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This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.
You can sue a grocery store if you are injured due to a slip and fall accident if you can provide evidence that proves the store failed to take reasonable care and it caused your injury. For example, you may be able to file a lawsuit if you can prove employees knew about the water but failed to act, but you may not be able to file a claim if the water was freshly spilled.
Imagine you’re walking through a store, shopping like usual, and suddenly you’re lying on the ground in a puddle of water. You are seriously injured, and the rest of your life may look very different from what you imagined it would be. All because someone failed to grab a mop or put up a warning sign.
This happens to people in the United States every day and you should be aware of all types of common slip and fall injuries that warrant medical attention.
If you’ve been hurt, your medical expenses may be significant, and you might have a long recovery ahead of you. The good news is that you may not have to handle the expenses and struggles on your own. The store may be responsible for the unsafe conditions that caused your accident. Keep reading to learn more about what you’ll need to do to get a settlement.
Building a Claim
The fact that you slipped on a wet floor in the store on its own won’t be enough to get compensation. You have to prove that the store owners were negligent in providing a safe environment. If the manager already knew or should have known about the spill, then they failed in their duty toward you, the customer. They may also be at fault if they failed to provide adequate warning, such as putting out a caution wet floor sign.
To prove your claim, you’re going to have to gather sufficient evidence to show negligence on the part of the store operators. The goal is to show that the fall was entirely their fault and that it was unavoidable. If the judge decides you share some or all of the responsibility for falling, then you’ll get less compensation — if you get any at all.
Effective evidence in these cases includes can include:
- Eyewitness testimony
- Expert testimony
- Photos
- Videos
- Your official statement
Your lawyer will be able to tell you what types of evidence you’ll need to prove your claim. They will also handle the task of reaching out to the expert witnesses who will testify on your behalf.
Getting Your Payout
Your damages in a slip-and-fall case depend on the specific expenses and injuries you suffered. Present a careful record of all of your bills and other spent or unearned income related to the accident. Compensation for those costs will be the basis of your damages from this claim.
You should also prepare testimony about the effects of the injuries on your life. Any pain and suffering that you and your family have experienced can merit further compensation and make your case stronger. Any way you can show your life has been negatively impacted because of the incident will help you.
After presenting your claim, you might get a settlement offer from the store’s insurance company. If you negotiate or accept this offer of compensation, you won’t have to go before a judge or jury. However, insurance companies will typically offer you less than you need in the interest of protecting their own profits.
How a Lawyer Can Help
Proving your case and negotiating a settlement can be very difficult. Especially when you’re recovering from an injury and you don’t have the same legal resources as the liable party. Connecting with a lawyer can help take the weight off of you and place you on a level playing field with a major corporation.
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This content is brought to you by Charles Britton.
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