Being struck by a falling object is one of the most unexpected and frightening types of accidents. Whether it happens at a construction site, retail store, warehouse, or even a public walkway, these incidents can cause severe injuries. Sadly, many falling-object injuries are completely preventable and occur because someone failed to take proper safety precautions.

At LeBaron & Jensen, we frequently help victims who have been hurt because an individual, business, or contractor was negligent. If you’ve been injured by a falling object, understanding your rights and what to do next can make a significant difference in your physical, emotional, and financial recovery.

Common Causes of Falling Object Injuries

Falling object accidents happen in a variety of settings, and many stem from unsafe conditions that should have been fixed long before an injury occurred. Some of the most common causes include:

• Improperly secured construction materials or tools.

On construction sites, tools, building materials, and debris can fall from scaffolding or upper levels if workers don’t follow safety protocols.

• Overloaded or unstable shelving.

Retail stores, warehouses, and grocery aisles can become dangerous when items are stacked too high or placed carelessly.

• Poorly maintained rental properties.

Loose fixtures, broken shelving, or unstable ceiling materials can fall and cause severe injuries.

• Employee negligence.

Workers who drop objects from ladders, forklifts, or upper levels put others at serious risk.

• Defective equipment or products.

If a strap, rope, or storage unit fails, the manufacturer may share responsibility for the injury.

Every one of these scenarios is avoidable with proper care, making negligence a key factor in many cases.

Types of Injuries That Can Occur

The force of a falling object, even a small one, can cause serious harm. Common injuries include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Even objects weighing only a few pounds can cause concussions, skull fractures, or long-term brain damage.
• Neck and Shoulder Injuries: Sudden impact often results in strains, nerve damage, or fractures.
• Back and Spinal Cord Injuries: Heavier objects can cause herniated discs or permanent spinal impairment.
• Cuts, Lacerations, and Facial Injuries: Sharp or heavy items may cause scarring or require surgical repair.
• Broken Bones: Hands, arms, and collarbones are especially vulnerable as people instinctively try to shield themselves.

These injuries often require extensive medical care, time off work, and ongoing rehabilitation, not to mention the emotional toll.

Who May Be Liable?

Determining who is legally responsible for a falling object injury is one of the most critical steps in building a strong case. Depending on where and how the incident occurred, liability may fall on several parties. Property owners or managers may be responsible if they failed to maintain a safe environment, while employers can be at fault for not enforcing proper safety procedures. On construction sites, contractors or subcontractors might share blame for unsafe practices. In retail stores or warehouses, poor stacking or storage habits can lead to dangerous conditions. Even manufacturers may be liable if defective tools, shelving, or equipment contributed to the accident. Because multiple parties can be involved, working with an attorney is essential to uncovering the truth and determining who owes you compensation.

Your Legal Rights After a Falling Object Injury

If you were injured because someone failed to store, secure, or handle an object safely, you have important legal rights that protect you from the financial and emotional fallout. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, and even long-term limitations that affect your daily life. This can also include damages for pain, suffering, emotional distress, or the need for ongoing medical or household care. Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to minimize these injuries or place blame on the victim to avoid paying. You don’t have to accept that. You have the right to challenge unfair treatment, and to work with an attorney who will fight to protect your health, your finances, and your future.

What to Do Immediately After the Injury

Taking the right steps can strengthen your case and support your recovery:

1. Seek Medical Attention Right Away: Head, neck, and spine injuries often worsen over time. A medical evaluation ensures your injuries are documented.

2. Report the Accident: Notify a supervisor, property manager, or business owner. Obtain a written incident report if possible.

3. Document Everything: Take photos of the object, location, any visible hazards, and your injuries. If anyone witnessed the incident, gather their contact information.

4. Keep All Medical Records: Save bills, treatment notes, prescriptions, and any work-restriction orders.

5. Avoid Giving Statements to Insurance Companies: They may try to get you to admit fault or accept a low settlement. Direct them to your attorney instead.

6. Contact LeBaron & Jensen: We can investigate the accident, preserve evidence, identify liable parties, and protect your legal rights immediately.

Choose LeBaron & Jensen for Legal Assistance

A falling-object injury can leave you overwhelmed, hurting, and unsure what to do next. But you don’t have to navigate the legal process alone. LeBaron & Jensen is here to help you understand your rights, build a strong case, and pursue the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured by a falling object, contact LeBaron & Jensen today for a free consultation. We’re ready to stand up for you and help you move forward with confidence.

Warehouse and retail jobs may seem routine, but they are physically demanding roles that put workers at risk every day. From lifting heavy boxes to standing for long hours, navigating crowded spaces, and handling equipment, these jobs take a toll on the body. Yet, injuries sustained in these workplaces are often underestimated or overlooked, especially when they don’t leave visible marks like broken bones. Sprains, strains, and repetitive stress injuries can be just as debilitating, affecting daily life and the ability to work. Understanding your legal rights in workplace accidents is essential to ensure fair treatment, proper medical care, and the compensation you deserve.

Common Risks in Warehouse Jobs

Working in a warehouse may look straightforward, but it comes with a host of hidden dangers that can lead to serious injuries. Heavy lifting and repetitive motions place constant stress on muscles and joints, often resulting in strains, sprains, and chronic back problems. Operating equipment like forklifts, pallet jacks, or conveyor systems introduces another layer of risk, especially if safety protocols aren’t strictly followed. Add to that slip, trip, and fall hazards from spills, cluttered aisles, or uneven flooring, and it’s clear why warehouse workers face a higher injury risk than many realize. Recognizing these hazards is crucial for protecting both health and legal rights.

Common Risks in Retail Jobs

Retail work may seem less physically demanding than warehouse jobs, but it comes with its own set of hidden hazards. Lifting and stocking heavy merchandise can strain backs, shoulders, and wrists, especially when done repeatedly throughout a shift. Crowded aisles, wet floors, or cluttered spaces create slip and fall risks that can lead to serious injuries. Additionally, interactions with customers such as sudden movements, accidents, or confrontations can result in unexpected harm. Poorly maintained equipment like carts, ladders, or price scanners also adds risk. Understanding these common dangers is key for retail workers to protect their health and know their legal rights if injuries occur.

Why These Injuries Are Often Overlooked

Injuries in warehouse and retail environments are frequently underestimated because many of them are “invisible” to the naked eye. Soft tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, tendonitis, and repetitive stress injuries often develop gradually and don’t leave visible bruises, cuts, or broken bones. This can lead to the misconception that the worker is unharmed. Employers or insurance companies may downplay minor accidents, attributing discomfort to normal fatigue rather than a workplace injury, which can result in delayed treatment or denied claims.

Adding to the challenge, symptoms of these injuries can appear hours, days, or even weeks after the incident, which make it difficult to prove a direct connection to the workplace. Workers may experience lingering pain, limited range of motion, or chronic issues that impact their ability to perform daily tasks. Proper medical documentation, early reporting, and professional evaluations are critical to ensure these hidden injuries are recognized and supported legally.

The Importance of Medical Documentation

Medical documentation is the backbone of any personal injury claim, especially for warehouse and retail injuries that aren’t immediately visible. Keeping thorough records of every injury, symptom, and treatment ensures there’s a clear timeline of your condition. Diagnostic tests like X-rays, MRIs, or physical therapy evaluations provide objective evidence of the injury to strengthen your case.

Accident reports and witness statements further corroborate the circumstances surrounding the incident, making it harder for insurers or employers to dispute the claim. Even seemingly minor details like the date, time, and environment of the accident can be crucial. By maintaining detailed and organized documentation, injured workers protect themselves, increase their chances of fair compensation, and create a clear record that demonstrates the real impact of the injury on their life and work.

Legal Considerations for Injured Workers

For warehouse and retail employees, knowing when to file a personal injury or workers’ compensation claim is critical. Even injuries that seem minor at first can worsen over time and affect your ability to work. Filing the right claim promptly ensures you receive medical care and compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, and rehabilitation costs.

A skilled attorney can navigate the complexities of workplace injury claims, especially when injuries aren’t obvious or when employers or insurers try to minimize responsibility. They can gather evidence, obtain expert evaluations, and advocate for your rights, helping you avoid common pitfalls. Acting quickly is essential, as delays can jeopardize your claim or limit the compensation you’re entitled to. With professional guidance, injured workers can secure fair outcomes and protect their long-term health and livelihood.

Choose LeBaron & Jensen for Workplace Injuries

Injuries sustained in warehouse and retail settings are often underestimated, but they can have serious long-term effects on your health and livelihood. At LeBaron & Jensen, we specialize in helping injured workers navigate the complexities of personal injury and workers’ compensation claims. Our experienced attorneys provide personalized consultations, thorough claim evaluations, and strong advocacy to ensure you receive the compensation and medical support you deserve. Contact LeBaron & Jensen today to protect your rights and your future.

One of the first questions clients often ask after an accident is: “How long will my personal injury case take?” The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. Personal injury lawsuits can range from a few months to several years, depending on factors like the complexity of the case, the severity of injuries, and the legal steps required to reach a resolution.

Understanding the typical stages of a lawsuit can help reduce stress and set realistic expectations. In this blog, we’ll break down the process, from filing the claim to potential trial, and highlight the key factors that influence how long a case may take, so you know what to expect at every step.

1. Initial Consultation and Case Evaluation

The first step in any personal injury case is a thorough consultation with an attorney. Contacting a lawyer early ensures your rights are protected and that key evidence is preserved while it’s fresh. During this stage, your attorney will help you gather medical records, accident reports, and witness statements, all of which are critical for building a strong case.

This is also when your legal team evaluates liability (who is at fault) and estimates potential damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. A careful, early case evaluation lays the foundation for a smoother process and helps set realistic expectations for how your claim may progress.

2. Filing the Claim

Once your attorney has evaluated your case, the next step is formally filing your personal injury claim. This involves preparing the necessary legal documents, outlining the facts of the accident, and clearly stating the damages you’re seeking. Filing officially starts the legal process and ensures your case is recognized by the court.

It’s also important to be aware of the statute of limitations, which sets the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. Missing this window can prevent you from pursuing compensation, so timely action is critical.

Before heading to court, many cases enter pre-litigation negotiations with insurance companies. During this stage, your attorney may attempt to secure a fair settlement, which can save time and avoid the stress of a trial.

3. Discovery Phase

The discovery phase is often the longest part of a personal injury case, but it’s essential for building a strong claim. During discovery, both sides exchange evidence, which can include medical records, accident reports, photographs, and witness statements. Your attorney may also request depositions, where witnesses, or even the parties involved, answer questions under oath.

Expert evaluations, such as medical or accident reconstruction reports, are often gathered during this stage to clarify the extent of injuries and liability. While this process can take several months, it ensures that your case is fully documented and supported.

A thorough discovery phase increases your chances of a fair settlement or successful trial outcome, as both sides have a clear understanding of the evidence.

4. Settlement Negotiations

After discovery, most personal injury cases enter the settlement negotiation phase. During this time, your attorney communicates with the insurance company to reach a fair resolution without going to trial. Offers and counteroffers are exchanged, often multiple times, as both sides weigh the evidence, damages, and legal risks. Your lawyer evaluates each offer carefully, ensuring it reflects medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs. While some cases settle quickly, others take weeks or months. Skilled legal representation can help maximize compensation and avoid underpayment, making this a crucial step in the process.

5. Trial (If Necessary)

If settlement negotiations don’t result in a fair agreement, your case may proceed to trial. This stage involves presenting evidence, witness testimony, and expert opinions before a judge or jury. Trial preparation can take several weeks, including finalizing legal strategies and ensuring all documentation is in order. While trials are less common, they are sometimes necessary when liability or damages are disputed. Your attorney guides you through courtroom procedures, advocates on your behalf, and works to secure the best possible outcome. Although longer and more formal than settlement, a trial can result in full and fair compensation when negotiations fall short.

Factors That Affect Timeline

The length of a personal injury lawsuit can vary widely depending on several key factors. Severity and complexity of injuries play a major role. More serious or long-term injuries often require extensive medical documentation and expert testimony. Availability of evidence and witnesses can speed up or delay the process, especially if key records or testimonies take time to obtain. Court schedules and procedural delays may also affect timing, as some courts have heavier caseloads than others. Finally, the willingness of insurance companies to negotiate can either shorten or prolong the case. Understanding these factors helps manage expectations and plan accordingly.

Choose LeBaron & Jensen for Navigating Personal Injury Lawsuits

Personal injury cases take time, but having experienced guidance makes all the difference. LeBaron & Jensen helps clients navigate every stage. Our team ensures your rights are protected and works to secure fair compensation, even for injuries that aren’t immediately obvious. Contact LeBaron & Jensen today for a consultation and let us guide you through the process with expertise and care.