How to File a Lawsuit Against a Supermarket

If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a retail grocery store, you could be entitled to monetary recovery from the store, their landlord, or their insurance company. Building a strong insurance claim or lawsuit is complex. A personal injury law firm can explain how to file a lawsuit against a supermarket and the strategy they will develop to seek damages.

Your lawyer will investigate your accident, gather evidence, file the appropriate lawsuit, and represent you in court. They may be able to resolve your case without a lengthy trial. You could attempt to handle your case on your own, but a lawyer will have familiarity with state and local laws and with valuing personal injury cases that will benefit you. Many will also review your case at no cost or obligation.

What You Need to Know About Filing a Lawsuit Against a Supermarket

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), accidental falls are the cause of 800,000 hospitalizations every year. A personal injury lawyer can pursue recovery for the costs of any hospitalization or other medical bills you experience. To file your lawsuit, they will:

• Gather crucial facts
• Exchange relevant documents 
• Exchange physical evidence
• Locate and interview witnesses
• Schedule discovery and depositions
• File your lawsuit and insurance claim
• File appropriate motions
• Represent you in court

After discovery and depositions, your lawyer will begin settlement negotiations on your behalf. Even after your lawsuit is filed, a settlement agreement can still be reached. A settlement is possible all the way until a verdict is returned by a judge or jury, so your lawyer will not stop negotiating on your behalf until that point.

Common Reasons Supermarkets Get Sued

Many people think supermarkets are only sued in cases of accidental falls. While slip and fall accidents are a leading cause of supermarket liability, you could also demand compensation for non-compliance with Americans with Disability Acts (ADA) issues and foodborne illnesses.

Slip and fall accidents can encompass a number of incidents and have a variety of causes, including:

• Slick or slippery floors
• Unattended spills
• Falling shelves and debris
• Torn or uneven carpeting
• Faulty or displaced floor mats
• Cracked or broken flooring
• Unmarked fall hazards
• Parking lot hazards
• Negligent security
• Insufficient lighting

Let your lawyer investigate for you. They will have a team and resources that can get to the bottom of your accident and prove its causes and contributing factors. Your lawyer will also take on the insurance company on your behalf so you can focus on getting better.

How Your Lawyer Will Prove the Supermarket’s Liability

To prove you are eligible for compensation, your legal team must prove the supermarket was negligent. That means proving the following elements of negligence:

• The supermarket owed you a duty of reasonable care
• They failed to provide it by not cleaning up a spill, securing shelving, etc.
• Your accident and injuries would not have occurred but for their negligence
• Your accident and injuries had financial consequences for you

Your personal injury attorney will work out the legalities and nuances of your case. They can also help you determine whether to file your lawsuit against the supermarket, its landlord, or both.

Your Accumulated Evidence Can Steer Your Case Toward a Settlement

Most personal injury cases end with a settlement rather than a trial. If you have a lawyer, they will steer your case in this direction based on the evidence they compile for you, which will include:

• Internal or corporate incident reports the supermarket may make
• Police reports if first responders arrived at the scene
• Medical records and bills that document the cause and cost of your injuries
• Employment and salary history records that prove the value of your lost wages
• Accident scene photos and videos and photos of your injuries
• Statements from experts and eye witnesses 

Gathering and organizing all the evidence your case requires can be an overwhelming task. The law firm that accepts your case will take on this task for you and build the strongest possible case file that leads to financial recovery.

Compensation a Personal Injury Lawyer Will Seek for You

Depending on the extent and severity of your injuries, you could have extensive medical bills. These expenses are the responsibility of the supermarket and their insurer. Your lawyer will demand compensation for all immediate and ongoing medical care. In addition, you can recover:

• All immediate income loss
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Treatment-related travel expenses
• Property damage or loss
• Disability and disfigurement
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional trauma
• Loss of enjoyment of life

An accidental fall or being injured by falling fixtures or debris in a supermarket can be frightening and humiliating. You are entitled to compensation for every way a negligence-based accident harmed you. Your lawyer will document your economic damages and compile tangible proof to document the value of your non-economic damages.

Personal Injury Notification and Filing Deadlines

Filing a lawsuit against a supermarket always means meeting the statute of limitations in your state. This filing deadline determines how much time you have to file your lawsuit. If your lawsuit is not filed on time, the statute prevents you from filing it at all. In Florida, Florida Statutes § 95.11 generally allows you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. 

An expired filing deadline could also mean your case will be dismissed, and you will be left with no legal recourse that compels the supermarket to compensate you. A personal injury lawyer in your area can explain the filing deadline and any factors that make it fluctuate, which can help you file your lawsuit within the allotted time.

Get a Free Review of Your Supermarket Injury Case

If you or a loved one was injured in a supermarket, our family-owned law firm can help. You will work directly with our partners, Jason and Debi, who will demand compensation for your injuries and related expenses and losses. 

Contact our case review team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers to learn more about how to file a lawsuit against a supermarket and how hard our family will fight for you.