Sheetz and other convenience stores strongly market and advertise to their customers at home and on the road, which results in customers frequently visiting their properties to get gas, snacks, coffee, drinks, and anything else they need. However, while customers are on their premises, Sheetz has a legal duty to take certain safety precautions to ensure that each customer is safe and harm-free during their visit or shopping trip. When a Sheetz store knows that they are legally obligated to provide specific safety precautions and fails to do so, customers become injured or hurt due to the store’s negligence.
Six safety precautions that Sheetz must provide its customers
There are many safety precautions that Sheetz must take to protect its customers and ensure that they have a safe and enjoyable experience when visiting and shopping inside their stores. The following are six of the top safety precautions that Sheetz must provide its customers:
- Clean and dry floors: The first type of safety precaution that Sheetz must take to protect its customers is to ensure that all floors are clean and dry. This means that there should never be any spilled liquid, oil, or moisture on the floor. Slip and fall accidents are very common at Sheetz and other convenience stores, and most of these accidents are completely avoidable if the managers, owners, and employees take the time to simply make sure that the floors are clean and dry. If it is raining outside and customers continue to drag in liquid on their shoes, it is essential to place a sign out that alerts and warns them that the floor is wet and slippery.
- Uncluttered and easily accessible walkways/ aisles: Another type of issue that is common at Sheetz locations and other convenience stores is cluttered aisles and walkways, which can quickly lead to a hazardous situation for customers. Therefore, in order to prevent this from happening, Sheetz is responsible for taking precautions to ensure that all aisles and walkways are uncluttered and easily accessible to customers. If customers have to move around items left in the middle of a Sheetz aisle, there is a strong possibility that they may trip and become severely injured.
- Properly stored products on shelves: When Sheetz or other convenience stores receive their products, they typically come in large boxes that must be taken off the truck, unboxed, and properly stored on the shelves for customers to grab. However, if products are incorrectly placed or stored on the shelves, there may be a risk of certain products and items falling on other customers or into their walkways. Therefore, it is necessary for Sheetz workers to set aside time in their daily schedules to reorganize all shelves and ensure that nothing can possibly fall and injure a customer walking by.
- Regular and frequent updates/ maintenance to the flooring, interior, and exterior: After a Sheetz store has been open and running for several years, it is common for the flooring, interior, and exterior to experience normal wear and tear. However, if a Sheetz property owner does not take the time to carry out frequent updates and maintenance, the conditions will become very bad, placing customers in harm’s way. Some of the common issues that may arise over time are parking lot potholes, uneven or broken floor surfaces, leaking or falling ceilings, parking lot debris, and more.
- Adequate lighting, security cameras, alarm systems, and security personnel: When customers visit a Sheetz or another convenience store, they typically do not think that they will become a victim of a crime. However, when visiting any type of business, there is always a risk of someone carrying out a crime while you are there. Most businesses like Sheetz are aware of the type of criminal activity that can occur on their premises, which means that it is their legal duty to take safety precautions to protect their customers from potential harm. If the Sheetz property owner fails to prepare and take the necessary precautions to install adequate lighting, security cameras, alarm systems, and hire security personnel, they may be held liable for your accident and injuries.
- Properly trained employees: Lastly, employees who work for Sheetz should be trained and educated on how to keep customers safe and harm-free while on the premises. For example, employees should know how to properly store items on the shelves, keep floors swept and mopped, and even throw away boxes as soon as they are done using them. However, employees should also be able to identify certain threats or harmful situations that may arise at any moment and do everything possible to prevent them from happening or respond quickly and appropriately when they do.
If you or a family member suffered injuries in a Sheetz accident, the Pennsylvania and New Jersey personal injury attorneys at Kwartler Manus, LLC are here to help you. We will review your case, inform you of your legal options, gather strong evidence, and help you recover the maximum amount of compensation possible. Please contact our firm to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with one of our lawyers today.