Many people stop at a gas station daily for coffee or snacks or to fuel their vehicle. When you go on a gas station's property, it is only normal to expect the grounds to be safe for your presence.
If the store fails to properly maintain its grounds or keep the premises clean and that leads to an accident that causes your injury, you can pursue a personal injury claim against the gas station to recover compensation for your losses.
What Is Negligence?
When you go shopping, safe, clean premises are a normal expectation.
If employees failed to clean up a soda spill by the soft drink dispenser within a timely manner, or if they didn’t at least put a wet floor warning sign up, they are liable for any injuries sustained when you slipped and fell because of the wet floor.
If the spill had been there for a considerable time, it is obvious that the store was negligent because the employees failed to do their job. When you fell, you suffered a broken wrist that required surgical intervention and kept you out of work.
How Can You Prove Negligence?
To show without a doubt that the store was negligent, all four elements of negligence must be proven to show liability. The first element is to show that the retailer has a duty to maintain the premises to protect customers from harm.
Next, you must show the store breached that duty. In this case, you will need to prove your slip and fall was because of the wet floor. The court can request surveillance videos to show what happened.
When a gas station is open for business, it is only normal to expect the store’s floors to be clean, free of obstacles and free of any threats or dangers. You must prove that if you hadn’t slipped on the spill in the store, you wouldn’t be hurt.
Your last step is to show the broken wrist is the result of the slip and fall caused by the soda left on the floor. As an example, it should be easy to show your wrist was broken when you entered the store.
For your personal injury claim against the store or gas station, you will need to maintain thorough records that have supporting documents to show your injuries and losses.
This means you will need to maintain copies of all medical records, all bills and receipts related to your injury, and proof of all missed work and lost wages.
Consult With A Personal Injury Attorney
If a slip and fall caused by negligence that left you injured, you should consult with a personal injury attorney who handles accident injury claims in your state. Your odds of a successful personal injury claim are much higher when you enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer.
Working on a contingency basis, personal injury lawyers aren’t paid until you are compensated by a settlement or judgment. The time limit for pursuing a personal injury claim varies from one state to another, so don’t delay on filing your claim.
Ask for your free case evaluation from a personal injury attorney today!
Additional Resources
- Proving Negligence in a Personal Injury Claim
- Examples of Negligence in Slip and Fall Accidents
- Checklist for a Slip and Fall Accident at 7-Eleven*
*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 another party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
