Slip and fall accidents typically occur on slippery floors, made wet and slippery because of spilled liquids or after recent cleaning. Convenience store owners and their employees are expected to make sure that their stores are safe for people to use. Hazards are expected to be minimized and dealt with quickly to avoid the possibility of accidents.
If a store fails to provide a safe environment and an accident occurs, such as a slip and fall, then this may be regarded as negligence. If you have slipped and fallen and injured yourself in a 7-Eleven store because of the negligence or fault of the store management or employees, you may be able to claim compensation from 7-Eleven. Establishing fault, i.e. that negligence occurred, is an essential aspect of any personal injury claim.
How to Show That Convenience Store Negligence Caused a Slip and Fall
Most slip and fall accidents in convenience stores occur because the floor surface is either loose or slippery. If you slip over just after a hazardous situation first occurred, then it would be hard to show that this was the store management’s fault. If a hazard had been present for some considerable time, e.g. a couple of hours, but nothing had been done about it, then this could be considered negligence, i.e. the fault of the store’s management.
Another way that negligence can be shown is when a slip and fall hazard is known about but a warning sign is not used or the area is closed off to store patrons, making it more likely that an accident could happen.
Evidence to Show a Slip and Fall was a Convenience Store’s Fault
The three best forms of evidence to help show that the convenience store was at fault are:
• Eye witness statements from anyone in the store who saw the accident happen and can confirm that the hazard had existed for sometime or that there was no warning present;
• Photographic evidence taken of the accident scene showing what caused the slip and fall and that there was no warning present;
• Video footage taken by a store security camera.
Get Help Proving Fault
7-Eleven’s owners or franchisees will, or should have, premises liability insurance to cover them in the event that they are the subject of a personal injury claim. You will file your claim with the insurer, but they can often be obstructive and may challenge your claim that the store management was at fault.
They may even offer a much lower payment to you to avoid you contacting a lawyer. This is when it can be useful to use a PI lawyer to help you with preparing and submitting a claim against the store. Get a free case evaluation to get in touch with a PI lawyer who can help prove 7-Eleven was at fault for your slip and fall injury.
Additional Resources
- Do You Need a Lawyer for a Slip and Fall at 7-Eleven?*
- How to Prove 7-Eleven’s* Negligence Caused a Slip and Fall
Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against 7-Eleven or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
