Gas Station and Convenience Store Injury Lawyers

Gas station attendants and many convenience store workers in New Jersey perform an essential function: making sure that drivers can stay on the road. As of March 2022, New Jersey law dictates that fuel station employees are required to pump consumers’ gas. Without their services, our tanks would be empty. Unfortunately, gas stations and convenience stores are prime targets for crime. How difficult is it to work as a gas station attendant and/or store clerk?

According to statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), convenience stores accounted for about 3% of all violent crimes in 2020, at 20,108. Gas stations accounted for about 2%, at 11,795. C-stores were the fourth most common location for violent crime, while gas stations came in at seventh.[1]

If you have sustained injury as a gas station attendant or convenience store worker, you will want to contact an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer. You may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.

There are a variety of crimes that are commonly reported in the news regarding gas stations and convenience stores:

Types of Crime at Gas Stations and Convenience Stores

Homicide

The internet is ripe with videos and stories about homicides at gas stations, due to a common reason such as shooting.

Robbery

  • Shoplifters target gas stations because they are easy targets, and many provide accessible ways for escape.
  • Gasoline drive-offs, or not paying for gasoline, become a more lucrative crime as the price of gasoline rises. Thousands of dollars can be stolen in a matter of moments. One family-owned gas station in Texas cumulatively lost over 1,000 gallons of diesel over the course of several days. The owner of the business thought the thieves used a “trap door” inside their vehicle to pump to open his station’s gas tank with a hose. This assertion was made because after checking footage, the robbers did not get out of their vehicle.[2]

Aggravated Assault

Gas station attendants run the risk of assault and battery by simply interacting with unruly members of the public. Harmful contact is more likely to be inflicted if a store worker attempts to stop a robbery.

Arson

Arson is not uncommon at gas stations. At a Battle Creek, Michigan gas station last week, a man intentionally set his car on fire. Another example is a 17-year-old teenager setting fire to a Casey’s general store earlier this month, prompting the owner to permanently close the gas station.

Burglary

Burglaries may involve unhinged individuals, such as a driver ramming his vehicle into a business. Sometimes the store itself will suffer property damage in the event of a burglary.

Larceny

Larceny occurs when a person commits a crime without entering a structure, or “breaking in.” It may involve:

  • Gasoline drive-offs
  • Carjacking
  • Pickpocketing
  • Theft of motor vehicle parts
  • Purse-snatching

Motor Vehicle Theft

Carjackings occur at gas stations because vehicles are idle. Car owners’ vehicles are not always locked, and they may be outside of their vehicle.

Besides Crime

Employees at gas stations and convenience stores must deal with the possibility of irate individuals. Exercising patience is not always enough. As such, dealing with members of the public who may have underlying issues is a cause for concern for many workers. Certain individuals may brandish a weapon to get what they want. Likewise, many convenience store workers hide a weapon, such as a gun or knife, near the cash register to deter a potential victim.

Besides crime, there are other ways a worker can get injured:

Slip and Falls

  • Gas spills are not uncommon at gas stations for reasons such as leaving the pump unattended.
  • Customers may leave debris in aisles.
  • Customers may spill food and drink in the aisles, leaving an unaware employee to trip.
  • Water and soap may be left on the bathroom floor as customers are in a hurry.
  • A gas station may have potholes that management has not repaired.

Repetitive Stress Injuries

Gas station attendants and store clerks can accumulate repetitive strain and repetitive motion injuries over time. Basic tasks such as swiping products for purchase, mopping and sweeping floors, or pumping gas can gradually damage the tendons, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. This can result in conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, bursitis, and tennis elbow.

Burns and Explosions

Gasoline is highly flammable, and in large quantities, can pose a significant risk due to its explosiveness. It can cause third-degree burns, which destroy the skin and may damage underlying tissue. A careless individual may drop a lit cigarette onto the floor and cause an accident. In other circumstances, a static charge or spark from electricity, common in cold, dry conditions, can ignite gasoline vapors, starting a flash fire.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

People are in a hurry, especially in gas stations. Due to the proximity of vehicles, there is an increased chance of an accident. Rear-ending and sideswiping other vehicles are common mistakes people make. In addition, gas stations located at highways must take into consideration that people are entering the gas station at higher speeds than they would at a gas station located on a street.

Why are Gas Stations and Convenience Stores a Prime Target for Crime?

Operation Hours

Stores and gas stations open 24 hours a day carry a greater risk of being targeted. During low traffic hours such as late evening or early morning, there are probably less customers, police and passerby who can intervene.

Interior Store Layout

If employees are not able to see their surroundings, or if the store is not clearly visible from the outside, this presents a security issue.

Exterior Store Environment

Poorly lit gasoline canopies and islands, along with parking lots, can increase the chance of a robber targeting a particular store. Employees will not be able to notice any unusual activity as easily. If a gas station provides accessible escape routes, precipitated by poorly designed fencing and/or landscaping, this also increases the risk.

Location

Stores located in shopping malls/complexes have fewer robberies than convenience stores located in more isolated areas. Likewise, stores near older buildings and graffiti had more robberies.

Ownership

7-11 gas stations, for example, have the resources to employ and operate a security department, with relevant policies and employee crime-prevention training. A mom-and-pop shop generally does not have the funds to acquire and maintain such security measures.

Cash-Control Procedures

A convenience store that carries more cash in its register can become an attractive location for robbers, whose main goal is to walk away richer.

Repeated Victimization

Convenience stores with a history of robberies are more likely to see future robberies than stores without a history.

What Should I do if I am Injured While Working at a Gas Station or Convenience Store?

  • Notify your manager and file an accident report. Letting your manager know of the incident that caused your injury, even if it is minor, can give your claim more merit should you pursue a case. Additionally, you should ask for a copy of an accident report to fill out and give to your employer so there is formal documented evidence.
  • Use your phone to document immediate evidence. Take pictures and record video of any injury you could have sustained in the immediate aftermath of the incident. There may be details such as a blood splatter or knocked down merchandise that you will want to capture.
  • Jot down a journal or notepad entry. Writing down what you experienced while it is still fresh in your mind can help you should you need to recall specific details later. In addition, you may want to ask for and retain the information of people who witnessed the incident.
  • Visit a medical professional. Seeking treatment in a medical professional will aid you in a faster recovery. If you choose not to seek treatment, this may complicate your claim and prevent you from recovering workers’ compensation benefits.
  • Obtain Reliable Legal Help. If you are injured because of your job-related duties, or by simply working at your job, you will want to see if your injury entitles you to workers’ compensation benefits. To do so, reaching out to an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you as you navigate next steps after your injury.

Injured as a Gas Station Attendant or Convenience Store Worker? Call Us Today.

Gas station attendants and convenience store workers are there to make an honest living. Many are immigrants who come searching for a better life. To this end, we hope that they can live comfortably.

If you are injured due to occupational exposure, this means seeking counsel in an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer, who can help secure your financial situation. Workers’ compensation covers medical treatment, lost wages, and rehabilitation. It also provides funeral expenses for deceased individuals, and death or survivor benefits for family members of deceased individuals.

The ability to support yourself and your family in difficult times is important. Our Workplace Lawyers have successfully represented victims of gas station related injuries, including a petitioner who worked at a Costco gas station while injuring her ankle. She returned to light duty after 3 months, then 3 months later returned to full duty. After trial began, a settlement of $32,500 was secured.

For further information, contact us today, or online anytime, and we will reach out to you. 

[1] Romeo, P. (2021, September 27). C-Stores are 4th Most Common Location for Violent Crime. CSP Daily News. Retrieved March 18, 2022, from https://www.cspdailynews.com/company-news/c-stores-are-4th-most-common-location-violent-crime

[2] Gilbert, A. C. (2022, March 16). Thieves ‘with Trap Door’ steal over 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel from family gas station. USA Today. Retrieved March 18, 2022, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/03/16/houston-gas-station-robbed-diesel-fuel/7061634001/

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