A trip to Costco shouldn’t end on a backboard. But it does happen. There is one slick spot on the polished concrete. A heavy box fell off a pallet. A cart hit the back of your ankle. A driver speeding through the parking lot. All of a sudden, you’re on the floor with pain, confusion, and a store manager writing an incident report. A Costco injury attorney is very important when a warehouse store doesn’t follow safety rules. There are risk managers, corporate lawyers, and insurance adjusters at Costco who work to keep the company safe. Without legal help, an injured shopper doesn’t often get that kind of help.
Do you really have a case against Costco?
It’s not enough to just get hurt inside Costco or in its parking lot. Texas premises liability law cares about more than just where something happens. To make a claim work, there needs to be proof that
- There was a dangerous situation on Costco’s property.
- The situation put shoppers at an unfairly high risk.
- Costco knew about it or should have known about it if they had done reasonable inspections.
- The danger wasn’t fixed or properly warned about.
- That failure led to your injuries and money losses.
Think about two different cases.
For the last half hour, it has been raining. There are no rugs by the door. No cones. People walk on water, the tile turns into a skating rink, and you can slide right under the awning. Most of the time, you can see that kind of thing coming. Costco should expect floors to be slippery and do some simple things.
Now think about how that compares to a drink that another customer spilled just before you stepped on it. Staff doesn’t have time to see it. No chance to clean it. It’s much harder to blame Costco for that kind of thing.
A good Costco injury attorney looks into things like:
- How long the danger was there
- If staff passed by it
- What cleaning and inspection schedules were in place
- If similar complaints have happened before
Not just where the fall or impact happened, but also how strong the case is.
How Shoppers Usually Get Hurt at Costco
Costco stores all have the same basic layout: high shelves, concrete floors, lots of products, and quick turnover. That setup makes hazards happen over and over.
People falling inside the store
It might seem like falls are not a big deal. Not on bare concrete, though. Common reasons for problems at Costco include:
- Spills from drinks, food samples, or things that leak
- Water that comes in during storms and pools near doors
- Recently mopped areas that don’t have clear warning signs
- Entrance mats that are torn or bunched up
- Changes that happen quickly between the edges or surfaces of mats
These falls often cause broken wrists, ankles, shoulders, and knees, as well as back injuries and concussions. A lot of people feel ashamed, stand up, say “it’s fine,” and then wake up the next day barely able to move.
Unsafe displays and merchandise that falls
Pallets, stacked boxes, and tall displays are all examples of bulk retail. When those are too full, set up on broken pallets, or not properly secured, shoppers are in a dangerous area without knowing it.
One well-known case involved a shopper who sued for millions of dollars after a display cabinet fell on her and caused a serious brain injury. The same idea for warehouses in different states: tall, heavy displays right where customers stand.
Things that fall can cause:
- Brain injuries that are traumatic
- Broken bones in the face and teeth
- Injuries to the neck and upper back
- Shoulder and arm injuries from trying to block the hit
How the display was built, who took care of it, and whether Costco followed its own rules are often the main issues in these cases.
Injuries to kids and shopping carts
Costco carts are big and heavy, especially when they are full of electronics, cases of water, and bulk food. In crowded aisles, they turn into weapons.
Normal situations:
- Carts hitting ankles or Achilles tendons hard
- Kids standing or climbing in carts and falling out of them
- Carts tipping over when kids sit on the sides or front
- Piles of people near the exits and registers
The number of kids who end up in the ER each year is shown by national shopping cart accident statistics in the US. A big-box warehouse makes that risk even worse.
Accidents and trip hazards in the Costco parking lot
The danger doesn’t stop at the doors of the warehouse. Parking lots are always full. Drivers cut across rows, back out without looking in their blind spots, and speed toward open spots.
Serious accidents in Costco parking lots often involve:
- People who are hit by cars that are backing up
- Car crashes at low speeds that still knock someone down
- Trips over broken sidewalks, wheel stops, or carts that aren’t tied down
- Bad lighting that makes dangers hard to see at night
Costco, the property owner, or both may be responsible for the parking lot, depending on who is in charge of safety and maintenance.
What to Do Right After You Get Hurt at Costco
The time right after a fall, hit, or crash is very hectic. All at once, pain, shame, and confusion hit. Important proof goes away quickly. Here is what can help make a future claim stronger:
- Get medical help right away Go to the emergency room, urgent care, or your doctor. Pain that “doesn’t seem that bad” often gets worse later. Early records link the injury to the event.
- Tell a manager about the event. Ask to talk to a manager and demand a written report of the incident. Get the names of any staff who were involved in the response.
What Evidence Matters Most After a Warehouse Accident
- Take pictures of everything Take a picture of the danger, the area around it, the floor condition, the lighting, the warning signs (or lack thereof), and your visible injuries with your phone. Get both close-ups and wide shots.
- Get information from witnesses If anyone saw what happened, get their names and phone numbers. Witnesses help prove how long a danger was there and what staff were doing.
- Keep your shoes and clothes Don’t wash or throw away what you wore. Clothes and shoes can show what you stepped on or how you fell.
- Be careful when talking about Costco and insurance Just give the basics. Don’t give long explanations, make guesses, or write down what you say. Adjusters are taught how to keep the store safe, not you.
- Don’t talk about the accident on social media. You can use pictures and casual comments out of context later.
- Get in touch with a Costco injury attorney soon. Warehouse video systems record over old videos. Sweep logs get updated. Displays change. Quick legal action can keep important evidence safe before it disappears.
Costco and its insurance company have a head start if you skip these steps. That advantage often comes back as a lowball offer or a flat-out denial.
Getting paid after getting hurt at Costco in Texas
A bad injury at Costco affects more than just the body. It affects paychecks, family life, and plans for the future. A Texas Costco claim can ask for money for:
Costs of medical care and treatment
- Bills for the ambulance, ER, and hospital
- Follow-up visits with doctors and other experts
- Surgery, shots, and physical therapy
- Medicines and medical devices that are prescribed
- Medical needs in the future related to the injury
Losses related to income
- Lost pay while not working
- Lost overtime, bonuses, or tips
- Less money you can make if the injury keeps you from working in the future
Other money losses
- Costs of traveling for medical care
- Help with daily tasks, cleaning, or taking care of kids
- Changes to your home or car for serious injuries
Damages that don’t cost money
- Pain in the body and ongoing discomfort
- Stress, anxiety, or depression that hurts your feelings
- Loss of interest in hobbies and everyday activities
- Scarring, disfigurement, or long-lasting restrictions
- Stress on close relationships
Insurance companies often act like the only way to measure pain and trouble is by looking at medical bills. That way of thinking is wrong. A good Costco injury attorney paints a full picture of how life changed.
Texas Deadlines and Rules for Shared Fault
There are strict time limits in Texas law. In most cases of injury at Costco, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you wait too long, the court can throw out the case, even if it looks like Costco was clearly at fault.
Texas also has a rule about modified comparative negligence. If the shopper who got hurt is found to be more than 50% at fault, they can’t get anything back. If the amount is 50% or less, the payment goes down by that same amount.
Costco’s insurance companies really push this. Some common arguments are:
- The risk was “open and obvious.”
- The shopper either moved too quickly or didn’t look at the floor.
- Shoes were not safe
- “Close enough” warning signs
You can always count on those blame-shifting tricks. A good Costco injury attorney knows what to look for and builds the case with video, logs, and witness statements that show where the blame really lies.
How a Costco Injury Attorney Makes Your Case Stronger
Cases of injuries in warehouses are not just fall claims. They include layers of corporate policy, safety manuals, training, and aggressive defense plans. A skilled Costco injury attorney works to:
- Send letters to keep video and safety records safe.
- Keep incident reports, sweep logs, and maintenance records safe.
- Look at Costco’s written rules and see how they compare to what really happened on the floor.
- Work with doctors and other experts to explain injuries in simple terms.
- Figure out how much you will lose now and in the future.
- Talk to insurance companies that are willing to do anything to protect Costco’s bottom line.
- When settlement offers are unfair, go to court.
One thing is clear: going up against a national retailer and its insurance company on your own almost never ends well for the injured shopper.
Why people hurt at Costco go to Joe I. Zaid & Associates
A lot of people who get hurt at big-box stores in the Houston area turn to Joe I. Zaid & Associates for help with premises liability and other serious injury cases. This law office mostly works on personal injury cases, including cases against big retail chains.
Joe Zaid is a personal injury lawyer with a lot of experience. He runs Joe I. Zaid & Associates and puts his clients first. Since 2013, Joe has helped thousands of people with personal injury and wrongful death cases and has won millions of dollars in settlements, including many seven-figure settlements for individual clients. There are cases that involve “minor” collisions and injuries that change people’s lives, like brain trauma, spinal cord damage, and broken bones.
H-Texas Magazine has named Joe one of Houston’s Top Lawyers, and he has also been named a Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyer. Being a member of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association keeps strategies sharp and up to date with Texas law.
Contact information is still easy to find and understand:
The office of Joe I. Zaid & Associates is at 4701 Preston Ave, Pasadena, TX 77505. Their phone number is (346) 756‑9243. https://joezaid.com
This office will only charge you if they win your case against Costco or another warehouse. You only have to pay legal fees if there is a settlement or a verdict.
Injured at a Houston Costco? Speak with a Costco Injury Attorney
A Costco injury can change everything in a single afternoon. Bills for medical care keep coming in. Taking time off work means less money. Pain makes even the simplest tasks hard. In the meantime, Costco’s insurance team quietly works to keep the company’s money safe.
If a dangerous situation at a Costco in the Houston area led to serious injuries, don’t wait for things to “sort themselves out.” Proof fades. Deadlines are coming up.
Call Joe I. Zaid & Associates for a free case review if you need a Costco injury attorney. Get a clear picture of your options, the strength of your case, and what compensation you might be able to get.
A single injury that could have been avoided at a warehouse store shouldn’t control the rest of your life.
