Proving your claim after a grocery store slip-and-fall

Shoppers rarely think about the potential hazards of a grocery store when they are buying their groceries. However, grocery store slip-and-fall accidents are often caused by dangerous store conditions that were overlooked by store owners and employees.

New York shoppers who have experienced serious slip-and-fall injuries may find themselves unable to work and saddled with high medical debt. Filing a premises liability claim against those responsible for your accident could help relieve some of your financial stress following a slip-and-fall accident.

Filing a claim after a slip-and-fall

If you choose to file a lawsuit against the owner of the store where you fell, you will need to establish that the owner’s negligence led to your injuries. Specifically, you will need to show:

• You were lawfully on the property when the accident occurred. Generally, shoppers are considered business invitees, as in the store owner implicitly invited you onto the store premises.

• There was a dangerous condition on the property. Uneven floor tiles, broken steps, and icy or slippery floors are all store hazards that commonly result in grocery store slip-and-falls.

• The store owner was negligent in failing to fix the problem. Store owners are generally considered negligent when they knew of or should have known of the dangerous condition but failed to exercise reasonable care to fix it or warn shoppers of it.

• The store owner’s negligence caused your accident and injuries. The store owner’s negligence must be directly and proximately related to your accident and resulting injuries.

• You suffered injuries and damages. You must have medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and/or other damages as a result of the accident.

Even a seemingly minor slip-and-fall accident at the grocery could result in serious injuries and life-changing consequences. An attorney specializing in personal injury law can help you file a claim to help you financially recover after your accident.