Fort Lauderdale Grocery Store Injury Lawyer
Grocery stores seem like relatively safe places, but accidents can happen, leaving people with serious injuries. If you have been hurt while grocery shopping, you do have legal rights and you may be able to claim compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and more. The law in these matters is complicated, though. Below, our Fort Lauderdale grocery store injury lawyer explains further.
How Do Grocery Store Accidents Happen?
Accidents in grocery stores happen for a number of reasons. These include:
- Wet and slippery floors that cause slip and fall accidents
- Merchandise or other objects falling off of shelves
- Poorly maintained or malfunctioning shopping carts
- Inadequate lighting causing tripping hazards
- Failing to warn customers of hazards, such as spills on floors
- Hazardous or defective store equipment
When are Grocery Stores Liable for an Accident?
All property owners have a legal duty to ensure that their premises are kept in a safe condition so no one who enters becomes hurt. Due to the fact that customers visit grocery stores to benefit the owner, these property owners owe them the highest level of care. This duty of care requires grocery store owners and staff members to maintain a safe shopping environment, promptly address hazards, and ensure the property is free from other dangers.
Still, this does not mean that grocery store owners are always liable for injuries. Grocery store owners are only responsible for correcting dangerous conditions that they know about, or should have known about. For example, if there was a spill on the grocery store floor, staff members may not know about it immediately. If a customer dropped a jar and then slipped on the spill, the property owner would likely not be liable.
On the other hand, if the customer told staff members of the spill and it was not cleaned up right away, the grocery store may be liable if another customer became hurt by the spill.
What to Do After a Grocery Store Accident
No one expects to become hurt in a grocery store, and it is natural to feel confused about what to do. Taking the necessary steps can help your case if you file a claim in the future.
While still at the store, you should report the accident to the store manager. Ask for a written report and after you have filled it out, request a copy. Also before you leave the scene of the accident, take pictures of the hazard that caused your injuries and obtain the names of any witnesses who saw the accident occur.
It is critical that you seek medical attention, even if you do not think you were seriously hurt. Your safety and well-being is the most important priority after an accident. Additionally, seeking medical treatment will document your injuries, which will help prove the nature and severity of them when you file your claim.
Call Our Grocery Store Injury Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale
After collecting evidence and seeing a doctor, your next step should be to contact our Fort Lauderdale grocery store accident lawyer at Spencer Morgan Law. We can ensure your rights are protected so you obtain the full settlement you deserve. Call us now at 305-423-3800 or chat with us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help.