Home Depot Injury Settlements

Home Depot is a huge “big-box” chain of over 2,000 stores that sell home improvement and construction materials. Almost all of us have been in a Home Depot or Lowe’s. It is a great store when it comes to price and selection for home improvement. The typical store is filled with activity. Not surprisingly, this company faces more than its fair share of lawsuits by customers injured because of the negligence of the business and its employees.

Customers can never be 100% safe in any store. But retailers have an obligation to maintain its premises in a reasonably safe condition and to warn consumers of any potential dangers or hazards.

Home Depot is the defendant in a lot of premises liability lawsuits. Is this because it is a bad company? We don’t think so. But the very nature of these big box stores is that there are a lot of employees with little experience making significant safety decisions. Most make the right decisions. But many don’t.

We recently represented a doctor in Maryland who suffered an injury at a Home Depot that damaged his career as a physician. He received a successful settlement in his case. Our take on this company is while they are certainly not going to pay on frivolous claims; it will pay reasonable value on legitimate claims that are properly presented to them if it suggests a lawsuit may be imminent if the case is not settled.

Six Main Types of Personal Injury Claims Against Home Depot

Home Depot, as one of the largest retailers in the country, has faced a range of civil claims from both customers and employees. These cases reflect the company’s ongoing responsibility to maintain a safe environment and provide reliable products, and when those responsibilities are neglected, serious consequences follow. Below are some of the six most common types of lawsuits that have been filed against Home Depot.

1. Slip and Fall Accidents

As we will talk about in moment, these are the most common lawsuits our lawyers see.  Slip and fall claims frequently occur when customers encounter unsafe conditions, such as wet floors, poorly maintained walkways, or stray merchandise in the aisles. Home Depot is expected to—obligated to—keep its stores safe. But when hazards are not promptly addressed, or are created by Home Depot employees themselves, accidents caused by Home Depot’s negligence happen.

2. Excessive Force by Security Personnel

Home Depot’s security personnel are tasked with ensuring the safety of the store, but sometimes, these interactions cross the line. Lawsuits involving excessive force often arise when security engages too aggressively with suspected shoplifters or customers, escalating situations that could have been handled with more restraint. These cases highlight how easily a routine interaction can turn into a legal battle when force is misused, leaving individuals with physical injuries and emotional distress.

3. Negligent Security

Negligent security lawsuits typically involve situations where Home Depot failed to provide adequate measures to protect its customers. Whether it’s insufficient lighting in the parking lots, lack of visible security personnel, or faulty surveillance systems, these oversights can create opportunities for criminal activity, including assaults and theft. When customers are harmed because the store’s safety precautions fell short, Home Depot can be held liable for the damages.

4. Defective Products

As a retailer, Home Depot carries the responsibility of ensuring that the products it sells are safe and free from defects. However, several defective products sold at Home Depot have led to lawsuits, many involving serious injuries:

• Defective Husky/Tri-Cam Ladders
  Ladders sold under the Husky and Tri-Cam brands have been linked to product liability lawsuits after they were found to collapse or break unexpectedly, resulting in falls that caused significant injuries.
• Defective Gorilla/Tri-Cam Ladders
  Like the Husky ladders, Gorilla ladders have also been involved in cases where customers were harmed due to structural failures, leading to lawsuits over injuries caused by these defective products.
• Defective O-Cedar Push Brooms
  Even seemingly simple products like push brooms have been the subject of litigation. Customers using O-Cedar brand push brooms have reported injuries from handles breaking during use, leading to claims that the products were poorly made and hazardous.
• One World Technologies/Ryobi Technologies/Ridgid Table Saws
  Table saws are a key tool for many home improvement projects, but when safety features on these saws fail, the consequences can be severe. Lawsuits involving Ryobi and Ridgid table saws sold at Home Depot focus on injuries such as amputations or lacerations caused by malfunctioning or inadequately designed safety mechanisms.

5. Employee Workplace Accidents

Workplace safety is another area where Home Depot has faced claims. Employees who suffer injuries on the job—whether from lifting heavy items, slipping on unsafe surfaces, or using faulty equipment—often seek compensation for their medical bills and lost wages. These cases emphasize the importance of maintaining safe working conditions and providing proper training to avoid preventable injuries.

6. Hazardous Materials and Toxic Exposure

Home Depot sells a wide variety of chemicals, paints, solvents, and other hazardous materials. Customers and employees can be exposed to these substances if they are not properly handled, stored, or labeled. Claims in this category often arise when customers or workers suffer injuries such as chemical burns, respiratory problems, or allergic reactions due to improper ventilation, spills, or mislabeling of dangerous products. These lawsuits may involve exposure to toxic substances like asbestos, cleaning chemicals, or faulty ventilation during renovations or in-store projects.

Premises Liability Lawsuits Against Home Depot

Again, the most common type of personal injury lawsuits against Home Depot are premises liability claims, sometimes referred to as slip and fall cases (although most of these cases actually don’t involve slip and falls accidents). Retail store owners like Home Depot have a legal obligation to ensure that their store is safe for customers and other invitees.

This does not mean that every time anyone happens to get injured at a Home Depot the company is liable. In order for Home Depot to be liable for an injury in one of its stores, the plaintiff must show that the injury was caused by the negligence of Home Depot and its employees. In a premises liability case, this means that the plaintiff needs to show that the injury was caused by a dangerous condition at the store (e.g., slippery floor) and that the Home Depot employees were aware of the issue but did nothing about it.

Calculating Home Depot Lawsuit Settlement Amount and Jury Payouts

When calculating injury settlements with Home Depot, the most critical factor is the strength of the case and the likelihood of success at trial. If Home Depot believes the evidence strongly supports the plaintiff’s claims—whether it’s a slip and fall, defective product, or negligent security issue—it is more inclined to negotiate a settlement. On the other hand, if Home Depot believes it can win, the company will fight aggressively in court, confident that it can avoid liability. This is why a plaintiff’s ability to demonstrate clear negligence or fault, supported by strong evidence, is the foundation of any successful settlement negotiation.

Settlement payouts are typically calculated based on various factors, including the severity of the injury, medical costs, lost wages, and the long-term impact on the plaintiff’s life. Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional, are also considered.

It always comes back to can you win and the severity of the injuries. Home Depot’s willingness to settle largely depends on whether the plaintiff can demonstrate that the company’s actions—or lack thereof—directly caused the injury. If  it is  close call, Home Depot usually takes a harder line in settlement negotiations, forcing the case toward litigation. Like a poker game, both sides assess their hands; if Home Depot sees that the plaintiff holds all the right cards, it will often prefer to settle rather than risk a loss at trial.

Finally, the dynamics of negotiation depend heavily on the plaintiff’s legal team and the overall value of the case. High-profile or large-value cases with significant injuries often lead to larger settlements to avoid negative publicity or a precedent-setting trial loss. Conversely, smaller cases may see more resistance from Home Depot if they believe the potential payout at trial is low. There are a lot of small clams against Home Depot.  That company wants to send a message to victims’ Home Depot lawyers that it will fight those claims hard.  It is a low -risk way to send a message.

So, ultimately, the strength of the case—the ability to win at trial—drives the value of Home Depot injury settlements. If Home Depot thinks it’s facing a losing battle, it will often prefer to settle to avoid a more costly defeat in court.

Example Home Depot Injury Settlements and Verdicts

Here is a summary of some Home Depot verdicts and settlements around the country. Please keep in mind this is not a representative sampling or necessarily a good indication as to the value of your or your client’s case, even if you have similar facts.

• $771,989 Verdict (Colorado 2024). The plaintiff said he was walking down an aisle of a hardware store owned and operated by defendant Home Depot USA Inc. when his leg was cut by a protruding piece of metal from a damaged product display. The plaintiff reportedly suffered an eight centimeter laceration to his left leg which resulted in peroneal nerve damage. The plaintiff contended the defendant failed to exercise reasonable care to protect against a danger on its property of which it was aware or should have been aware. The plaintiff claimed the defendant breached its duty of care to properly maintain displays throughout the store where customers were likely to walk.
• $113,057 Verdict (Illinois 2023). The plaintiff said she was in a Home Depot store when pieces of loose wood boards fell from an elevated cart and struck her right foot. According to the plaintiff, the harm took place when the plastic covering used to secure a pile of wood boards together was negligently removed by an employee of the defendant. The plaintiff claimed she suffered injuries to her right ankle. In a complaint, the plaintiff asserted the defendant was negligent in failing to inspect and secure the wooden boards before placing them in the loading cart, failing to close areas that were unsafe for patrons, and failing to warn of the hazard.
• $244,951 Verdict (Alaska 2022). Plaintiff claimed to suffer multiple finger fractures when, as she was entering a retail store operated by defendant Home Depot U.S.A. Inc., she was knocked down by a shoplifter that was allegedly being pursued by an employee of the defendant. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant had a no-chase policy against pursuing customers for shoplifting at the time of the incident and was negligent through its employee who acted unreasonably in chasing down the shoplifter.
• $66,000 Verdict (Massachusetts 2021): The plaintiff reportedly suffered a right dorsal hand laceration, which became infected, and he developed progressive symptoms. The injury occurred when he was at a Home Depot store and he caught his right thumb on a protruding, sharp edge of a security plate that was allegedly improperly affixed to the moulding of the door. The plaintiff contended Home Depot was negligent, in allowing a dangerous and defective condition on the floor.
• $20,000 Verdict (Florida 2020). The plaintiff claimed she was at Home Depot when she cut her arm, injuring her ulnar nerve and causing her to experience pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, and burning in the arm, which affected her grip and prevented her from wearing her wedding ring. Plaintiff alleged that Home Depot was negligent by allowing a display unit with a razor-sharp edge to jut out into an aisle designated for invitees.
• $4,527,799 Verdict (Oregon 2017). Plaintiff filed a lawsuit against Tricam and Home Depot. The suit alleged the rivets on a Husky brand stepladder bought at Home Depot failed without warning. The jury found Tricam/Home Depot 70% responsible for the harm that was caused. The verdict was later reduced by the trial judge to $1.9 million. Apparently, the trial judge believed the plaintiff’s lawyer did not put on sufficient evidence of the man’s future lost wages given his prior unrelated injuries.
• $101,000 Settlement (California 2017). A little girl had permanent scarring after a display cabinet fell down on top of her when she opened the cabinet doors. The case settled with $100,000 going to the girl and $1,000 going to the father for his emotional distress/bystander claim.
• $624,472.45 Verdict (California 2013). Plaintiff, a 27-year-old correctional officer, is at a California Home Depo when a palm tree for sale fell and struck her left shoulder and upper back area. She files suit alleging that Defendant failed to maintain properly the area resulting in a dangerous condition. After a year and a half of conservative therapy, surgery was recommended. Plaintiff elected to continue the conservative treatment and not undergo surgery, therefore, requiring future medical expenses. Defendant claimed that the tree merely glanced Plaintiff, and she did not fall or lose her balance. They further argued the Plaintiff’s claim that she was no longer able to work as a correctional officer. Plaintiff asked for $1.1 million including compensation for future wage loss and loss of household services. The jury awarded $624,472 – broken down to include $100,000 in future medical costs and $100,000 in future lost earning capacity.
• $425,000 Settlement (Massachusetts 2012). Plaintiff is a welder going down a ladder while on the job. While going down the ladder, one of the ladder’s top rungs detached from the side rails. Plaintiff suffers head, back, and most notably, a rotator cuff shoulder injury that requires two surgeries. He sued the ladder’s manufacturer, Tricam, and HD where the ladder was purchased.
• $809,241 Verdict (Tennessee 2012). A Ford F-150 pickup driven by an HD pickup driver came across the center line and hit the 43-year-old Plaintiff head-on. Plaintiff’s neurosurgeon diagnoses a degenerative condition at C5-6 that was aggravated by the truck accident, necessitating a fusion surgery. Plaintiff incurs $ 36,241 in medical bills. Home Depot’s settlement offer was $200,000. Plaintiff also rejected a $500,000-$150,000 high-low.
• $975,000 Verdict (New Jersey 2012). A 44-year old man is in a Home Depot parking lot and is waiting near his vehicle for a propane tank delivery. The wind dislodges a stocked cart, and it rolls down a hill, hitting the man. He has a back injury requiring a laminectomy and has a partial vertebral fracture, requiring a spinal fusion. He sues Home Depot and the owner of the cart, arguing that the owner of the car should have secured it safely, and Home Depot should have been more cautious as to how and where the carts were parked. The jury found Home Depot 80% responsible and the cart owner 20% responsible.
• $159,125 Verdict (New Jersey 2011). A 57-year-old electrical contractor is walking near the entrance of an HD and falls after slipping on a patch of ice, suffering a torn quadricep requiring surgery. The defense claims the area was inspected two hours before plaintiff’s fall and that even if the ice did form, the store did not have sufficient notice of the condition, and not under a duty to correct it.

Keep in mind these are all plaintiffs’ verdicts. Home Depot wins the vast majority of cases that go to trial. Is this because they rarely harm consumers? Is it because they have the best lawyers in the world? No and no. Home Depot looks to settle cases it might lose at trial. It is trying the cases that are slam dunk winners for them.

Getting a Lawyer to Fight Home Depot

Our law firm is handling Home Depot physical injury cases. We handle only very serious injury and wrongful death cases. If you have been injured as the result of the negligence of this company or by one of its products, call 800-553-8083 to speak to a lawyer or get a free Internet consultation.

• Sample Lawsuit Against Home Depot
• Overview of Premises Liability Claims
• Sample Slip and Fall Complaint
• Similar Defendant: Wal-Mart
• Real Information on the Value Your Home Depot Case?
• Home Depot was sued for allegedly bungling its employees’ retirement fund
• Home Depot was sued because the lumber the company sold as 4×4 inches was actually 3-1/2 by 3-1/2. The federal judge overseeing the case correctly dismissed the claim because it was ridiculous.