What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident at a Supermarket

Supermarkets are supposed to be safe environments, but often can be an accident waiting to happen. Workers leaving floors wet, obstructions in the path of customers, or any number of other potentially harmful issues can happen while shopping in your favorite supermarket. Falls in these places can have lasting effects, but a slip and fall attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve should an unfortunate fall occur. However, you have to know what to do after a slip and fall accident at a supermarket, so here is what to do.

Alert the Manager

Stock people and other employees for the store might be immediately available after the fall, but these people should immediately get the manager. The manager will have the store information you will need such as information about their insurance policy. However, when talking to the manager, be sure not to give too much information out as the store will have the potential to use that information against you during your case.

Medical Attention

Before standing or moving at all, you need to call for medical assistance. Even if a fall was minor, injuries such as broken bones or internal bleeding can be exacerbated by movement. A medical professional should assess your injuries before you move out of the aisle or wherever you fell in the supermarket. Although the store manager might try to assist you in getting up, do not move. Remain as still as possible until medical assistance arrives to assess your injuries.

Statements from Witnesses

In a slip and fall situation, witnesses are key in getting you the compensation you deserve. Ensure that anyone who was around to see you fall gives their written statement before leaving. Witnesses will be key in determining if the store is liable for your fall. The statements will be used along with any live testimony during the proceedings. If written statements are not able to be taken at that exact moment, at the very least, obtain the names and phone numbers of all witnesses, so they can be called upon to give a statement at a later date for your attorney.

Gather Evidence

Like in any case, evidence is taken into consideration during legal proceedings, so pictures of the area you fell and surrounding area. Be sure to document any substance, obstruction, or anything that caused you to fall in the first place. Do not allow the store employees to clean anything up until documentation has been given on the incident. In the instance of evidence, a picture is certainly worth a thousand words, so do not think that the legality of the situation will be on your side based upon your word alone.

When gathering information, ensure that your attorney obtains any surveillance footage of where and when the fall took place. Practically every supermarket has cameras throughout their store to catch thieves and these cameras are available to the public in the instance of a slip and fall lawsuit.

Never Take an Immediate Payout

Large supermarkets often have money set aside to assist fall victims and ultimately protect their assets within the store. Corporations will send checks for thousands of dollars to fall victims in an attempt to avoid legal proceedings. These instant payouts require victims to sign documentation claiming they will not sue the supermarket.

Where these immediate payouts may sound attractive to a slip and fall victim, they should be avoided. Injuries need to be assessed by a medical professional and some injuries may not show up immediately leading to an untold sum in medical bills that the small payout may not cover. Supermarkets will likely offer, but do not accept and if they preemptively send a check to your home, do not cash it no matter how much it is for. Your case is worth much more than hush money.

Acquire Representation

In the instance of a slip and fall in a supermarket, proper representation is essential. The supermarket wants to avoid any legal proceedings as these can ultimately cost the store and the company the store represents hundreds of thousands of dollars. The average customer is often unaware about the possibility of receiving immediate compensation as stated above. It is highly recommended that you acquire a slip and fall attorney to get the compensation you deserve.

The reasons for slips and falls can stem from the fault of the shopper, but in many instances, it is simply negligence on the part of the supermarket and their employees. Misplaced items, spilled substances, cleaners, and a number of other issues can attribute to neglect causing a shopper to fall. Obtaining representation by a qualified attorney will ensure that your case is handled appropriately.

The supermarket will do everything in their power to ensure their interests are taken care of, so every supermarket fall victim should do the same. Your attorney will work for you and fight for you in court getting you much more than a simple, insignificant check for your injuries. These tips can help you get the right compensation and hold the supermarket liable for neglect.