Shock images capture aftermath after roof collapses on unsuspecting dollar store shoppers - leaving one dead and multiple injured
Tammy Martin filed a lawsuit against Family Dollar in Missouri after she was crushed by the caving roof at the Kansas City store on July 27.
Horrific pictures of the aftermath revealed an enormous hole in the corner of the dollar store, with debris strewn across the road and parking lot.
Martin has accused the store owners of negligence leading to the accident, which tragically left a 68-year-old man dead.
'The heavy debris which fell onto Plaintiff caused severe and permanent injuries to Plaintiff's entire body, including but not limited to her head, face, neck, back, spine, pelvis, arms, hands, and legs,' the lawsuit stated.
She is seeking more than $25,000 in damages.
Officers descended on the scene soon after the collapse and taped off the area as bricks and wooden beams piled up on the footpath.
The lawsuit claims the main cause of the roof collapse was a 2016 car crash which knocked down one of the main support pillars in front of the building.
The pillar was never repaired, the lawsuit states.
According to the lawsuit, store operators had been repeatedly told that the roof 'looked as it it was going to fall.'
'Defendants knew or should have known The Store, including the roof, was not reasonably safe,' the lawsuit stated.
Martin was in the store and shopping at the time of the tragedy, and was caught off guard when the roof collapsed on top of her.
'As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' failures, Plaintiff suffered the above referenced injuries which resulted in substantial healthcare expense, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent disability, pain and suffering, future healthcare treatment and expense,' the lawsuit stated.
According to the lawsuit, store operators had been repeatedly told that the roof 'looked as it it was going to fall.'
It also noted a 'loss of earning capacity and lost wages, all in the past and is reasonably likely to incur same in the future.'
She is seeking a jury trial.
According to KCTV, a property violation report had been filed by code enforcement officers just two days before the tragedy.
The report said the building appeared to be slowly 'tilting.'
Kansas City police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the incident.
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