Grocery Store Slip and Fall Injury Lawyers Representing Clients across NJ
While shopping at home or on the go is popular and convenient, the reality is that most people shop at a physical store on a weekly basis, especially for food and other household items. For this reason, the most common stores frequented by the public are quite possibly supermarkets, grocery stores, big box stores, and other stores that sell everyday items. Regardless of the specific location, supermarkets and similar retailers are required to regularly monitor the floors for possible spills and other hazards, inspect displays, and perform all necessary and reasonable actions to ensure the safety of the premises. Failure to do so can lead to serious accidents and injuries for shoppers and employees. If the supermarket fails to ensure that their premises are in a safe condition, and a person is injured as a result, the supermarket may be responsible for the harm caused.
If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of a dangerous condition at a supermarket, call our New Jersey slip and fall accident lawyers as soon as possible. Our skilled supermarket accident attorneys will take the time to meet with you and discuss all of your options. If you decide to hire our firm, you will not have to pay our lawyers any money while we are handling your case. Our attorneys will only be paid if we successfully recover money on your behalf. Call (732) 303-7857 or contact us online for a free consultation. A dedicated and highly knowledgeable attorney is available right away to discuss your fall in a grocery store in NJ.
Supermarket Hazards that Lead to Accidents in New Jersey
Supermarkets, like all commercial establishments, have a duty to ensure that their premises are safe and free from dangerous conditions. Some of the hazards that often cause supermarket accidents include:
- Wet or slippery floors
- Falling objects
- Dangerous flooring due to lack of repair, lifted tiles, uneven carpeting or rugs
- Failure to address a spill or mess, such as a broken glass or damaged produce on the floor
- Falls caused by ice or snow in the parking lot or on the sidewalk
- Lack of proper signage
- Leaking refrigerators or freezers
- Plumbing issues
The most common dangerous condition at a supermarket is a wet or slippery floor. A supermarket not only has a duty to clean up spills or dry a wet floor which became wet for a different reason; the supermarket also has a duty to inspect it’s premises for wet conditions. Obviously if the supermarket determines that a slippery floor exists, the supermarket must take steps to make sure the floor is immediately dried.
In addition, shoppers can be injured by objects falling from the shelves or the equipment used for stocking merchandise. In every store, retail space is at a premium and therefore, the products and merchandise are stacked from floor to ceiling. This is especially true in supermarkets and grocery stores, which offer innumerable selections. In these types of stores, there is shelving that runs the length of the stores and stacks upon stacks of objects are piled as high as the eye can see. When an item is not properly secured or falls off a shelf or display, the object may fall on an unsuspecting shopper causing serious injuries. For example, if the object is not carefully placed on the shelves by a careless employee, it may fall and cause injuries to innocent shoppers. In other cases, the original worker who stocked the shelves failed to safely place them or jammed the items too closely together.
Another dangerous condition which may occur at a supermarket is a dangerous display. A dangerous display can be a display that is set up to display waters or another beverage, however, something in the display makes the display itself, unsafe. The display may be unsafe because it creates a tripping hazard or creates a risk that a person’s hand or foot may be caught in the display.
Finally, if a worker at a supermarket creates a dangerous condition, the supermarket may be liable for their worker’s dangerous conduct. This is known as the doctrine of respondent superior. Respondent superior essentially means that an employer is liable for the dangerous condition which is created by one of their employees, so long as the employee was acting within the scope of his or her employment.
Do I Have an Injury Claim Against a Supermarket in NJ?
Supermarkets, like any other commercial business, must take reasonable care to prevent shoppers from injuring themselves as a result of unsafe or dangerous conditions on the property. Hidden spills, dangerously top-heavy shelves, and unsafe sidewalks can all constitute dangerous conditions, and if you suffer an injury because the supermarket failed to remedy these dangerous conditions, you may have a claim against the grocery store. After you have sought medical attention for any injury you suffered, it is advisable to take photographs of the dangerous area that caused your accident. The color of the spilled liquid, the absence of “wet floor” signage, or the presence of pallets littered around the aisle may all help you prove your negligence claim in court.
If you successfully win a lawsuit against a grocery store after being injured in an accident on their premises, you may recover compensation, known as damages. The intention of damages is to make you whole financially, to cover the costs of further care or losses related to the accident, and compensate you for your pain and suffering. For example, if you broke your ankle because you slipped on something on the supermarket floor, may be entitled to lost wages for missed work while you were recovering. You may also be able to recover money to compensate you for medical bills, any rehabilitative treatments and therapies needed going forward, and damages for the emotional harm caused by your injuries. An experienced attorney will be able to evaluate the facts of your case and provide you with a more specific estimation of your potential ability to recover economic and noneconomic damages.
Contact our New Jersey Grocery Store Accident Attorneys to Discuss Your Case
Our New Jersey personal injury lawyers represent individuals who have been injured through no fault of their own in all New Jersey counties and cities, including in Monmouth County, Middlesex County, Ocean County, and Hudson County. Our dedicated New Jersey supermarket accident attorneys have obtained significant recoveries on behalf of individuals who have been hurt due to a dangerous condition.
If you or someone you know would like to speak with one of our personal injury attorneys, call our office today at (732) 303-7857 or start a chat. One of our lawyers will be happy to provide you with a free consultation.
