What to do if You Are Injured at a Grocery Store?

What to do if You Are Injured at a Grocery Store?

Imagine this scenario: after a grueling day of work, you stop by Safeway on your way home to pick up some kale and toilet paper.  While walking down the Bathroom and Cleaning Supplies aisle, your eyes fixed on the shelves of pristine white Charmin at the end of the aisle, you inadvertently step in a puddle of spilled dish soap, slip, and fall to the hard-tiled floor, cracking your tailbone in the process.

Once the pain and shock of the accident wear off, you will be faced with a series of time-sensitive decisions, the results of which are integral in protecting your rights and well-being.  The following are steps you should take if you are injured at a grocery store or other retail establishment:

• Assess your injuries and seek immediate medical attention if necessary. In any accident situation, it is important to prioritize your health and welfare.  If you are bleeding, ask an employee or the store manager to bring you a first-aid kit and treat your wound.  If you suffered an impact on any part of your body, ask for an ice pack or other cold object to prevent bruising.  If your injury is significant, contact emergency services or go to the hospital.

• Document your accident. Unfortunately, many store employees fail to follow store reporting policies, either because they are inappropriately trained by store managers, or they willfully fail to take report in order to limit evidence and avoid liability in a possible lawsuit.  If the manager insists there is no store-mandated incident reporting policy, take initiative to gather evidence on your own.  Get the contact information of any witnesses, and take photographs of the scene.  Write down all of the details of the accident as soon as possible, while your memory is fresh.  Consider recording your interactions with store employees.  All of this can be important evidence can be important in supporting a compensation claim or lawsuit.

• Contact a lawyer. If you are injured at any retail establishment, including a grocery store, you may be entitled to compensation under California’s premises liability laws.  Premises liability laws mandate that property owners must ensure a safe environment for visitors and guests to their establishment.  In other words, these laws compel retailers to take steps to prevent injuries to their customers—and hold them liable should they fail to do so.  A grocery store accident attorney or department store accident attorney will be able to advise you of your rights and help you to file a successful personal injury claim.

File a Personal Injury Lawsuit

If you have been injured on the premises of a retail establishment, the award-winning personal injury attorneys of The Dominguez Firm can help you to get the compensation to which you are entitled.  Call today to speak with one of our accident attorney specialists at (800) 818-1818, and take the first step in securing your legal rights.