Thousands of individuals suffer severe injuries in supermarket accidents every year. Even though most grocery stores and supermarkets are typically well-maintained, the congested aisles, slippery surfaces, and narrow walkways are a haven for unsuspecting consumers and employees experiencing severe injuries.
Every supermarket in the nation has a legal responsibility or obligation of care to ensure that their premises remain safe to avoid any undue harm. This duty means that the property owner, business, management, and employees must make sure that no dangerous conditions exist or can be reasonably foreseen.
As an example, if a supermarket employee leaves boxes or pallets in the aisle way causing a customer in the store to trip over it, the business can be held legally liable for any injuries or damage. These damages can include any medical expenses, hospitalization, the cost of medicine, lost wages, suffering, pain and mental anguish. The property owner, managers, and others might be legally responsible because the action of the supermarket employee is considered negligence. Other types of negligent acts can include:
- Slippery walkways from spilt liquids or food
- Wet surfaces caused by mopping
- Faulty doors
- Falling merchandise
- Accumulated ice or snow at the store’s entrance
- Protruding objects or other dangerous condition
- Building code violation
- Failing to display safety warnings and signs adequately
- Dangerous escalators, elevators, and stairs
- Uneven surfaces
- Shopping cart injury
To receive financial compensation for an injury at an Orange County grocery store, the victim must prove negligence by the establishment or its employees, and file a claim or lawsuit for compensation. However, these types of cases are incredibly complex and often require the legal skills of an experienced personal injury attorney who handles premises liability claims.
Proving Negligence in a Personal Injury Lawsuit Against a Supermarket
A skilled attorney who specializes in premises liability cases will prove negligence that shows at least one of three conditions occurred, such as:
- An employee, supervisor or manager of the supermarket created or knew about a dangerous environment on the premises which eventually led to the customer’s injury in a slip and fall accident.
- A supermarket employee, supervisor or manager knew the dangerous condition existed but failed to take any actions to correct it.
- Supermarket employees, supervisors or managers should have known the dangerous condition existed through reasonableness and understanding there was a potentially hazardous atmosphere.
The attorney working on behalf of the victim will need to establish negligence by showing there was a failure of routinely inspecting the premises or the level of reasonableness the supermarket knew or should have known that a dangerous condition existed or might have existed.
What Compensation is a Person Injured in a Grocery Store Accident Entitled to Receive?
The value of a slip and fall incident in a supermarket accident is usually based on various factors that include:
- The type and severity of injuries involved
- The level of suffering, pain and mental anguish
- The total earnings lost in the past, currently and in the future as a direct result of the injuries
- The length of time the victim is unable to perform their regular duties
- The amount of past, current, and future medical bills
Hiring an Attorney to Represent You in a Case Against a Supermarket
The first step in resolving a slip and fall (see here for slip and fall accident FAQ’s) accident is to seek all necessary medical attention immediately. Restoring your health is of the utmost importance. It is essential to ensure that the injurious event is reported and that you receive a copy of all reports when possible. Also, make sure all evidence is preserved including taking photographs of the area where the accident occurred.
Next, avoid making any comment concerning the accident once the report has been documented. Finally, it is essential to hire an attorney who specializes in supermarket accidents to ensure that your legal rights are protected.
If you have suffered injuries caused by the negligent action of a store employee, you are likely entitled to receive financial compensation. A skilled personal injury attorney can handle every aspect of the case to ensure you receive full monetary recovery for your injuries. The law firm will work to preserve evidence including store videos and obtain testimony from eyewitnesses of the accident.
Jimmie Kang Law Firm specialize in California personal injury accidents including those that occur in Orange County supermarkets. Contact our law offices to schedule a no obligation, free consultation to discuss your case. Our attorneys can answer your questions and provide a variety of legal options on the best ways to proceed to ensure you receive adequate compensation for your injury.
Below are a sampling of grocery chains located in California:
- ALDI Grocery Store
- Caputo Italian Grocery
- Cermak Produce
- Costco
- Devon Market
- Dill Pickle Food Coop
- EATALY Orange County
- Foodsmart
- Grand Food Center
- Green Grocer
- Half Italian
- Harvesttime Food
- Hyde Park Produce Market
- Jewel-Osco Grocery Store
- Mariano’s Grocery Store
- Pete’s Fresh Market #10
- Potash Markets
- Southport Grocery and Café
- Stanley’s
- Trader Joe’s
- Treasure Island
- Whole Foods
Common Cases
- Slip & Fall
- Elevators
- Carbon Monoxide
- Swimming Pools
- Lead Paint
- Dog Attacks
Responsible Parties
- Homeowners’
- Landlords’
- Employers’
- Store Owners’
- Hotels
Related
- Slip & Fall FAQ
- Rail Yard Accidents
- Personal Injury Case Values
