It’s the Saturday before Christmas, and you’ve finally carved out time to shop. The store is buzzing—holiday music overhead, carts bumping down narrow aisles, displays stacked higher than usual. You grab a few gifts, round the corner, and suddenly—your foot hits a slick patch left from a melted ice drink. In seconds, you’re on the floor, surrounded not by wrapping paper and bows, but by pain and embarrassment. Scenes like this happen every holiday season. And under Texas law, stores have a duty to keep aisles safe, especially when crowds and seasonal hazards make accidents more likely.
The Legal Duty Stores Owe Shoppers
When you enter a Texas store, you’re more than just a customer—you’re an “invitee” under premises liability law. That means the retailer owes you reasonable care to keep the aisles safe. During the holidays, that duty gets heavier:
● Spills must be cleaned quickly.
● Overstocked displays can’t block walking paths.
● Seasonal staff should be trained to spot dangers.
● Extra foot traffic must be matched with extra vigilance.
Learn more about Texas premises liability cases.
Why the Holidays Make Aisles Riskier
Crowds, carts, and chaos don’t excuse negligence. In fact, holiday conditions often increase store liability:
● Overstocked shelves: Boxes in the aisles turn shopping trips into obstacle courses.
● Spills & debris: A dropped coffee or broken ornament can linger if staff are stretched too
thin.
● Poor staffing: Seasonal hires may not be trained to handle holiday hazards.
● Wet entryways: Rain or ice tracked in by shoppers creates slip hazards that should be addressed immediately.
When stores profit from holiday crowds, they’re also responsible for managing the risks those crowds bring.
Proof That Can Make Your Case
In Texas, it’s not enough to simply show you were hurt—you must prove the store failed its duty. That’s where evidence comes in:
● Surveillance video: Often the most powerful proof, but many retailers delete footage within days.
● Inspection logs: Stores are supposed to track when aisles are cleaned or checked. Gaps can show neglect.
● Incident reports: Always insist the store document your fall and request a copy.
● Witness statements: Other shoppers or employees can confirm the condition of the aisle.
Courts in Texas, including the Texas Supreme Court, have stressed that injured shoppers must show the store knew—or should have known—about the hazard.
What To Do Right Away
If you’re injured in a store this holiday season:
1. Report it immediately and ask for a written incident report.
2. Take photos of the aisle, spill, or hazard before it’s cleaned.
3. Look for cameras nearby and note where they’re placed.
4. Get names and numbers of witnesses.
5. Seek medical care quickly, even if the injury feels minor.
6. Call a premises liability lawyer before giving statements to insurers.
Final Thoughts
Holiday shopping should end with joy, not injury. But when a store ignores its duty to keep aisles safe in Texas, customers can suffer the consequences. The good news is that proof—videos, logs, and reports—can hold negligent retailers accountable.
At Wolf Law, PLLC, we know how to uncover that evidence and build strong cases for injured shoppers. If your holiday trip to the store ended in a fall, don’t let the season’s chaos bury your rights.
Contact us today for help with your Texas premises liability case.