Convenience Store Shootings
Dangers Lurk in Convenience Stores
Lennon C. Wright knows of the dangers that lurk in convenience stores located in neighborhoods in Houston and throughout Texas. He has seen the maiming and loss of life to innocent customers and employees who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. According to a study done by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and health (NIOSH), convenience store owners, operators and workers are among the occupational groups at highest risk for workplace homicide. This has been documented in an article dating back as far back as May 1997, published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
The risk of serious injury or death to convenience store employees and customers has continued to remain high over the last 20 years or more. During the last several years, the risk of injury or death to workers or customers in convenience stores has increased even more due to the addition of gaming machines. These gambling devices attract individuals who might be carrying firearms, drinking, doing drugs and arguing. This creates a lethal toxic mix added to an already dangerous environment.
In February 2012, the Bryan-College Station Police confiscated 60 gaming machines at seven different convenience stores. The stores included Tigerland Shell, Chevron and AA Quick Stop. In January 2012, it was reported that a convenience store near downtown Houston was such a hot center for crime that the owner was required to make it safe or close it down. That store was the Tigermart Texaco, where police were called over 200 times in four months. Crimes surrounding convenience stores involve robbery, assault, drugs, shootings and prostitution.
The Texas Penal Code states that gambling machines that offer players chances to win anything of value or cash credit for more playing time are illegal. Those gaming devices that simply dispense toys, other trinkets or non-cash credits are not illegal. If you, a family member or someone you know has sustained serious bodily injuries or lost loved ones in a convenience store shooting, you have most likely had your claims denied by the insurance company for the convenience store. This is very common practice where the insurance companies rely on selective exclusions to deny your claims. Most people walk away and assume they can do nothing. The insurance company wins. They should not. Because of this fact, many attorneys may advise you that nothing can be done. This is usually not the case. These cases are extremely complex and highly technical but recovery for serious bodily injuries and wrongful death for customers can be made in convenience store shootings of customers who were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time.
If you have had your claims for serious bodily injuries or wrongful death claims for the loss of a loved one denied by convenience store insurance companies, you need to seek the advice of an experienced convenience store attorney. Lennon C. Wright has successfully handled many of these convenience store claims. Lennon is a Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney who can offer you new hope. Please contact his office for a no obligation initial consultation at 713-654-7878 or email him at lennon@lennoncwright.com.