In grocery stores and supermarkets, you don’t usually consider the possibility of slipping, falling, and being injured. Although, the most common injuries at supermarkets are slips and falls. Several situations may entitle a supermarket to compensation for damages a customer sustains from slipping and falling on its property.
Keeping up with legal procedures can be exhaustive and time-consuming. Before filing an injury claim, you should consult a competent personal injury lawyer to determine your legal rights.
Factors contributing to slip-and-fall accidents in supermarkets
In supermarkets, common causes of slips and falls include:
- The spillage of food and drinks, such as when a product falls off the shelf or gets knocked off
- Melting ice from seafood displays, as well as leaking refrigerated and frozen exhibits
- Rain, snow, ice, or muck tracked in from the outdoors.
- Recently mopped or waxed floors.
- Tile flooring that is broken or fractured
- The mats on the floor are clumped, torn, or loose.
- Obstacles in the aisles, such as floor displays, cartons, and pallets
How Do You Determine Liability in Slip and Fall Accidents?
Supermarkets are required by law to take reasonable steps to ensure that their facilities are free of risks that could damage customers. This involves cleaning and repairing any slip and fall risks. Another option is for a store to display signs indicating the presence of such hazards, for instance, a wet floor sign.
Stores must comply with this requirement if they are aware of hazardous situations and should be mindful if they carry out routine maintenance checks.
A consumer who stumbles on a spill from a dropped water bottle, for example, may be able to hold the supermarket accountable if the staff is aware of the collapse or if the bottle fell from the shelf hours ago.
It is possible, however, that a supermarket may not be liable if a customer knocks the bottle off the shelf and someone else falls on the spill minutes later because the business is unlikely to know about the collapse or have adequate time to clean it up.
You Might Be Entitled to Compensation
An accident at a supermarket may qualify you for compensation if you suffer the following injuries:
- Medical care and injury rehabilitation costs
- Wages and income have been lost.
- Future earning capacity loss
- Physical discomfort
- Suffering and emotional distress
- Permanent impairments
- Scarring or deformity visible
