Fort Lauderdale Grocery Store Slip and Fall Lawyer
The COVID pandemic made many of us aware of just how often we routinely go to the grocery store. While many people were concerned about exposure to the virus, they were often unaware of the ever-present dangers that are typically in grocery stores. Each day in Fort Lauderdale, shoppers are injured in grocery store falls caused by hazardous conditions. With a high volume of traffic and a vast array of goods, conditions in supermarkets pose a variety of risks to consumers. When store managers fail to supervise the premises responsibly and a shopper suffers injuries as a result, store owners can and should be held accountable. A Fort Lauderdale grocery store slip and fall accident lawyer at Maus Law Firm is ready to fight for maximum recovery if you or a loved one were hurt at a supermarket or smaller grocery store.
Common Causes of Grocery Store Falls in Fort Lauderdale
Shoppers suffer injuries in different ways in grocery stores. For instance, serious injuries are often caused by merchandise that is stacked improperly and falls on a patron. However, injuries in supermarkets most often result from hazardous conditions that are not easily noticeable and cause shoppers to slip or trip and fall.
Grocery store falls can be caused by factors such as:
- Spilled or leaking products that make floors slippery
- Cleaning items or tools left out to become a tripping hazard
- Excess spray from misters in the produce department
- Loose floor tiles or uneven flooring surfaces
- Floors left wet after cleaning
- Condensation from refrigeration equipment
When conditions such as a pool of liquid from a leaking or broken bottle appear, the store managers should take steps to protect the public as quickly as possible. If it is not possible to immediately fix a dangerous situation, they should block off the area and put up warning signs.
A Fort Lauderdale grocery store fall injury lawyer can review the circumstances leading up to a fall to determine the causes and the parties who may be at fault. While the store and/or its managers bear responsibility in many cases under the theory of premises liability, a third party such as a maintenance company or another shopper may also be at fault.
Establishing Liability
Unfortunately, a shopper who suffers injuries in a grocery store fall—even catastrophic injuries—is not automatically entitled to receive compensation from the store or the store’s insurance company. It is necessary to demonstrate that the store failed to fulfill the duty owed to shoppers to protect their safety. Generally, you will need evidence to show that the store owner knew or should have known that a hazardous condition existed and that they failed to take adequate steps to remove the hazard or warn visitors about the danger.
Evidence might consist of:
- Video footage from security cameras
- Testimony from witnesses who saw the dangerous condition (even if they did not witness the fall)
- Store policy manuals that address issues such as cleaning or inspections
- Photos of the store and the factors that caused the fall
- Photos of injuries
- Medical reports
There are certain steps accident victims can take to collect the best evidence to support their claim for compensation after a grocery store fall. First, it is crucial to receive a prompt and thorough medical exam to detect all injuries and provide evidence of them.
Second, it is a good idea to consult a Fort Lauderdale grocery store fall injury lawyer for advice and assistance. An experienced injury attorney can help collect evidence and represent victims when investigators and insurance companies start asking questions. Agents may trick accident victims into saying or doing something that could jeopardize their claim for compensation. Allowing an attorney to serve as your advocate avoids all those potential problems and lets you focus on healing.
Compensation for a Grocery Store Fall Injury
When a hazard in a grocery store causes injuries, accident victims may be entitled to compensation to cover a variety of effects. They can receive compensation to cover past medical bills and future medical needs, as well as wages lost due to time off work and anticipated future wage losses.
A knowledgeable Fort Lauderdale grocery store fall injury lawyer can calculate the value of these losses as well as the value of intangible after-effects such as pain, suffering, and emotional anguish. When you know the potential value of your claim, it is easier to evaluate settlement offers to determine whether they would provide fair compensation or whether it would be better to take the matter to trial.
Our Dedicated Fort Lauderdale Grocery Store Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Fights for Your Maximum Recovery
At Maus Law Firm, we know what it takes to win a slip and fall case in a supermarket, and we will put our experience to work to fight for the best available compensation for your losses. Contact us now to find out how a skilled Fort Lauderdale grocery store slip and fall lawyer can maximize your recovery efforts.