When you take a trip to the grocery store, you generally expect to come home with bags of meat, tasty vegetables, snacks, and beverages to enjoy for the next few weeks. One thing no one expects to come home with is a serious, potentially life-altering injury. Unfortunately, even a small spill can cause a shopper to slip and fall. This can result in a range of injuries, including hip fractures, brain injuries, spinal injuries, wrist sprains, broken fingers, and much more. In some cases, the complications of these injuries can even lead to death. In the face of missed wages and medical expenses, injured victims may be desperately in need of financial compensation.
So how do you hold a grocery store liable for this kind of negligence? The first step is always to get in touch with a qualified, experienced Atlanta premises liability attorney. These legal professionals can help you hold grocery stores accountable for their negligence. With their assistance, you can also receive a settlement that covers your damages.
Was the Grocery Store Aware of the Spill?
Past cases have highlighted the importance of proving that a grocery store was aware that a spill occurred. Defense attorneys typically argue that if grocery store staff were not aware of the spill, then they can not be expected to address the issue. However, this is one of the most open-ended areas of law, and it is subject to considerable debate.
For example, how long does a spill need to sit on the floor before it becomes a clear and obvious hazard? Some may say five or ten minutes, while others may say as soon as it is brought to the staff’s attention. The general consensus is that staff members should clean up the spill as soon as they become aware of it. This means setting up wet floor signs, fetching a mop, and drying up the mess. If the staff member is unable to clean the spill at that moment, they are expected to put up a sign that warns shoppers of the danger. Many, if not all of us, have seen these wet floor signs in restaurants, stores, and other business buildings.
Georgia Woman Sues After Her Husband Falls into Deep Fryer
In 2017, it was reported that a Georgia woman was suing a grocery store after her husband slipped and fell into a deep fryer. The incident cost the man his life. The lawsuit claimed that the man was standing on a thin metal cover near the fryer when it gave way, sending him into the fryer. The key part of this lawsuit was the claim that the man was unaware of the hazard posed by the thin metal cover. The woman’s attorney would have undoubtedly argued that the grocery store should have placed some kind of sign near the deep fryer, warning individuals not to stand on this thin metal cover.
Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today
If you’ve been searching the Atlanta area for a qualified, experienced premise liability attorney, look no further than the Law Office of James T. Ponton, LLC. We have helped numerous injury victims in Atlanta achieve positive legal outcomes, and we can do the same for you. There’s no need to simply accept your injuries without taking legal action. Reach out today, and we can develop an effective action plan together.