As a privately run supermarket chain, Stater Bros. operates 171 stores located in Southern California. Like other grocery stores, Stater Bros. has to process slip and fall incidents caused by slick floors that are the result of spilled beverages.
Other factors also play a role in a slip and fall at Stater Bros., or any grocery store. If you got hurt ay Stater Bros., or any grocery store in California, you should follow a few tips that start with contacting a California-licensed personal injury attorney.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall at a Grocery Store
If you slipped and fell at a California grocery store, the first item on your to-do list involves seeking medical care. Even if you do not feel much pain, some types of injuries produce delayed symptoms.
Two examples of a delayed-symptoms injury include a concussion and bruised internal organ. Seeking medical attention provides you with physical evidence that you received a diagnosis for a slip and fall injury, as well as treatment to mitigate the symptoms of your injuries.
Collecting and organizing evidence is an important step. A manager representing the grocery store where you fell must fill out an incident report, which includes the evidence collected at the scene. You also want to get the names and contact information of witnesses to hand over to your personal injury lawyer.
Evidence to Collect After a Slip and Fall at a Grocery Store
Images represent the most persuasive evidence to acquire after a slip and fall incident. Using your smartphone to take photos can prove store employees committed one or more acts of negligence that caused you to slip on a wet floor. For example, right after a slip and fall, you should take photographs of the accident scene to show the slick that caused you to fall hard to the floor.
Grocery stores such as Stater Bros. operate a security camera system that provides your personal injury attorney with visual evidence of what caused your injuries.
Security camera footage can demonstrate whether an employee place a “Wet Foor” sign over the slick spot, as well as made a valid attempt to dry mop the wet floor. Other evidence to submit includes photos of your injuries and the results of your diagnostic reports.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim in California
If you got hurt at Stater Bros., or any other grocery store in California, you might have enough evidence to file a compelling personal injury claim. California has passed several statutes that pertain to the filing of a personal injury lawsuit. The California civil court system processes personal injury claims if an incident is not related to the workplace and monetary damages exceed $10,000.
The statutes of limitations, which represents the deadline to file a personal injury claim is two years after the date of the slip and fall incident.
Although there are a couple of exemptions to the two-year deadline, you should be prepared to file a civil lawsuit before the expirations of the California statute of limitations. If you do not meet the deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit, expect the court to dismiss your litigation.
Schedule a free case evaluation to start the litigation process. A personal injury lawyer can help you gather the evidence you need to receive just compensation.
*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 Stater Bros. or another party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.