Most people shop for groceries at least once a week, so it’s entirely possible you could slip and fall inside one. These accidents can leave shoppers with serious head and back injuries, but it isn’t always obvious whether the store is liable for your accident. Please call Fitzpatrick, Skemp & Butler, LLC, today to schedule a consultation with a Wisconsin slip and fall attorney.
Fall Hazards Abound in Grocery Stores
It is quite easy to lose your balance while walking around a grocery store. Some of the more dangerous hazards include:
- Spilled liquids
- Loose tiles
- Water sprayed over vegetables
- Paper or trash
- Freshly mopped floors
- Dripping refrigeration or air conditioning
- Condensation
- Pieces of fruit or vegetables
- Plastic bags
Stepping on any of these hazards can lead to a fall. And we haven’t even mentioned the hazards in the parking lot, which include snow, ice, and wet leaves.
Can You Sue a Grocery Store?
Some hazards are unavoidable. For example, stores regularly mist water over fresh vegetables. Some of this water will naturally find its way to the floor, which makes it dangerous to walk. However, the store should anticipate hazards like these and mitigate them. For example, many grocery stores install rugs for traction in the vegetable aisle. That way, water will collect on the rug, and customers can maintain their grip on the floor.
Another unavoidable hazard is snow or ice in winter. But a store should put down ice melt or shovel regularly so that ice does not accumulate in the parking lot or on the sidewalk.
Stores often create hazards, but they can warn customers. For example, a store that mops its floors should also put up a sign warning customers to be careful.
A grocery store should also have workers regularly inspect aisles and not wait for customers to report problems. For example, a staff member might find a loose plastic bag or a smashed bottle of pickles and can steer customers away from these hazards or clean up the mess.
When stores are careless, you can probably sue them for the injuries suffered in a fall. There are some common situations:
- The store created the hazard but did not warn customers. An example is mopping floors while the store is open.
- The store should have anticipated the hazard but took no precautions. A store which does not regularly check its aisles nonetheless has knowledge of a hazard.
- The store had actual knowledge of a hazard but did nothing. For example, staff can walk in after a snowstorm and see the snow. The store should take reasonable steps to clear it.
Call Our Wisconsin Slip and Fall Lawyer
Slip and falls send many people to the hospital with major injuries. If you call us, we can get to work on your case. Our Wisconsin law firm can investigate and search for evidence, such as closed-circuit television, which can show how long the hazard existed and who created it. Call us today to schedule a free consultation with a slip and fall attorney.