By Anthony I. Shin, Esq. | Personal Injury Attorney | Shin Law Office
Burke shopping plazas and grocery stores serve thousands of residents every week.
These commercial areas rely on constant foot traffic, frequent restocking, and regular outdoor deliveries.
When walkways are uneven, mats are loose, or maintenance is ignored, shoppers can trip without warning.
A sudden trip and fall can cause a concussion that disrupts daily life, affects cognitive function, and creates long-term medical challenges.
I represent individuals who suffered concussions after tripping in Burke shopping areas, and I understand the conditions that lead to these dangerous incidents.
Why Trip Hazards in Burke Shopping Plazas Cause Concussions
Burke’s commercial centers include large grocery stores, retail chains, small shops, restaurants, and outdoor plazas. These areas contain risk factors that store owners and managers must monitor constantly. Uneven flooring inside stores can catch a shopper’s foot. Loose mats near entrances can slide unexpectedly. Outdoor walkways can shift or crack over time. Poor lighting or neglected maintenance can make hazards nearly invisible.
A trip does not need to be dramatic to cause a serious injury. When a person falls forward or backward and the head hits the ground or a fixture, the brain can violently move inside the skull. This sudden movement can cause a concussion even if there is no visible injury to the head.
How These Concussions Happen in Burke Shopping Areas
I have handled cases involving:
• Uneven tile or lifted flooring in grocery aisles
• Loose mats sliding under a shopper’s foot during entry or exit
• Buckled carpeting or raised edges near checkout lanes
• Cracked concrete on outdoor walkways
• Parking lot tripping hazards at night due to poor lighting
• Unmarked elevation changes or curb edges
• Debris and clutter left in customer pathways
Trip hazards often go unnoticed by shoppers who are pushing carts, carrying groceries, or walking with children. A single hidden defect can send someone to the floor with enough force to cause a mild or severe concussion.
Where Concussions Commonly Occur in Burke
Common injury locations in Burke include:
• Grocery store entrances where moisture collects on mats
• Produce sections where heavy foot traffic loosens flooring
• Checkout lanes with loose floor edges
• Outdoor sidewalks connecting multiple stores
• Parking lots with uneven pavement or potholes
• Delivery zones where curbs and ramps are damaged
• Interior aisle transitions between tile, carpet, or laminate
Burke shopping centers near Burke Centre Parkway, Old Keene Mill Road, and the various Burke Commons retail areas often experience high foot traffic, which increases the need for vigilant maintenance.
Recognizing Concussion Symptoms After a Trip and Fall
A concussion does not always produce immediate symptoms. Many clients feel embarrassed or shaken and try to continue shopping. Hours later, they develop:
• Headache
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Difficulty focusing
• Blurred vision
• Memory problems
• Sensitivity to sound or light
• Irritability or emotional changes
These signs indicate that the brain was injured during the fall and requires medical evaluation. Left untreated, concussion symptoms can worsen or become long lasting.
How I Investigate Trip Hazards in Burke Shopping Plazas
Investigating these cases quickly is essential. I request surveillance footage from stores and plaza managers before it is deleted. I review maintenance logs, prior complaints, cleaning reports, and incident documentation. Photos of the hazard help reveal whether the problem existed long enough that store staff should have addressed it.
I also work with neurologists and concussion specialists who evaluate the severity of your injury and provide clear documentation of how it affects your daily life and ability to work.
Who May Be Responsible for the Injury
Responsibility may fall on:
• The individual store where the trip occurred
• The property management company responsible for the plaza
• A contracted maintenance or cleaning company
• Staff members who failed to correct hazards or warn customers
I determine who had control over the location and whether they acted reasonably to keep visitors safe.
Compensation for Concussions from Burke Shopping Area Falls
Concussions can cause lasting difficulties that interfere with work, responsibilities, and quality of life. I pursue compensation for:
• Medical care and neurologic evaluations
• Imaging studies
• Therapy and rehabilitation
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning ability
• Pain and suffering
• Cognitive and emotional difficulties
• Long term medical needs
Severe concussions may require extended treatment or workplace accommodations.
What You Should Do After a Trip and Fall in Burke
Seek medical attention immediately. Report the incident to store staff or plaza management. Request an incident report. If possible, photograph the hazard and gather the names of witnesses. Do not give detailed statements to insurance companies until you speak with me.
My Commitment to Injured Clients in Burke
Burke shopping plazas must maintain safe indoor and outdoor walkways for everyone who visits.
When negligence allows hazards to remain, shoppers can suffer serious concussions that disrupt their lives.
If you were injured in a Burke store or shopping plaza, I will investigate the conditions, preserve the evidence, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call 571-445-6565 or book a consultation online today.
— Anthony I. Shin, Esq.
Principal Attorney | Shin Law Office
