Walmart Slip and Fall Attorneys

Why Walmart Cases Are Different

Walmart operates under a completely different claims model than other retailers, which dramatically affects how your injury case will be handled. Instead of dealing with a standard insurance company, you’re facing a self-insured corporation with specialized claims handlers trained specifically to defend Walmart’s interests.

Walmart’s Self-Insurance and CMI System

Walmart doesn’t use traditional insurance companies. Instead, they self-insure and contract with Claims Management Inc. (CMI) to handle injury claims. This creates several key differences that work against you:

• No independent insurance adjuster looking for fair settlements
• Every dollar paid comes directly from Walmart’s profits
• Claims decisions made by Walmart employees, not neutral third parties
• CMI representatives trained specifically in Walmart defense strategies
• No regulatory oversight like traditional insurance companies face

CMI is not an insurance company – they’re a specialized claims administration company paid by Walmart to protect Walmart’s interests, not yours. They have no obligation to treat you fairly or explain your rights.

The Scale and Resources Walmart Brings

As the world’s largest retailer, Walmart has virtually unlimited resources to defend claims:

• Experienced legal teams in every major market
• Relationships with defense-oriented medical experts
• Sophisticated surveillance and investigation capabilities
• Financial resources to outlast most injured customers

What this means for you: Without experienced representation, you’re essentially bringing a knife to a gunfight. Walmart counts on customers being overwhelmed by their resources and accepting inadequate settlements just to end the process.

Bottom line: Walmart slip and fall cases require specialized knowledge of their unique claims system. Standard approaches that work with other retailers will likely fail against Walmart’s sophisticated defense strategies.

Immediate Actions After Your Walmart Fall

The first 24-48 hours after your Walmart accident are absolutely critical. Walmart and CMI move fast to control evidence and limit their liability, while hazards get cleaned up and surveillance footage begins its countdown to deletion. Your immediate actions during this narrow window often determine the success or failure of your entire claim.

Document Everything Before Evidence Disappears

Time works against you at Walmart. Their maintenance crews respond quickly to hazards, and once evidence is gone, it’s nearly impossible to recreate what caused your fall.

Take photos immediately of:

• The exact location where you fell
• Any liquid, debris, or hazardous condition that caused your accident
• Your injuries (even if they seem minor)
• Your clothing and shoes
• Any warning signs present (or notably absent)
• The surrounding area and lighting conditions
• Product displays or merchandise that may have contributed

If you’re too injured to take photos yourself, ask someone to help – a family member, friend, or even a sympathetic witness.

File Incident Report Carefully

Every Walmart will want you to complete an incident report. You should file one, but be extremely careful about what you say.

DO Say	DON’T Say
“I slipped on liquid near the produce section”	“I think someone spilled something”
“There were no warning signs visible”	“I wasn’t watching where I was going”
“I am injured and need medical attention”	“I’m fine” or “It’s just a little sore”
“The floor appeared wet”	“Maybe I should have been more careful”

Critical steps:

• Stick to observable facts only
• Never admit any fault whatsoever
• Get a copy before you leave the store
• Note the manager’s name and contact information

Preserve All Critical Evidence

Create a comprehensive evidence preservation plan:

Evidence Type	Timeframe	Action Required
Surveillance footage	30–60 days before deletion	Request immediate preservation in writing
Medical documentation	Start within 24 hours	Seek treatment and document all symptoms
Witness information	Before they leave the scene	Get names, phone numbers, what they saw
Physical evidence	Before changing clothes	Preserve clothing/shoes worn during fall
Scene conditions	Before cleanup occurs	Photograph everything thoroughly

For surveillance footage specifically:

• Note the exact time your accident occurred
• Ask the manager to preserve all footage from that time period
• Get written confirmation they’ll preserve the footage
• Follow up in writing within 24 hours

Many Walmart managers will claim they “can’t” preserve footage. Don’t accept this – politely but firmly insist they contact their district manager immediately.

Seek Medical Attention for Hidden Injuries

Get medical attention within 24 hours, even if you feel “okay” initially. Walmart falls often cause delayed-onset injuries:

• Concussions from hitting displays or floors
• Soft tissue injuries in neck, back, and shoulders
• Knee and ankle damage that worsens over time
• Wrist fractures from trying to break your fall

Document everything with medical professionals who can connect your injuries directly to the Walmart accident. Gaps in medical treatment give CMI powerful ammunition to claim your injuries aren’t serious.

Understanding CMI’s Tactics

When CMI contacts you after your Walmart fall – typically within 24-72 hours – you’re facing a specialized operation designed to minimize what Walmart pays injured customers. Understanding their tactics helps you protect your rights.

How CMI Operates Differently

CMI works exclusively for Walmart with no obligation to treat you fairly. Their success is measured by how much money they save Walmart, not customer satisfaction.

CMI’s rapid response strategy:

• Contact you before you understand your rights or injury extent
• Conduct their own scene investigation to support Walmart’s position
• Interview employees to get statements favorable to Walmart
• Research your background for anything they can use against you
• Take photos that minimize the appearance of hazards

The Recorded Statement Trap

CMI will contact you quickly claiming they just want to “get your side of the story” to process your claim faster. This is a trap.

CMI representatives are trained to get you to say things that will hurt your claim through leading questions designed to make you admit fault or downplay your injuries. Once you give a recorded statement, you can’t take it back.

If CMI contacts you:

• Politely decline to give any recorded statement
• Tell them you’re seeking legal advice first
• Don’t discuss details of your accident
• Don’t accept any settlement offers
• Get their contact information for your attorney

Early Settlement Offers and Red Flags

CMI often makes quick settlement offers before you understand your case’s true value. These might seem reasonable when facing mounting medical bills, but they’re almost always inadequate.

Why early offers are problematic:

• Made before you know the full extent of your injuries
• Don’t account for future medical treatment you may need
• Include no compensation for ongoing pain and suffering
• Require you to release Walmart from all future liability

Red flags in CMI offers:

• Pressure to decide quickly (“This offer expires soon”)
• Claims this is their “best and final” offer early in the process
• Requests that you not consult with an attorney
• Settlement amounts that barely cover current medical bills

Key insight: CMI’s entire process is designed to minimize what Walmart pays you. Every tactic serves Walmart’s interests, not yours.

Proving Your Walmart Slip and Fall Case

Winning a slip and fall case against Walmart requires proving they were negligent in maintaining safe conditions and that their negligence caused your injuries. This involves understanding both the specific hazards common in Walmart stores and the legal standard for proving the company knew or should have known about dangerous conditions.

Common Hazards Specific to Walmart Stores

Walmart’s business model creates unique slip and fall risks due to high customer volume, 24-hour operations, and cost-cutting measures.

High-risk areas include:

Grocery sections:

• Produce departments with frequent water spray systems
• Spilled liquids from refrigerated cases and freezers
• Fallen items from overhead displays and customer handling
• Meat and deli areas with grease and liquid hazards

Customer service areas:

• Entrance areas with tracked-in water during weather
• Restroom areas with frequent spills and wet conditions
• Garden centers with watering and plant-related moisture

General store areas:

• Aisles blocked by restocking activities and merchandise
• Damaged or worn flooring from heavy foot traffic
• Poor lighting in certain sections
• Spills from broken products or customer accidents

The “Notice” Requirement – Proving Walmart Knew

Nevada law requires proving Walmart had “notice” of the hazard – meaning they either knew about the dangerous condition or should have known about it through reasonable inspection.

Actual notice means Walmart employees directly knew:

• Employee witnessed the spill or hazard being created
• Customers reported the dangerous condition to staff
• Employees created the hazard through their activities

Constructive notice means Walmart should have known:

• The hazard existed long enough that regular inspections would have found it
• Similar incidents occurred in the same location previously
• The condition was obvious and in a high-traffic area

Evidence that establishes notice:

• Surveillance footage showing how long hazards existed
• Employee statements about knowledge of the condition
• Walmart’s own inspection logs and cleaning schedules
• Previous incident reports from the same location

Using Walmart’s Own Policies Against Them

Walmart’s corporate safety policies can be your strongest evidence. When the company fails to follow its own established procedures, it demonstrates negligence clearly.

Key policies that matter:

• Regular floor inspections and cleaning schedules
• Immediate response to spills and hazards
• Proper placement of warning signs during cleaning
• Adequate lighting throughout all store areas
• Safe merchandise display and restocking procedures

Key point: Walmart’s own safety manuals often contain stronger safety requirements than state law requires. When they fail to meet their own standards, it’s powerful evidence of negligence.