Recovering damages after a grocery store slip-and-fall
Shopping at a grocery store can be a mundane errand for many people, but for an unfortunate few, it can lead to a devastating slip-and-fall accident. Slip-and-fall injuries can range from minor bruising to a serious traumatic brain injury or paralysis. If you have suffered injuries in a slip-and-fall accident, consider consulting with a personal injury attorney to file a lawsuit against the parties responsible for your injuries.
Potential dangers at a grocery store
As a shopper, you may suffer injuries as a result of various dangerous conditions. Some of these conditions may include:
- Icy sidewalks and store entryways
- Debris in the aisles
- Wet or slippery floors
- Broken steps or uneven carpeting/flooring
- Poor lighting
- Broken shelving
Proving your slip-and-fall lawsuit
Store owners owe a duty of care to shoppers and other store invitees to take reasonable steps to maintain the safety of the store premises. This duty is breached when a store owner:
- Knew or should have known of the dangerous condition and,
- Fails to take reasonable steps to warn of a dangerous condition on the premises,
- Fails to take reasonable steps to remedy or fix a dangerous condition, and/or
- Fails to take reasonable steps to inspect and maintain the premises
To prove your slip-and-fall claim, you may present the following evidence:
- Accident report filed with the store shortly after the incident
- Photos and/or videos of the scene of the accident and store conditions
- Witness testimony from people who saw the accident occur or are knowledgeable about store conditions
- Expert testimony regarding your injuries or causation of your injuries
If you successfully prove your claim, you can recover damages to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering. An attorney in your area can help build your case to prove your premises liability claims.