Supermarket Accidents.
Tips from a New York City Lawyer.

Introduction

There is a reasonable expectation of safety when you enter a supermarket or other retail space in New York to browse or shop. You have every right to assume that the store and its aisles will be kept in a safe condition, devoid of obstacles and clutter, or any dangerous condition.

Owners and employees of supermarkets and retail establishments have a duty to make their space friendly and secure for all visitors. Unfortunately, it happens all too frequently that a casual trip to the grocery store ends tragically due to poor maintenance or recklessly dangerous product displays. Samples are wet floors, clutter on floor, cracked tiles, snow and ice, holes in a parking lot, falling objects, the list is never-ending.

Time limit for filing a claim

For bringing a personal injury claim, the state of New York has a tight three-year statute of limitations for negligence cases such as many supermarket accidents.

Common Causes of Supermarket Accidents

There are a number of situations or occurrences that might result in personal injury accidents in supermarkets.

Among the most frequent causes of accidents in supermarkets are:

Wet and slick floors, such as those by the entrance or exit, in an aisle, or in a restroom;
A lack of warning signs about wet floors;
Staff who don’t promptly or correctly clean up spills;
Lack of or incorrectly positioned floor mats;
Blockages in the aisles;
Overloaded shelves or merchandise falling off;
Improperly designed, manufactured, or stacked displays;
Defective or broken shopping trolleys;
Insufficient lighting in the store or parking lot;

Common Supermarket Accident Injuries

Injuries from supermarket mishaps can be extremely serious, including:

Traumatic brain injuries;
Head injuries and concussions;
Severe scrapes, cuts and scarring;
Shattered or fractured wrists or arms;
Damaged or fractured hips or pelvis;
Neck and back herniations;
Damage to the spinal cord;
Broken Bones; and
Ligament tears.

Important Steps To Take After A Supermarket Accident

Victims of supermarket accidents should take the following steps as soon as possible:

As soon as possible, ask to talk with the management. You should ask someone nearby to find the manager if you are gravely hurt and unable to move. It’s crucial to make sure the manager can see your injury and where it came from. Make an accident report and screen shot a photo of it.
Request a copy of the accident or incident report that the manager has completed. The manager will probably ask for your contact information and additional information about the accident. Determine the source of your injuries, whether it was a soaked floor, a tangled rug, or a thrown object. Do not speak to anyone from any insurance companies after this, get a lawyer.
Refrain from admitting to the boss that you were at blame for the accident.
If required, ask for immediate medical help. Additionally, this supports your injury claim, especially if the supermarket or their insurance provider tries to argue that you weren’t hurt. It’s crucial to keep in mind that some injuries can go unnoticed for days, weeks or even months.
Collect details, such as the names and contact details of any witnesses, and record images or videos of the accident scene and the situation that led to it. Note any nearby store cameras that might have recorded your mishap.

Different forms of negligence

Accidents resulting from negligent behaviour on the part of store owners, managers or employees can have a variety of causes:

Slip and Fall Accidents: One of the most common forms of store accidents, these can be caused by wet or dirty floors, badly-lit staircases and hallways or debris which obstructs walkways. Failing to salt icy sidewalks is another common cause.

Inadequate Security:Businesses need to have security to deal with dangers that may arise on their property. It’s also important to have quality security cameras in the event that a physical altercation occurs.
Falling Object Accidents: These mishaps commonly occur in stores and warehouses where products are stacked quite high. Someone could sustain major injuries if they grab for something while reaching for objects that fell because they were stacked incorrectly.
Defective escalators or elevators as well as stair or handrail collapses are additional possible accident causes. Businesses need to be aware of any risks that customers could encounter on their property and take preventative action to address them. If they don’t, there could be a severe injury.

Proving Negligence & Obtaining Compensation For Injuries

The victim must demonstrate that their injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence in order to obtain financial compensation for harms sustained at a supermarket. Owners of supermarkets have a legal obligation to make a reasonable effort to keep their customers safe. Regular store inspections by owners or personnel should look for any hazards that could cause an accident or harm. When an accident happens as a result of events or behaviour that should have been avoided or preventive, negligence claims may be made. Owners of supermarkets may be held accountable for risks that contributed to an accident due to the steps they took—or didn’t take—when necessary.
By demonstrating that the owner, managers or their employees should have been aware of the hazardous condition or had previous notice of it and failed to take the required steps to have it fixed, victims can establish negligence. For instance, if a different customer reported that a bottle of soda had been dropped on the floor, but the staff neglected to pick it up. A few hours later, as a result, you lost your balance and fell. You must be able to demonstrate that the employees had enough time to remedy the dangerous situation.
When the hazard was made by the workers/employees of the grocery store, negligence may also be demonstrated. For example, if a store staff washed the floor but did not put up any signs alerting customers that the floor was wet, a customer would fall and get injuries. You may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering, injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages.

HOW CAN AN ATTORNEY FOR SUPERMARKET ACCIDENTS HELP ME?

By levelling the playing field with insurance companies and building the strongest case possible, an attorney for supermarket and retail shop accidents can assist you in receiving the full compensation you are entitled to. A lawyer can assist you in obtaining all the damages to which you may be entitled, including: