Slip and fall or trip-and-fall injuries could potentially happen anywhere. In some cases, the person who is injured has failed to look where they were going, but just as often, the accident was avoidable and was caused by negligence on the part of someone else.
If an avoidable accident happens at a gas station or in an adjoining convenience store, it is possible that a personal injury claim could be made against those at fault to help pay for the costs of any injuries.
Customers who use gas stations or convenience stores are unlikely to be involved in an accident unless the staff or the manager based there has not bothered to remove a hazardous obstacle or identified something that could cause injuries.
What Can Go Wrong at a Store or Gas Station
If an avoidable injury occurs because of a slip-and-fall type accident there are a number of possible causes. Here is a list of the more common reasons for slipping and falling over:
- Slipping over on a wet floor that has been cleaned but with no warning sign present
- Slipping over on wet or slippery drinks or food in the store that have been lying there for some time
- Tripping over food items or other items that have fallen off a shelf in the store
- Slipping over on oily or greasy liquids or surfaces in the gas station
- Slipping over on snow or ice that has not been cleared properly from outside the store or on the gas station forecourt
- Tripping over equipment tools, spare parts or vehicle parts that have not been kept aside out of the way in the gas station forecourt area
Lawsuits Against Stores are Possible
A lawsuit against Thorntons or similar store or gas station is perfectly feasible if an accident has happened on their premises which should not have happened if reasonable steps had been taken to avoid it. Evidence must be produced to show that the accident was caused by negligence for a claim to have any chance of winning.
An example of a lawsuit against Thorntons or a gas station might be if an oil spill has taken place while a vehicle had been stationed at the gas station. If the oil spill has been allowed to remain for many hours without being removed or cordoned off then a customer slips over on it and injures their back or breaks a leg, this would be grounds for a lawsuit.
How to Maximize Your Chance of Winning a Claim
It is always advisable to talk to an experienced personal injury attorney after being injured at a Thornton’s or similar premises. The attorney will be able to provide a professional opinion about the chances of success if you pursue legal action. The attorney may then be hired to represent you in any negotiations with the company and its insurance company.
The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Thorntons, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
