Supermarket Slip & Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents happen with regularity at grocery stores in Florida such as Publix, Walmart, Target, Aldi, Costco, and BJ’s, to name a few. Injuries may be the result of wet floors, spills in aisles or restrooms, freezers that leak, falling products from shelves, product samples on the floor, rubber mats that become bunched up, or some other dangerous condition.
Grocery stores have a duty to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition. Under Florida Statute 768.0755, if the grocery store had either actual or constructive (store was not aware but should have been) knowledge of a dangerous condition and failed to address it, they can be held liable for injuries sustained as a result of this failure to protect their customers.
The burden of proof is on the plaintiff to show that the store was negligent, that it failed to address any dangers they either knew about or should have reasonably known about, and an injury occurred as a direct result of that negligence.
A slip and fall can cause serious injuries that require you to seek immediate medical attention and continuing medical treatment. Injuries we typically see after slip and falls in grocery stores, which may require visits to the emergency room, orthopedist, chiropractor, and/or physical therapist, include:
Hip fractures
Knee, back, neck, shoulder, and arm injuries
Head injuries
Broken bones
Sprains
It is important to promptly receive medical attention after a slip and fall even if you are unsure the extent of your injuries. Delaying medical treatment after a slip and fall can hurt your case if you decide to later pursue a claim.
After you slip and fall, document everything. Take photos or videos of the hazardous condition that caused your injury and ask the employees to create an incident report and provide you with a copy. Write down the name of the employee who you spoke to and what their position was, and make sure you get the contact info for any witnesses who saw the incident. Security footage may provide valuable evidence in your case. In the event the store will not turn over evidence, we can subpoena it.
A grocery store’s goal is to get the injury-causing substance or product cleaned up as fast as possible and erase any evidence. A store manager’s bonus is often affected by the number of accidents on their premises. Supermarkets will try to cover themselves and avoid liability. This is why slip and fall accident victims need a skilled and knowledgeable attorney fighting for their rights.
Kobren Law has successfully resolved countless premises liability cases involving slip and falls at supermarkets throughout Florida. For example, our law firm secured a large monetary award for an injured party who slipped on water leaking from a freezer. The store was aware of the leaky freezer but had yet to post a WARNING or CAUTION WET FLOOR sign. Another client slipped on a product that fell when the grocery store employee was hastily bagging her items. We obtained a sizable settlement due to the negligence of the store employee who caused our client to sustain an injury.
Upon suffering injuries due to a slip and fall, contact the attorneys at Kobren Law There’s NO FEE unless WE WIN money for you. We are South Florida’s premier personal injury attorneys who get results for those who suffer accidents in supermarkets. If you or someone you know was injured while shopping and need free legal advice, contact us today at 561-361-8677.
