What You Need to Know
If you have slipped and fallen in either a convenience store or grocery store and suffered injuries, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim to cover your expenses. A slip and fall can result in serious injuries that run into thousands of dollars of medical expenses, lost wages for time off from work, and ongoing pain and suffering. Filing a personal injury claim can protect you by ensuring your medical expenses are paid for and that you are reimbursed for any lost wages.
While slip and fall accidents are indeed accidents, most of them could be avoided. Many of them result from negligence or failing to comply with proper building codes or safety protocol. Management is responsible for ensuring that the store’s employees regularly check throughout the stores for any spills and hazards and that if any spills are reported they are cleaned up right away.
Potential Slip and Hazards You May Encounter
Grocery and convenience stores are filled with items that can be dropped or knocked off a shelf and spilled. Customers can slip on spilled bottles of soda, broken jars of pasta sauce, dropped receipts, shopping bags, produce such as cracked open melons or squashed grapes. While these kinds of spills can be expected, it is the store’s responsibility to take action and make sure they are cleaned up quickly.
Grocery stores must also have non-slip flooring and the proper safety features in place as required by building code. Slip-resistant floor mats are required in some areas, and the floors are supposed to be designed to clean up easily. Drains should be located in specified areas to prevent pooling as well, such as near produce coolers where water may be sprayed throughout the day to keep fruits and vegetables fresh and lively.
Filing Claims Against a Grocery or Convenience Store?
If you have been injured after slipping and falling in a grocery store, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. You should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. Your personal injury lawyer will aggressively work on your behalf to ensure your medical expenses are covered and that you receive fair compensation for your pain and suffering. Your lawyer will also consider any time you have missed from work and if your future ability to work and earn a steady income has been impacted.