Black Friday should be a day for enjoying some shopping and getting cheap deals, but Black Friday crime is actually very common, and it can have a negative impact on the event. In some cases, you might even experience Black Friday violence as the excitement of the day bubbles over and becomes an issue. Disagreements can easily turn into crazy Black Friday fights and this means that people need to take some precautions and avoid things turning into a nightmare.
If you have been the victim of Black Friday violence then you might get hurt, and that might mean a legal proceeding to follow. Even if you find the best criminal lawyers in Los Angeles, the process is something you would probably rather avoid.
Common Types of Black Friday Crimes
There are some incredible statistics about Black Friday crimes, including how many people died on Black Friday as things get out of hand in some places. What sort of crimes do we commonly see?
Negligence
When you go to the store, it is their responsibility to give you a safe space to shop within. Black Friday crime comes in a lot of different forms and one of them is negligence on the part of stores. If they have not stacked things properly and something falls on you, or if they have left a slippery or hazardous surface and you fall there is every chance that you might have a legal case against them.
Black Friday Violence
You might have seen some crazy Black Friday fights on social media as people reach for the last of the discounted items or jump the line for a store. If people are aggressive, loud, and angry then there could be a cause for disturbing the peace, but if things get physical then you will need a violent crimes lawyer to fight your case. There is no reason why you should get hurt when Black Friday shopping.
This is a common cause of Black Friday arrests, so be sure to be careful when you go to the store.
Traffic and Driving Violations
If there is a parking lot on Black Friday, things can get crazy, and accidents are not uncommon as people scramble to get to the store or ride home with their goods.
What Should You Do When Witnessing a Crime?
If you are not involved, but you witness a crime on Black Friday, there are a few things you can do to try and help:
- Call the police or get security. Don’t try and get involved yourself, this will not end well, and there is no reason for you to be involved. Instead, get a professional to come and deal with the confrontation. It’s especially urgent if medical attention is needed.
- Don’t panic. This is hard advice to follow for some people, but it is utterly essential. Keep your cool and try not to make matters worse by panicking, as you are more likely to make bad decisions if you are not in the right frame of mind.
- Try to remember faces and keep a clear account of what happened. You might be asked to provide a statement so having a recollection of what happened is pretty essential.
- Keep yourself safe. If someone has been hurt, don’t risk the same happening to you. If there is a big confrontation then there is no reason why you need to be involved and if you are with your family, ensure that you get them out of the way of any potential harm.
How Many People Died on Black Friday
It is a shocking statistic. There are 12 recorded deaths from Black Friday crimes and related incidents in the US since the shopping event became mainstream, and there are also over 100 injuries recorded. If you are injured, a lawyer is essential to ensure that you get what you are entitled to and that you don’t have to pay for your own treatments unfairly.
For most of us, it is hard to imagine Black Friday causing people to get violent enough to actually put someone at any sort of harm, but it happens. People can get enraged, and it doesn’t take too much for a “mob mentality” to kick in.