What To Do If You Fall in a Supermarket

What you do after a fall in a supermarket may affect your legal options, if the fall was the result of another’s negligence. The most important things to do after you slip and fall in a South Florida supermarket are to check yourself for injuries and protect a potential claim by reporting your accident.

Protect Yourself After a Fall in a Supermarket

To protect your right to pursue compensation, our Fort Lauderdale slip and fall attorneys recommend the following:

Assess Yourself for Injuries

Determine your need for immediate medical care. If you do not require paramedics and an ambulance, visit your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Share how you were injured with the medical team and ask for copies of the hospital’s or doctor’s medical records related to your injury.

It’s important to quickly establish your medical needs resulting from the accident and to attend follow-up appointments as directed by your doctor. All of this plays a big part in supporting your pursuit of a full and fair compensation settlement or judgment for your losses.

Tell a Staff Member About Your Accident

Inform the supermarket manager of your injury and ask for a copy of the incident report they generate. You may feel as though you should just brush your accident off and leave to avoid embarrassment. However, you may have suffered injuries you are unaware of. Without a written record of the accident, the supermarket’s insurance company may deny your claim.

Document the Scene

Take pictures of the space where you fell, focusing on what caused you to fall if you can capture that in a picture. Also, take pictures of your injuries on the day of the accident and for succeeding days to record physical developments. 

Write Down What Happened Before You Forget

Create a written record of everything you remember from the time you entered the supermarket and maintain the injury diary throughout your legal journey.

Ask For Eyewitness’ Contact Information

Ask for eyewitness statements and contact information. Recording initial statements on your phone is an easy method for you and the witnesses. If you do not want to interview eyewitnesses, our team can handle it for you; just make sure you get their phone number or email.

Do Not Speak With the Supermarket’s Insurance Company Before Speaking With a Lawyer

Do not discuss how you feel with anyone working for or representing the supermarket or their insurance company. You may not be aware of the extent of your injuries for several days. It’s not uncommon to feel shocked but OK in the moments or hours after a fall only to discover you have serious back or neck injuries. 

Do not give a recorded statement if asked.

You should also avoid discussing the accident on social media as the insurer can use that against you.

Consult With a Slip and Fall Lawyer

Speak with an attorney experienced in Florida’s personal injury and premises laws before you speak with anyone but your physician about your injuries. A lawyer from our firm can help you determine your next steps and options for compensation.

Recovering Compensation for Your Supermarket Fall

Following through with the steps listed above will help you gather the evidence you need to prove negligence and recover your costs for medical care, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages you suffered.

To recover compensation, you must be able to establish the following:

• The supermarket owed you a duty of care. For example, the owner and employees must clean up all spills or at least warn shoppers of the danger.
• The supermarket breached that duty. An employee failed to clean up spilled milk.
• That breach caused your injury. You slipped and fell in the spilled milk.
• You suffered damages. You suffered a traumatic brain injury, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

You Can Recover for All Types of Injuries Sustained in a Supermarket Fall

Supermarket fall injuries may be mildly inconvenient or quite serious. A fall in a supermarket may result in a host of injuries including but not limited to:

• Bruises
• Bleeding
• Sprains 
• Dislocated knees or shoulders
• Back or neck pain
• Torn ligaments
• Nerve damage
• Brain injury
• Broken bones
• Paralysis
• Anxiety and depression

How Falls Happen in Supermarkets

Falls can happen anywhere for any reason. In supermarkets, there are common scenarios that precipitate falls. Perhaps one of the following happened to you:

• Poor lighting
• Wet entrances and exits
• Frayed or unsecured mats in the entry
• Aisle displays at awkward angles
• Boxes or carts crowding the aisles as employees stock shelves
• Mopped floors with no signage
• Fallen product on the floor
• Spills or debris left in the aisles

When to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit for Your Supermarket Fall

Your attorney will help you put together and file a slip and fall claim with the liable party’s insurance company. Sometimes the insurance company accepts your claim and the amount you state for your losses. They cut a check and everyone moves on. Other times your claim may be denied or you may be offered a small payout that will not come near to covering your losses.

If your attorney finds that the insurance company is not negotiating in good faith, we may recommend filing a personal injury lawsuit for a compensation judgment from the court. Per Florida Statute § 95.11, you usually have two years from the date of the accident to file such a lawsuit, although some circumstances allow for more than two years. If you do not file within the designated time, you will be barred from doing so.

Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers Fights for Your Rights After a Supermarket Fall

Debi and Jason Chalik have fought for the rights of injured Floridians for 20 years. Our entire team approaches each case as if it’s our only case, with our family fighting for your family.

We offer free strategy sessions and we collect no payment until you recover compensation. Schedule a time to chat with us. We want to help and we will fight for every penny you deserve.