Slip and Fall in a Grocery Store in Houston, Texas
Spilled milk in the refrigerated aisle, an unmarked step at the entryway, or broken flooring are just a few of the dangers potentially lurking in your grocery store that can cause serious harm to your body. Many grocery store slip and fall cases are preventable, so long as the establishment’s owner has taken the proper precautions and warned its patrons of any dangers.
So what do you do after you slip and fall in a grocery store? You have rights and should protect them, particularly when someone else’s negligence causes your injuries. After you seek medical attention, it’s time to seek legal advice. An experienced lawyer who handles slip-and-fall cases will be able to tell you if your case was a result of supermarket negligence and help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
We have been fighting for injury victims at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs for decades. What sets us apart is our legal credentials. Three of our attorneys are board-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction held by only a few attorneys in Texas. Tommy Fibich, our founding partner with over 50 years of experience, is board-certified in Civil Trial Law, while Russell Briggs is board-certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. This means we have the knowledge and expertise to handle any case, even against those large grocery store chains and corporate defendants. We’re ready to fight for your compensation. Call our office or contact us online today for a free consultation about your case.
Common Causes of Grocery Store Slip and Fall Cases
Grocery store management is responsible for providing a safe shopping environment for their customers. There are many common causes of slip and fall cases in grocery stores, including:
- Spilled liquids – Water, milk, juice, squished grapes, or any other substance left on the floor
- Unmarked Wet Floors – Mopped areas without caution signs
- Loose Floor Mats and Rugs – Poorly secured mats create tripping hazards
- Cluttered Aisles and Fallen Products – Items left in walkways causing obstructions
- Poor Lighting – Dimly lit areas make hazards harder to see
The grocery store owner is responsible for ensuring that all these hazards, as well as those not listed, are appropriately eliminated or marked with warning signs. When they don’t take care of their premises properly, you, the innocent shopper, are at risk of serious slip and fall injuries.
What Happens If You Fall in a Grocery Store?
An accident in public can be overwhelming. You might feel a rush of emotions, including embarrassment, which can cloud your judgment and make it hard to determine what you should do. If you fall in a grocery store, there are a few essential steps you need to take to protect your health and legal rights:
- Seek Medical Attention – Your injuries might not be immediately apparent. It’s important to let a medical professional fully evaluate you and document your findings.
- Report the Incident – Notify the store manager and request an accident report. Hang on to this report, and make sure your lawyer has a copy.
- Document the Scene – Take pictures of the hazard and your injuries. These photos are crucial evidence in your case.
- Get Witness Statements – Before you leave the scene, look around the immediate areas for fellow shoppers who saw you fall. If they are willing to give a statement about what they saw, record it on your phone and take down their information.
The last and most crucial step is finding a personal injury attorney in Houston, Texas. It’s always best to find someone who serves in your area because they know the local court procedures and everyone at the local courthouse. They can also secure the evidence for you if you could not get it at the time of the accident.
We know how to fight for your compensation at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs because we have decades of experience fighting for the rights of slip-and-fall victims in Houston, Texas. We have a proven track record, having secured over one billion dollars for our clients, including multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. We’re ready to fight for you, too.
Proving Negligence in Supermarket Slip and Fall Cases
It’s crucial to your personal injury claim to be able to prove negligence after you slip and fall in a grocery store. To do that, you must:
- Show that the store had a duty of care to its patrons to maintain safe premises.
- Prove the property owner was aware of the hazard and failed to fix or warn of it, which was a breach of its duty.
- Prove the hazard existed long enough for employees to address it.
- Prove that the hazard caused you to slip and fall.
- Demonstrate that you suffered actual losses because of the fall and your injury.
It seems like a daunting task, but you can prove negligence with evidence such as surveillance footage, witness testimony, and store maintenance logs. You don’t have to worry about fighting the grocer to obtain these records. Gather what witness statements you can at the time of the accident, and make sure you get the store owner’s name and the address and phone number of the location where you fell. Your lawyer can take care of gathering the rest of the evidence for you.
Compensation in Grocery Store Slip and Fall Cases
After you’ve been a victim of supermarket negligence, you’re probably wondering how much your case is worth. After all, how much damage can you incur after you slip through a puddle of milk? Don’t minimize your own case so soon. The aftermath of even the tiniest fall can be devastating. You might find you need compensation for:
- Medical Expenses – This includes doctor visits, treatments, and rehabilitation.
- Lost Wages – You may need to seek compensation for missed work due to injuries, including future lost income, if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term.
- Pain and Suffering – In some cases, you may be eligible for compensation for physical and emotional distress.
- Punitive Damages – If the store acted with gross negligence, punitive damages can be sought if your case goes to court.
Suppose a grocery store slip and fall causes a broken elbow. Not only is that a painful injury, but it also prevents a lot of physical activity. Are you a construction worker? A dog groomer? Even an office employee can’t type with one hand. It’s worth it to file a claim for a slip-and-fall accident that leads to any injury at all that costs you money. The insurance company will try its best to minimize your claim, but you don’t have to stand for that. Let an experienced slip-and-fall attorney fight for the slip and fall settlement or verdict you deserve for what you’ve been through.
Frequently Asked Questions
After you slip and fall in a grocery store, you might have some questions about your rights. Some of the most commonly asked questions are:
- Can I sue the grocery store for my injuries? Yes, if the grocer’s negligence played a role in the accident, you can pursue legal action.
- How long do I have to file a claim in Texas? Generally, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Texas allows an injured person two years from the date of the slip and fall incident to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
- What if the store claims I was at fault? Texas follows comparative fault laws, which means you may still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. There’s a limit, though. If you were more than 50 percent at fault, you cannot recover compensation.
Contact Our Houston Slip and Fall Attorneys for Help
A slip and fall accident can have lasting effects, physically, emotionally, and financially. If you’ve fallen and been injured due to supermarket negligence, don’t feel like you have to handle your case alone.
At Fibich, Leebron, Copeland, & Briggs, we have decades of experience and a proven history of fighting for the rights of injured victims. With board-certified personal injury attorneys and over a century of combined experience, you can rest easy knowing that we have the knowledge your case needs.
If you’ve been the victim of a slip and fall accident in Houston, Texas, don’t hesitate a second longer. Contact Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs today for a free consultation. We’ll answer your questions and advise you about your options for pursuing compensation.