If you are hurt in a shopping mall, you should not automatically assume that the mall owner should compensate for your damages. This is because there are many potential liable parties in a shopping mall injury case; it all depends on the exact cause of your injury. Here are four parties most likely to be liable for your shopping mall injury.

1. The Shopping Mall Owner

In most cases, one party builds a shopping mall and then leases out the rooms or spaces to others. The actual owner of the mall retains control over some areas of the mall, such as the parking lot, entryways, elevators, and structural areas such as flooring and roofing. Therefore, if your injury is caused by something that is under the control of the building owner, then this is the person or party who should face your injury claim. For example, if you slip and fall on a wet patch of the floor caused by a leaking roof, the mall owner is likely to be liable for your injuries.

2. A Store Owner

Just like shopping mall owners, individual merchants are responsible for ensuring visitors to their stores are safe for the duration of their store. Therefore, the store owner is the person to whom you should send your demand letter if you are hurt by something under their control. For example, if you hurt by a falling object, say a stack of boxes, you should be able to get your compensation from the store owner.

3. A Shopping Mall Visitor

In some cases, you may also be hurt by a visitor to the mall just like you. For example, a fellow shopper may assault you in the parking lot, a delivery truck may knock you over, or a negligent shopper may knock you over with their shopping cart. In such a case, you should make your claim against the negligent shopper since they are the one responsible for your injuries.

4. Product Manufacturers

Lastly, you may also have a valid claim from product manufacturers if your injuries are caused by a defective product. For example, if a defective escalator hurls you to the ground at the end of its run by unexpectedly speeding up, you may have a claim against the escalator's manufacturer if you can trace the malfunction to them.

You need to identify the right liable party to succeed with your claim. A personal injury lawyer can help you with the identification. For more information, check out a website like http://www.gdamianilaw.com.