South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
Grocery stores, retail stores, and other places of business have a duty to provide a safe environment for their customers here in Florida. When they fail to fulfill their duty, injuries can happen and the stores are liable. You may be able to receive compensation for your injuries if you were injured at a grocery store, supermarket, or another place of business.
What is needed for a personal injury case
Florida law requires that the plaintiff in a personal injury case (the injured person or the person’s surviving family) prove:
- The person or business who caused your injury owed you a duty of care
- The person or business was negligent in that duty
- You suffered injury or damage that was caused by the breach of duty
- The injury or damage can be demonstrated legally
“Duty of care” simply means they have a responsibility to keep their premises safe for visitors and employees. If your injury is caused by negligence on the part of the store or its employees, and you have injuries that can be demonstrated in court, you may be eligible for compensation.
Like many other personal injury cases, you can sue for any of the following situations that apply:
- Medical costs, current and future
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Other expenses caused by the accident, such as necessary changes to your home to accommodate your injuries
- Loss of companionship in the case of serious permanent injury or death
What can go wrong in a grocery store
Many things can go wrong in a grocery store. Poor maintenance or carelessness can lead to slippery or dangerous situations causing slip and fall accidents or items falling on your head. Objects left in the aisles can cause accidents. Crimes can occur if security systems or lighting is insufficient. A few specific examples include:
- Slippery areas from spills in aisles or wet entrances from wet weather
- Exterior sidewalks, walkways, or parking lots that are poorly maintained, leading to falls, injuries, or car accidents
- Malfunctioning sliding doors
- Insufficient security
- Poor lighting inside the store or around the exterior and parking lot
- Products dangerously stacked or obstructing the flow of carts and customer foot traffic
- Building code violations
- No warning signs around wet floors
- Insufficient space for people with shopping carts to pass each other safely
- Blind corners at the end of aisles increasing the likelihood of collision of shopping carts or shoppers
What you should do if you are injured
As with any injury, see a doctor as soon as possible. Don’t make any statements such as “I’m okay” or “My fault!” It’s natural to want to be polite in these situations and want to make people feel better, even when you really aren’t “okay” but resist saying anything that placates the situation. Try to get the names of the managers on duty and if possible, get pictures of the situation. Keep records of any medical expenses and medical diagnoses.
You will likely get a call from the store’s insurance agency, but do not make any statements or talk to them before you speak to a personal injury lawyer. You have no idea how long your injuries will persist or what complications may arise right after the incident. You do not want to sign anything or agree to a settlement too soon.
Bring your case to a personal injury lawyer who has a track record of winning. As an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer, I am driven to protect the rights of injured individuals against big businesses, insurance companies, and medical institutions that have the financial resources to prevent people from getting the compensation they deserve. If you need an advocate who knows how to fight the system and win, contact me at (954) 448-7288, 24/7 for a free consultation to see how I can help you.