Shopping carts are a staple at every grocery store and supermarket across the country. While they provide convenience for shoppers loading up on food and household items, they can also pose safety risks if not designed properly. This is an issue that deserves more attention, especially as faulty shopping carts continue to cause injuries in places like Iowa.
Common Causes of Shopping Cart Injuries
There are a few key flaws in shopping cart design that frequently lead to accidents and injuries:
- Wobbly wheels – If one or more of the wheels are bent or unstable, the cart can veer and turn unexpectedly, making it difficult for the shopper to steer and control it.
- Tip overs – When a cart is overloaded or unbalanced, it can easily tip over, especially small plastic carts. Both children and adults can be injured by falling carts.
- Pinch points – Most carts have moving parts, such as folding baby seats, adjustable handles, and retractable wheels. These create pinch points that can trap fingers or clothing.
- Protruding edges – The metal and plastic materials that make up carts often have sharp corners and protruding edges. Shoppers can cut themselves on these edges when reaching into carts.
- Braking issues – Faulty brakes are extremely dangerous, as a cart rolling out of control can hit cars, displays, or people.
- Insufficient maintenance – Grocery stores often don’t maintain carts well, allowing issues to persist and worsen over time.
Retailers Must Do Their Part to Improve Safety
Proper cart design, maintenance, and employee diligence can and should prevent shopping cart injuries. Stores have a responsibility to provide safe equipment for their paying customers.
Here are some ways Iowa retailers could better protect patrons:
- Invest in sturdy carts without flaws in the wheels, brakes, handles, or edges
- Create maintenance plans for fixing issues quickly
- Train employees to spot and remove damaged carts
- Provide clear warnings against overloading small plastic carts
- Use cart corrals to prevent runaways in the parking lots
- Check child seats for pinch hazards and sharp edges
By taking proactive measures, Iowa grocery stores can significantly reduce accidents and injuries. This is in their best interest financially since fewer injuries mean fewer premises liability claims. But more importantly, they have an ethical duty to look out for customer well-being.
Take Action if You Are Injured by a Faulty Cart
If you or a loved one has been injured by a dangerous, poorly maintained shopping cart in Iowa, don’t suffer in silence. Retail stores have a responsibility to provide safe equipment for shoppers. Contact our experienced premises liability attorneys at Monge & Associates for a free case review. We have 32 offices in 19 states across the country, including Iowa, Kansas, and Florida, and our attorneys can determine if you have grounds to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Don’t wait, as Iowa has strict statutes of limitations.
Call today on (888) 477-0597 to discuss your options with our legal team.