How to Prevent Black Friday Injuries

The biggest shopping day of the year is almost upon us. Millions of Americans will be lacing up their sneakers right after their Thanksgiving meal so they can go toe-to-toe with fellow shoppers over the best deals. But be aware - Black Friday injuries can be serious.

Shopping injuries are serious. In fact, Walmart drew headlines in 2008 when one of the retailers' employees was trampled to death by eager shoppers.

And this isn't even accounting for the fact that during Black Friday sales, you might be encountering fellow consumers who may be physically aggressive when nabbing deals.

There are a few things savvy shoppers can do to eliminate or reduce injuries:

• Avoid Black Friday altogether. There are other days to get deals that don't involve flocking to a packed store. Consider options like Cyber Monday, when online retailers also rush to offer deals.
• Be informed. Many Black Friday deals typically only offer a few items at the heavily reduced price. Gauge whether or not it's worth it and scope out the store before you go.
• Consider leaving your kids at home. Shopping amidst a huge crowd can be difficult enough without having to look out for your child. Leaving them at home can help ease fears about them getting lost or hurt during the retail frenzy.

If you do get injured, know that there are some potential legal remedies you can pursue. Store owners are supposed to keep premises reasonably safe for consumers and free from known hazards. If an unkempt store littered with empty boxes and products has made you to trip or fall, you might be able to recover some monetary damages.

You might also be able to recover if the store simply didn't take enough precautions to ensure customer safety or didn't have enough security to ensure fights didn't break out.

The holiday shopping season may lead to some great deals - just don't let it make you endure a Black Friday-related injury.

Related Resources:

• Shopping Injuries -- Overview (FindLaw)
• Black Friday Safety (FindLaw)
• Avoiding Black Friday Injuries (FindLaw's Injured)