair settlement value in your case include:
- The type, severity, and extent of your injuries
- The pain and procedures you must endure
- Your degree of responsibility in the fall
- Whether you missed time at work
- Whether you can return to your previous job
- How your injuries impact your life
- Your future medical needs
Hiring an Attorney to Handle Your Walmart Slip and Fall Claim
Walmart is a huge, multi-national corporation. The company self-insures and has its own subsidiary to handle these claims. This means someone working for Walmart will want to discuss your incident and may try to use anything you say against you to deny or devalue your claim.
Having an attorney from our team on your side can help protect your rights, as we can manage this communication. Walmart is known to defend itself against compensation claims aggressively, so it can be reassuring to have someone on your side fighting for you.
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Discuss Your Fall with Morris Bart, LLC, for Free Today
The Morris Bart law firm is not afraid of Walmart or any other large corporation and will fight hard for our clients’ compensation. We have more than 15 locations and serve all areas of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. We are also a contingency firm and provide free consultations, making our representation as financially accessible as possible.
Call (800) 537-8185 today to speak with a member of our team about your fall, injuries, and options for building a case against Walmart.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
