Shopping carts, a supermarket staple, are designed to make shopping with young children more accessible and safer. However, they can unexpectedly become one of the leading causes of injury among young children in stores.

Many parents rely on shopping carts to keep their children contained and entertained, preventing them from wandering off or reaching for unsafe items. Despite their intended safety and convenience, shopping carts pose significant risks if not used correctly, leading to accidents that can cause serious injuries. This guide aims to inform and empower parents with essential safety tips to protect their little ones during shopping trips, ensuring a safer experience for all.

The Risks of Shopping Carts: Understanding Potential Dangers for Children

While designed for convenience, shopping carts can pose several risks to adults and children. These risks stem from factors such as faulty wheels, structural failures, and poor maintenance of the carts and store facilities. Common hazards like spills and heavy foot traffic can further increase the likelihood of accidents. Additionally, the risk of injuries from these incidents can escalate for adults, particularly for older individuals, due to factors such as decreased mobility and frailty, making them more susceptible to falls and other mishaps in in-store environments.

How Common Are Shopping Cart Accidents in the United States?

Shopping cart-related accidents result in approximately 24,000 children being treated in emergency rooms across the United States annually. These incidents predominantly occur when children fall from carts, collide with objects or other carts, or when the carts tip over, potentially trapping a child. Notably, the most commonly reported injuries affect the head and neck, accounting for 78% of all cases, with concussions and internal injuries being particularly prevalent among infants and toddlers.

Given these statistics, parents and guardians must remain vigilant and use shopping cart safety features such as straps to secure children properly.

Common Types of Injuries from Shopping Cart Accidents

Shopping cart accidents can lead to various injuries, which include but are not limited to:

• Fall – The child fell from the cart when no other “hazard” was involved. This includes the child falling out of the cart when standing up or falling while trying to climb out of the cart.
• Collision – These accidents involved the collision of more than one shopping cart; it also included shopping carts running into or over a child.
• Tip over – The shopping cart tipped over with the child inside.
• Contact – This was used to describe accidents where the child had general contact with the cart, such as receiving cuts from a cart or bumping into it.
• Incidental – This description was used when the child was injured near a cart, but the accident did not directly involve the cart; i.e. the child fell while walking and hit a cart.
• Entrapment – The child got a finger or limb caught in some part of the shopping cart, including its wheels.

Preventing Shopping Cart Injuries: Effective Safety Measures

 

Shopping cart injuries are most prevalent among children under the age of five, with the most common injuries being broken bones, internal damage, and concussions. To minimize these risks, consider alternatives to placing your child in a shopping cart. Supervised play areas in stores, having another adult oversee your child, or opting for a stroller or wagon are safer options.

Despite these alternatives, if you need to use a shopping cart, it’s critical to take every precaution to ensure your child’s safety:

• Never leave your child unattended in a cart, not even for a moment.
• Avoid using carriers on top of the cart that are not specifically designed for it, as they do not prevent children from falling out.
• Always use safety straps and restraints provided with the cart to secure your child.
• Prevent your child from standing in the cart to avoid falls.
• Do not let your child ride in the basket or hang on the outside of the cart.
• Ensure only adults push the cart to maintain control and prevent accidents.

How Do Injuries Happen While Using a Shopping Cart?

The mechanisms of injury in shopping cart accidents are varied, but certain conditions increase the risk:

• Uneven or slippery surfaces like wavy carpets or wet floors can cause slips.
• Poorly maintained equipment, such as shopping carts with faulty wheels or weak structures, increases the risk of accidents.
• Low lighting in store aisles or parking areas can lead to poor visibility and mishaps.
• Obstructions and poorly placed items can cause trips or items to fall from shelves, striking a child.
• Irregular pavement in parking lots or sidewalks can lead to cart tip-overs or sudden stops that eject a child.

By understanding these risks and adhering to recommended safety measures, parents and guardians can significantly reduce the likelihood of shopping cart-related injuries. Always remain vigilant and proactive about your child’s safety in environments where shopping carts are used.

What to Do If Your Child Is Injured in a Shopping Cart Accident?

 

If your child is injured in a shopping cart accident, prompt and thorough action is crucial to ensure their well-being and to protect your legal rights:

• To document the area where you fell, contact the management and take photos or video.
• Do not allow the area to be cleaned until you have documented it. Film it, photograph it, or have an independent witness observe it.
• Ensure that the shop manager completes and gives you a copy of the incident report.
• Seek medical attention if necessary.
• When you collapse, look for independent witnesses—the more the better.
• Ask the manager to save all security videos and file a request for the incident report.
• Hire an attorney as soon as possible.

Contact our Nevada Personal Injury Attorneys Right Away!

While shopping carts are a useful tool for parents, they can pose serious risks to small children if not handled correctly.

Our Nevada Personal Injury Attorneys understand the difficulties you may be experiencing if you or a loved one were injured while shopping. We offer the resources and knowledge of a major law firm combined with the individualized attention and high level of communication that come with a small practice.

At Moss Berg Injury Attorneys, we can provide the ideal combination of expertise, knowledge, empathy, dedication, and perseverance to help you and your family achieve the best possible conclusion. Contact us today for a free consultation.