Injured In A Target Store In Missouri? Here’s What You Need To Know

Sansone & Lauber | September 30, 2025 | Premise Liability Articles

Shopping at Target is something most Missourians do on a weekly—or even daily—basis. Whether it’s picking up groceries, clothes, household essentials, or children’s items, you expect the store to be clean, safe, and hazard-free.

Unfortunately, serious accidents happen inside Missouri Target locations far more often than most people realize.

From slip and fall accidents on wet floors to falling merchandise, parking lot hazards, and unsafe store conditions, these incidents can leave victims with devastating injuries, mounting medical bills, and lost wages.

If you or a loved one was injured in a Target store in Missouri, you need to know your rights, legal options, and how to protect your claim for maximum compensation.

At Sansone & Lauber, our St. Louis-based personal injury attorneys have decades of experience holding big corporations—including national retail chains like Target—accountable when their negligence causes harm.

This in-depth guide will walk you through everything you need to know:

Common accidents in Missouri Target stores
Who may be held liable for your injuries
Steps to take immediately after the incident
How much your case could be worth
How our aggressive Missouri Target injury lawyers fight—and win—against retail giants

Why Target Store Injuries Are So Common

Target is one of the largest retailers in the U.S., with dozens of locations across Missouri including St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield, and smaller communities statewide. Each store serves thousands of customers per week, which makes it critical for employees to follow strict safety policies.

Yet many accidents happen because:

Spills aren’t cleaned up quickly enough
Aisles are cluttered with merchandise, carts, or stocking equipment
Parking lots are poorly maintained
Store shelving is overloaded or unstable
Warning signs aren’t posted after mopping
Security staff fails to address dangerous behavior or conditions

Big-box retailers like Target often put profits before safety—cutting staff hours, rushing stocking processes, and ignoring hazards. The result? Dangerous conditions that can cause life-altering injuries.

Common Types of Target Store Accidents in Missouri

1. Slip and Fall Accidents

The most common Target injury claims arise from slip and falls. These accidents can happen anywhere inside the store:

Liquid spills in the grocery section
Water tracked in from rain or snow near entrances
Leaking refrigeration units
Freshly mopped floors without warning signs

Slip-and-falls can cause broken bones, concussions, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)—especially in older adults.

2. Trip and Fall Accidents

Uneven flooring, loose rugs, misplaced boxes, or protruding displays can create trip hazards. Target employees must ensure aisles remain clear and walkways are safe.

3. Falling Merchandise

Target stores often stock shelves high to maximize space. Poorly secured or overstocked items can fall on unsuspecting shoppers, causing head injuries, neck injuries, and lacerations.

4. Shopping Cart and Equipment Accidents

Defective shopping carts, pallet jacks, or stocking equipment can cause crush injuries, fractures, or cuts if misused or poorly maintained.

5. Parking Lot Injuries

Target is responsible not just for the inside of the store but also for its parking lot. Slip-and-falls on icy pavement, uneven sidewalks, or even car accidents caused by poor traffic flow design may create liability.

6. Negligent Security

If you’re assaulted, robbed, or otherwise harmed in a Missouri Target parking lot due to insufficient lighting or lack of security, you may also have a valid premises liability claim.

Missouri Law on Target Store Injury Claims

In Missouri, stores like Target are considered “invitee premises”—meaning they invite the public in to shop. Under Missouri premises liability law, property owners and managers must:

Maintain safe conditions for shoppers
Inspect regularly for hazards
Fix dangerous conditions promptly
Warn customers of risks they can’t immediately correct

If Target fails in these duties, they can be held legally responsible for your injuries.

Importantly, Missouri follows a pure comparative fault system (RSMo § 537.765). This means:

Even if you are partially at fault (e.g., looking at your phone when you slipped), you can still recover damages.
Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.

Steps to Take Immediately After Being Injured in a Missouri Target Store

If you’re injured, what you do immediately after the accident can make or break your claim:

Report the Incident
Notify a Target manager right away. Demand that they create a written incident report and request a copy.
Document the Scene
Take photos and videos of the hazard (spill, broken shelf, icy sidewalk, etc.). Capture the store layout and lack of warning signs.
Collect Witness Information
Get names and contact info from anyone who saw what happened.
Seek Medical Care Immediately
Even if you think your injuries are minor, visit a doctor or ER. Medical records are critical evidence.
Do NOT Sign Anything
Target’s insurance company may try to get you to sign a release or accept a low settlement. Don’t agree without speaking to a lawyer.
Call a Missouri Target Injury Lawyer
The sooner you hire a skilled attorney, the stronger your case will be.

Who Is Liable for a Target Store Injury in Missouri?

Multiple parties may be responsible:

Target Corporation – for failing to maintain safe premises
Store Managers/Employees – for negligence in addressing hazards
Third-Party Vendors – if an outside cleaning crew or stocker created the danger

At Sansone & Lauber, we investigate every angle to hold the right parties accountable.

What Damages Can You Recover?

Victims injured in Target stores across Missouri may be entitled to compensation for:

Medical expenses (ER visits, surgeries, rehab, medication)
Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Permanent disability or disfigurement
Loss of enjoyment of life

In wrongful death cases, families may also recover funeral expenses and loss of companionship.

How Much Is a Target Store Injury Case Worth?

Every case is unique, but settlements and verdicts often reach tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars—and sometimes more. Factors influencing case value include:

Severity of injuries
Permanency of damage
Amount of medical bills
Whether you can return to work
Clear proof of Target’s negligence

Why Target and Other Big Retailers Fight Claims Aggressively

Target is a multibillion-dollar corporation with teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters working around the clock to minimize payouts. Their strategy often includes:

Denying liability (“We had no notice of the hazard”)
Blaming the victim (“You weren’t watching where you were going”)
Offering lowball settlements early to avoid lawsuits

Without an aggressive Missouri injury lawyer, victims are often pressured into taking far less than they deserve.

How Sansone & Lauber Fight for Target Injury Victims

At Sansone & Lauber, we don’t back down from retail giants. Here’s how we fight for clients:

Immediate investigation: We send preservation letters to secure surveillance footage before Target can erase it.
Expert witnesses: We bring in safety experts, medical professionals, and economists to prove liability and damages.
Aggressive negotiation: We push Target’s insurers to pay what’s fair—or we take them to trial.
Proven results: Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients across Missouri.

We know the tactics corporations use, and we beat them at their own game. Injured in a target store in Missouri? Call us now!

Real Examples of Retail Store Injury Cases

While confidentiality often prevents disclosing exact settlements, cases like these are common:

A shopper slips on a spilled drink in the Target food court, suffering a herniated disc requiring surgery → settlement in the six figures.
A child struck by falling merchandise from a high shelf → significant payout for medical costs and pain.
A senior slips on ice in an unshoveled Target parking lot → compensation for broken hip and long-term rehab.

These examples show why you should never assume your case is “too small” to pursue.

Target Store Locations in Missouri Where Accidents Commonly Occur

Accidents can happen at any Target, including locations in:

St. Louis (multiple stores throughout the metro area)
Kansas City
Columbia
Springfield
Chesterfield
Jefferson City
Cape Girardeau

Wherever your injury occurred, our attorneys are ready to step in.

FAQs About Missouri Target Injury Claims

1. How long do I have to file a claim?
Missouri’s statute of limitations gives you five years from the date of injury (RSMo § 516.120). For wrongful death, it’s three years.

2. What if I didn’t report my injury right away?
You can still file a claim, but Target will try to use the delay against you. The sooner you act, the stronger your case.

3. Do I need a lawyer?
Yes. Target’s insurance company is not on your side. A lawyer ensures you aren’t underpaid or ignored.

4. What does it cost to hire Sansone & Lauber?
We work on a contingency fee basis—meaning you pay nothing unless we win.

Why Choose Sansone & Lauber?

Local Missouri firm with a track record of success
Aggressive trial lawyers who don’t settle cheap
Personalized attention—we treat you like family, not a case number
Proven results against big corporations and insurers

Call Sansone & Lauber Today

If you or a loved one have been injured in a Target store in Missouri, don’t wait. The corporation already has lawyers working against you—make sure you have powerful advocates on your side.

📞 Call Sansone & Lauber today for a free consultation at 314-863-0500.

We’ll review your case, explain your rights, and fight relentlessly to secure the compensation you deserve.