Need to stock up on food and other household products? A trip to your local supermarket is in order. While this may seem like a mundane chore, it can quickly turn into a life changing event. Those who’ve been injured in a supermarket accident will understand this.
It’s unfortunate to note that supermarket injuries aren’t as rare as one would like to think. In fact, they occur every day. In many cases, these injuries are the result of the supermarket’s negligence or lack of maintenance by the property owners. In such cases, the injured party can seek compensation for his or her injuries from the owner of the store or the property.
Common Causes of Supermarket Accidents
The most common type of accident that occurs in supermarkets and other retail stores is a slip and fall accident. This is because many supermarkets have slippery aisles. In other cases, hazardous conditions in the supermarket can cause injuries. These include spilled beverages, wet floors resulting from leaky freezers as well as slick floors.
Employees are supposed to clean up spills as soon as possible. They are also supposed to clear their equipment after cleaning and put up caution signs indicating that the area has wet floors and customers should therefore be careful.
Other common causes for accidents in supermarkets include:
- Children falling off shopping carts
- Collapse of shelves
- Falling objects
- Foodborne disease
- Uneven pathways
- Broken shopping carts causing injury
- Failure of automatic doors
- Defective conveyor belts
- Obstructions in aisles
- Bunched or loose mats
It is important to note that if you’ve been injured in a supermarket accident, the burden of proof rests solely on you as the plaintiff. You will have to show how the supermarket management’s negligence resulted in the accident that caused your injuries. It is therefore best to seek the assistance of a skilled and experienced attorney who will help you in building a case against the responsible party.
Types of Injuries
Some of the most common injuries sustained in supermarket accidents include:
- Strains
- Sprains
- Cuts
- Head trauma
- Fractures
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
Recovering from injuries often takes some time. If your injuries are severe, you may experience significant financial losses as a result of seeking treatment or loss of employment. If you have had to file for permanent disability because of your injuries, you may not be able to return to work.
Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer to begin the process of filing for compensation.
