Headed to the Grocery Store? Watch out!
If you had to name the most dangerous place you go to on a weekly basis what would it be? Maybe the bank? After all, banks get robbed. So do gas stations. Did you think of the grocery store? Most people don’t, but it really is a common place for injuries to occur. The reason is because people are prone to slip and fall injuries at grocery stores. Something spills and doesn’t get cleaned up. Or maybe it gets mopped but the wet floor sign doesn’t get placed. An elderly woman turns to go down the aisle and falls on her hip. Believe it or not, more than $450 million in legal settlements is paid out annually for these types of accidents (source: Lawyers Law dot com). Victims over 60 are especially at risk.
Given the preponderance of spilled liquids, loose items and runaway carts at grocery stores and supermarkets, it is not surprising that slip and fall injuries are a danger to customers and employees. One of the most interesting finds of the NFSI report was that women, specifically 60 years or older, are more likely to endure a serious slip and fall injury. Grocery store falls take place most often in crowded entry areas, where water is often tracked into the store and not cleaned up as easily or quickly as promotes optimal safety. In addition, the high polish on most supermarket floors means that it is hard to detect stray liquids. Liquid-related risks can occur often in refrigerated areas where equipment may leak or in the produce area, where produce is kept fresh with water continually spraying the products available for purchase.
Victims’ Rights in Slip and Fall Injuries
It is a grocery store or supermarket’s obligation to provide a safe space for customers to walk and to prevent slip and fall injuries to the best of their ability. Grocery stores should always have unsafe areas marked and designated with caution signs as well as have employees nearby to continually scan the store for areas of potential danger. If the unavoidable does occur, you still have rights, whether you are a customer or an employee.
Have you been injured in a slip and fall accident in Nashville? Call us today for a free consultation about your case. Speak with the Nashville personal injury attorney who cares. We can help you get the compensation you deserve.
