Every day, people must visit the supermarket to purchase groceries or just grab a few things for dinner. You probably don’t even think twice about it as you push your cart throughout the store or dash toward the aisle that has that one thing you need to make a special dish for dinner. What you may not realize is that hundreds of people are injured in slip and fall accidents at supermarkets each day, despite the fact that the government strictly regulates their safety. If you are injured after falling in a supermarket, you may wonder who is liable for your medical bills and lost wages. The answer to that depends of the circumstances that led to your fall.
Common Supermarket Injuries and Causes
Some of the most common injuries that occur after a fall in a supermarket include lacerations, bruises and broken bones. There have been reports of customers suffering head and neck trauma as well as traumatic brain injury. Many falls in supermarkets are due to something simple like spilled liquid or a bunched entrance mat. However, falls can also occur when floor tiles are cracked or broken as well as aisle obstructions, such as boxes or pallets.
Duty of Care
Supermarkets have a legal obligation to make sure their premises are free from harm that could be prevented. This does not mean that every single hazard must be removed from a supermarket as this would be virtually impossible. If an employee ignores a broken jar in an aisle and you slip, causing injury, you may have a premises liability case. However, if the jar was just dropped and the employees have not had a chance to clean it up, you may not have a claim against the supermarket as the owner was unaware of the hazard as it had just occurred. In other words, you must prove that the supermarket was negligent in some way in order to collect any damages.
After a Supermarket Fall
Immediately after the fall, request to see a manager before leaving the scene so that they can get an idea of exactly what happened. Request that an incident report be filed, even if you don’t believe you were injured. Seek medical attention immediately regardless of the severity of your injury. This is because adrenaline can mask serious injuries while others may take time to manifest. You may not realize you were injured until hours or days later. Take photos of the area immediately after the accident and request copies of the surveillance camera footage. Keep all medical bills, receipts and lost wages documentation as well.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident at a supermarket contact the slip and fall attorneys at Lundy Law today to see if you qualify for a premises liability claim. You may arrange for an initial consultation by completing the query form online or calling 1-800-Lundy Law.
