To most people, grocery shopping doesn’t seem like a dangerous activity. However, grocery stores can have slip-and-fall hazards that shoppers may not be aware of.
Slip-and-fall
If a person is injured in a slip-and-fall, he or she may have a personal injury claim against the grocery store and can seek compensation. A slip-and-fall can happen when floors are wet, when the store fails to clean up spills quickly, when items are left in the aisles and when there is ripped carpet or other uneven flooring. Also, poor lighting can cause a person to fall.
Sometimes, outdoor conditions can contribute to the risk of a slip-and-fall, like rain or ice and if the grocery store does not properly maintain the parking lot and sidewalks, that can be a hazard as well. The store must also make sure that stairs and railings are safe.
The store must also properly maintain elevators and escalators. If they malfunction, shoppers can easily hurt themselves in a fall.
Injuries and store responsibility
A slip-and-fall can cause a serious injury, like broken bones, bruising, back and neck injuries, sprains and in some serious cases, neck and spinal damage.
The grocery store has a duty to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition. The injured person’s claim is more likely to be successful if he or she can demonstrate that the store knew or should have known about the dangerous condition, but did not take steps to fix it.
If a person has been injured in a slip-and-fall, there is help available to file a claim.