Legal Remedies if You’re Injured in a Supermarket Slip and Fall

You probably go to the local grocery store a couple of times a week and never think of it as a place where you could get hurt. But slips and falls happen in supermarkets far too often. When they are due to negligence on the part of store management or employees, the injured customer deserves compensation.

All businesses, including supermarkets, have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors and to warn visitors of potentially hazardous conditions. That duty covers areas inside the store, outside the store and on walkways and parking lots that are under the store’s control. When supermarkets don’t fulfill their duty, people who get hurt can pursue legal action.

There are dozens of situations where a supermarket might be liable for a customer’s slip and fall. These are some examples of unsafe conditions that often lead to such accidents:

• Wet floors, particularly when there is no warning sign near the wet area
• Spilled liquids or other slippery substances that are not promptly cleaned up
• Pallets or boxes of food or other items obstructing the aisles
• Loose, cracked or uneven floor tiles
• Snow and ice accumulating in the parking lot, on the sidewalk or at the store’s entrance
• Poorly maintained parking lots that have potholes and cracks
• Lack of good lighting in the store or parking lot, making it more likely that someone will slip or trip

You should know that Massachusetts law can change. In the area of snow and ice, the relatively recent case of Papadopoulos v. Target Corporation, 457 Mass. 368, changes the rules for accidents on snow and ice. That case has greatly expanded the rights of victims for all sorts of snow and ice accidents. It involved the patron of a big box store but is applicable to accidents anywhere.

If you slip and fall at the supermarket, you should not leave the store unless you need urgent medical attention. You should instead make sure the store management is aware of the incident. You should file a written report, which will prevent the store or its insurer from denying that the incident occurred. If you can, take photos of the area where you fell. This is important because the store will probably fix or clean the area right away, erasing the evidence. After the incident, you and your attorney should pursue evidence like security camera footage and witness statements. This all helps build your case for compensation.

A successful legal claim can allow you to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering. Keep records of all your medical bills and track how much time you have to take off work. Whether you pursue this compensation through an insurance claim, a personal injury lawsuit or both, you will want to work with an experienced premises liability lawyer who can handle the legal issues so you can focus on recovery.

The lawyers of Feinberg & Alban PC in Boston have successfully handled numerous cases in Massachusetts for people hurt in supermarket slip and falls, some cases even resulting in million dollar recoveries. To speak with one of our experienced attorneys, please call 617-232-5950 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation.