A trip to the grocery store is usually one of the more routine parts of any given week. Unfortunately, however, grocery managers and employees aren’t always as vigilant as they should be, and safety hazards crop up as a result. That said, if you were injured in a slip and fall accident in a grocery store in New Jersey, there is a strong chance that you are entitled to financial compensation. Continue reading and reach out to a seasoned Union County personal injury lawyer from The Mark Law Firm to learn more about premises liability in NJ and how we can help if you’ve been injured. Here are some of the questions you may have:
Can a grocery store be held liable for a slip and fall accident?
In many cases, yes. Grocery stores owe customers what is known as a duty of care. Simply put, they are generally expected to keep their premises reasonably safe for shoppers. This means that employees should routinely inspect the property for hazards, clean up dangerous conditions within a reasonable amount of time, and provide adequate warnings whenever a hazard cannot immediately be corrected. Some examples of conditions that may result in a grocery store being held liable are as follows:
- Wet floors caused by spilled food or beverages.
- Recently mopped floors without warning signs.
- Produce or other items left in walkways.
- Leaking refrigeration units.
- Uneven or damaged flooring.
- Torn entrance mats.
- Poor lighting that makes hazards difficult to see.
- Snow, ice, or water tracked into entryways that is not properly addressed.
That being said, simply because you slipped and fell does not automatically mean the grocery store is legally responsible. In many cases, it must first be shown that the store either knew, or reasonably should have known, about the dangerous condition and failed to correct it within a reasonable period of time.
What should you do after slipping and falling in a grocery store?
Naturally, your health should always come first. Even if you believe you were fortunate enough to avoid a serious injury, it is often a good idea to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some injuries, particularly those involving the head, neck, or back, do not always produce immediate symptoms. Generally speaking, there are several additional steps you should take after a grocery store accident:
- Report the accident to a store manager immediately.
- Ask that an incident report be prepared.
- Take photographs of the hazardous condition before it is cleaned or repaired, if possible.
- Photograph your injuries and the shoes you were wearing.
- Obtain the names and contact information of any witnesses.
- Preserve the clothing and footwear you were wearing at the time of the accident.
- Follow all recommended medical treatment.
- Avoid providing recorded statements to an insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
You should also note that many grocery stores have surveillance cameras throughout the property. In many cases, this footage can become valuable evidence because it may show how the accident occurred, how long the dangerous condition existed, and whether employees were aware of it beforehand. Since surveillance footage is not always kept indefinitely, you need to act quickly.
As long as we can prove that you were injured due to another party’s negligence, you should receive compensation to help you deal with the economic and non-economic damages you’ve incurred, such as pain and suffering, the cost of medical bills and lost wages, emotional distress, and more.
If you have any additional questions or would like to speak with a seasoned personal injury attorney about your case, please don’t hesitate to contact The Mark Law Firm for an initial consultation today.
