What to Do if You Sustain an Injury at a Grocery Store?

Retail corporations that operate hypermarkets, grocery stores, and discount stores are liable to their customers to ensure their premises are safe to walk on.

Slip and Fall Injuries

The majority of slip and fall injuries result from an uneven walking surface or unmarked wet grounds. Other hazards that can directly cause a slip and fall injury at a grocery store include:

• Spills and puddles of water that were not mopped up
• Produce, vegetable and fruit items that are not picked off the floor
• Slippery or waxed floors
• Tripping over welcome mats
• Sidewalks that are not sanded or salted when there’s snow or ice
• Snow and ice falling from the roofs
• Products that have fallen off the shelves and that are lying on the isles
• Frayed carpeting
• Unconnected floor mats
• Poor lighting
• Holes in the floor
• Adverse weather condition affecting store parking lots
• Items falling from top shelves

Your Slip and Fall Claim

There are several unique issues in personal injury lawsuits against large grocery chains that you may not have to deal with when you sue other companies. As an example, their size and financial muscle allow them to self-insure. They may have their own company that handles liability claims, meaning it has a direct financial incentive to do everything possible to ensure they do not pay any damages, including using every trick on its book to dissuade you, to deny your claim, and to make the process difficult. So, how do you adequately prepare for a slip and fall accident claim against large grocery chain?

• Whatever the cause of the slip and fall accident maybe, take a photo of the hazard and gather any other type of evidence from the scene as this will help you greatly in the claim. Also important for the claim is eyewitness accounts and you should, therefore, ask for the contacts of anyone who might have witnessed the fall.
• Report the incident to ensure it is investigated and obtain a copy of the incident report.
• Keep all hospital records as they will eliminate any doubt that you were injured and that the injuries were caused by the accident.
• Document ongoing hospital visits be they for physical therapy or simply follow-up, as they will be a component in your claim.
• Your doctor should comment on your injuries and how they affect your day-to-day life
• Keep track of time spent away from work such as time taken to visit the doctor’s office
• Document how much pain and suffering you are going through such as if some days are better than others and the extent of the pain

Hire a lawyer before talking to an insurance representative. At Grillo Law, we have years of experience pursuing claims against large grocery chains on behalf of their injured patrons. Call us today at (416) 614-6000 for a free consultation.