Shop Safe: How to Make Your Next Trip to the Market Less Hazardous

Going to the market for groceries, pet supplies and toiletries is a basic activity everyone has to do about once per week. What seems like a simple grocery run could result in a personal injury. These tips will help you to reduce your risk of an injury or harm when going on a routine trip to the market. Taking Care When Parking When pulling into the parking lot, take care when choosing a spot. Try to select a parking place that is in a well-lit area if you are shopping after sunset. Consider parking within sight of the store's entrance. Avoid parking places that have obvious debris. Discarded packaging, plastic bags, and other trash could damage your vehicle's tires. Avoid a parking space that has a pothole. Seeking Assistance When Loading Up Heavy items such as cases of soda, large jugs of detergent, bags of potatoes or bulk packages of kitty litter, or pet food may be too heavy for you to lift. If possible, seek carry-out assistance from a store employee. An employee may be able to load your groceries into the trunk or back of your vehicle. At most markets, this is a free service, and you do not need to tip the staff member. Experiencing a Personal Injury Even if you take the utmost of care while shopping for groceries and toiletries at the market, it is still possible to experience an injury. Professionals, like those at Bennett & Sharp PLLC, know that the market may not be maintaining the premises well, or you might not notice a hazard such as a spot of ice. If you experience a personal injury while shopping, get witness contact information, seek treatment, and contact a professional for advice. Carefully Approaching Your Vehicle After leaving the market with your purchases, be careful when approaching your vehicle. If you see something suspicious, return to the store and ask someone to walk you back to your car. Be sure to put your cash, credit and debit cards back into your wallet before leaving the store. Avoid talking on your phone as you approach your vehicle. Pay close attention to your surroundings. Taking your time, paying attention to your surroundings and asking for assistance all help to reduce the potential hazards of a shopping trip. If you see something suspicious or have a gut feeling that something is "off," follow your instincts. A few extra minutes of staying in the store or asking for help could prevent you from experiencing a personal injury.