Slip and Fall at Lowe's Should Not Be Slapstick

Hi Robert!
I was also injured at Lowe's. Four weeks ago, I was trying to find a
price of an item on a shelf. However, there was a stack of approx. 20
paneling boards leaning against the shelf where the item was located.
I went to look over the boards but could not see the price so I gently
grabbed a few of them to see how heavy they were and to possibly move
them to the side. When I pulled the few towards me, the entire stack
of boards pushed me to the ground and fell on my legs. I had no idea
that they were flimsy, as I had never seen paneling boards before.
They appeared stiff to me. Regardless, I did not think they would all
fall.

My friend, who can lift 200 lbs. and who witnessed the whole thing,
tried to lift the stack of boards off me but could not lift the whole
pile at one time. After filling out an incident report with Lowes, I
went to the emergency room where they did an X-ray - found no broken
bones, just bruising deep in my foot and on my knee. However, after
four weeks, I still have major pains in both areas and I am
experiencing numbing. Unfortunately, I do not have medical insurance
and cannot afford to get a CAT scan or MRI to check my ligaments and
whatever else an X-ray does not scan. I also worry I may have nerve
damage. Doctor's offices where I live (in California) do not work with
third parties so I cannot get into a doctor without paying for the
tests and appointments upfront. Now I am in the process of finding an
attorney to help me handle this.

The point is, Lowes needs to start cleaning up their stores to prevent
accidents like your wife's and mine. If an elderly person or child
fell, as I did, they could have been permanently confined to a
wheelchair (from breaking their hip or other bones) for the rest of
their lives or even worse.

Lowes obviously needs to re-train their employees on safety and
management. Do you know, Lowes still has not even sent me a letter or
called to see how I am? I guess that is the kind of service we get
when we go to Lowes.

As for your wife's situation, you may want to talk to an attorney as
well.

Much Luck,

J

This letter reminds me of another sick story, where apparently a woman
was stabbed in the middle of the store. Instead of helping the
injured woman people started walking over her. One guy even took a
picture of her as she was dying. The police said that if 911 had been
called quicker they could have saved her life. It took four minutes
before someone actually called 911. These Lowe's employee's are not
that bad(except for the cashier) but they did the same thing on a less
evil level.

The cashier laughed at someone that fell and hurt herself. I hope she
does not have any kids. If the kid fell and broke their arm, she
would probably laugh instead of taking her child to the doctor. I
wonder how she would feel if she was the one that fell. It also
sounds to me like they did not clean up the twine. What if a child is
running and trips over the twine. I don't know what the manager told
you but he is no doctor. If he were a doctor he would have taken your
wife's fall more seriously. He would have known that just because
someone is not bleeding that does not mean that they are all right.
Whoever told you he is a doctor as well is lying.

I am so sorry this happened to you and your wife. I hope that she is
doing better now.

What Lowe's did was completely uncalled for. Especially since she was
injured in the store. If I were you I would have made them call 911 or
called them myself. That way you would have a police report saying
that the manager did nothing. Then you will not have to go through the
run around of he said/she said.

I really hope that Lowe's comes through for you on this matter. I
would also recommend that you send a hard letter to them with a return
receipt. That way you know they got it and have proof that they did.

Best of luck to both of you.

I just don't get this. I've seen people fall before, and I always
check on them immediately, help them up, etc. I did this as a cashier
and I do this a customer. Isn't it just common curtesy to help someone
to their feet and ask if they are alright? Maybe it's just not so
common anymore.

What idiots.

The employees, not you and your wife.

I think you should have called 911 since they wouldn't help you. That
would have woken up that so called manager.

Also, since he didn't want to deal with it you would have had a record
from the paramedics and police.

I'm glad it wasn't more serious.

That is terrible!

I'll bet the most painful part of it all was being laughed at.

Where is people's decency and compassion?

My situation in no way compares, but makes me wonder...I was in Target
the other day and stupidly, yes, had my arms full..(ya know how you go
in for one thing and then find another and another?)..and was headed
for the cash register and things started slipping out of my
arms...since my hands were full, I couldn't pick up the dropped
objects and had to leave them where they fell and scurry to a counter
to dump the rest and retrieve the fallen articles, which posed a
danger to those walking by.

Well two girls just found it so very funny and just watched me
struggle and laughed instead of at least picking up the few things on
the floor...maybe the exercise would have killed them, dunno.


Ok I'm ready for someone to berate me for not having a basket. sigh.

The Lowe's staff should not have acted this way.
They should have been more attentive after the fall and certainly
should have adult proofed the store before opening and assured it
stayed that way during the shift.
That being said. Shoppers have a duty to use caution and be observant.
From the letter it appears that the person that fell had previous
knowledge of the tangled mess and waded in without concern.
I am no attorney but my bet is that posting this letter on the
internet will not assist their effort in any insurance or legal claim
for expenses and or damages.
Let's hope Robert M. stops back with an update.
BillR.

I understand your anger. If I slipped and fell at a store and got hurt
or someone i love like my mom slipped and fell at a store and got hurt
and the employees did nothing but stand there and laughed at us, I'll
beat them up. Then I'll sue them on Judge Judy for my medical bills
and pain and suffering.

Robert,

I don't blame you for being upset. This type of apathy and lack of
common decency shouldn't be tolerated nor condoned. I think it's
appalling that any manager would treat a customer this way, especially
after being hurt.

I would go have your wife checked out asap at an emergency room to
make absolutely certain she's not in peril and to establish some
record. Actually I think you should also file some kind of report with
the police.

It's wrong of them, and it seems they're assuming your wife was
attempting something commonly used to scam companies (I'm NOT saying
it's the case here, I'm just putting it out as fact) Even if they DID
think that, they themselves should have a procedure in place to report
this incident to corprorate. I'm glad you took the initiative to give
them this feedback, perhaps something may change and help the next
poor soul who falls prey to someone else's negligence.

I hope you get a response from the company, perhaps send a hard copy
return receipt requested so you have proof you sent it and it was
indeed accepted.

I hope everything turns out well and your wife isn't hurt.