Created: 11/20/2007 5:54:55 PM 
By Jackelyn Barnard First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Black Friday is the big shopping day after Thanksgiving. There are lines, big bargains and some say chaos.
"I had no idea what Black Friday stood for, I do now. It will black out your life," says Ronald Brannen.
Two years ago, Brannen and his wife, Cecelia took part in the Black Friday Madness. They were part of a crowd at the Wal-Mart in Starke. The couple was hoping to get their hands on a laptop computer for their daughter who is in college.
"I was second in the line. Thought I had a pretty good chance of getting it," says Cecelia Brannen.
She says she thought it was a deal of a lifetime. "I saved $100 on that computer. I've spent probably $100,000 on medical bills."
Cecelia says in the mad dash to get the computer, she was pushed under a pile of bodies and feet.
"The next thing I know I was on the floor in the fetal position praying to God that somebody would find me. They stepped on my thighs, my breast, on my shoulders. I had bruises all over my body.
Cecelia's husband says he heard a woman yelling there was someone on the floor. At first, he says he had no idea it was his wife. "This is America's version of the running of the bulls," says Ronald Brannen.
These days, Cecelia walks with a cane and numerous bottles of prescriptions are part of life too.
Cecelia says she walked out of the black and blue Friday chaos with a concussion, back, neck and memory problems. "I'm in constant pain."
The Brannen's says it could have been avoided. "They should have passed out tickets to the first 32 people," says Cecelia.
Attorney Charles Sorenson says he has handled several cases involving injuries at Wal-Marts on Black Friday.
Sorenson says the cases never made it to trial because the retail giant settled each case with a confidentiality agreement.
Sorenson believes there are thousands of these cases that happen each year on the day after Thanksgiving.
"There are many of these incidents every Black Friday. Every one reported, ten go unreported, because embarrassed or don't think they are hurt," says Sorenson.
Wal-Mart released a statement to First Coast News saying, "The safety and security of customers and associates is a top priority at Wal-Mart. We have enhanced our training and procedures to help prevent unforeseen circumstances, however rare. We also have scheduled additional staff to help ensure that our customers' shopping experience is as smooth as possible."
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