A slip and fall accident can be both painful and stressful, no matter where it happens. However, there are certain locations where you are more prone to a slip and fall, one of the most common being a grocery store.

Grocery stores are commonplace for accidents, due to the constant traffic it sees. Shoppers enter and exit throughout the day, and there are usually many employees working. More often than you might think, someone may take a fall in the aisle, get hit by a falling merchandise, or hit an automatic door.

In the following article, we will go over the best steps to take if you suffer a slip and fall accident in a New Jersey grocery store.

The NJ slip and fall lawyers at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law are here to assist if you need legal advice or representation for your own case.

Actions To Take After a Slip and Fall at a Grocery Store

You should be prepared if you are involved in an accident at the grocery store. The best way to be prepared is to know what to do. There are things you should do and things you should avoid, even though the specifics may change depending on your location or the size of the store. 

Steps to take include:

• Request a manager
• Report the accident to the store 
• Obtain the insurance details for the store 
• Take photos, videos or gather any other related evidence

Do not do the following:

• Leave the store
• Arguing or verbally attacking staff
• Discuss the accident

You have the right to get a copy of the accident report when submitting one to provide to your own insurer or attorney for your slip and fall claim. If the store has security cameras, you can also request to watch the video footage to review the accident. If it occurred during regular business hours, it's possible that another customer saw it. Ask anyone nearby if they saw your accident and collect their contact details. They may be able to provide a witness account to what happened. Make sure to seek medical attention, during which you can explain to the doctor the specifics of the accident so that they can note it in your medical records.

Grocery Store Liability in a Slip and Fall Accident

Grocery stores are required to take reasonable steps to ensure that no dangers capable of injuring customers exist on their property, under New Jersey law. This would include upkeep for potential slip and fall hazards, such as cleaning up spills or slippery surfaces or fixing damaged flooring. At the very least, a store is required to at least alert customers to the existence of such risks by posting a wet floor sign or other warning signs, for example. 

This applies to dangers that the store is aware of, as well as risks that it should have known about if it had taken reasonable precautions, including performing routine maintenance checks. Here's an example: a shopper falls on a spill from a broken beverage bottle. In this case, you could hold the store liable if an employee knows about it or if the bottle fell off the shelf hours earlier. However, if a customer knocks a bottle off the shelf, and then another customer enters the store a minute later and trips over the spill, the store might not be held responsible because it was unlikely that it would have known about the spill or had a chance to clean it up. 

Damages Available in a NJ Grocery Store Slip and Fall

You may be eligible to seek compensation for costs and losses suffered as a result of a slip and fall accident at a grocery store. These may include:

• Medical costs
• Rehabilitation
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disability
• Scarring or disfigurement

Speak With a Slip and Fall Lawyer From Brandon J. Broderick Today

Did a slip and fall accident in New Jersey cause you devastating injuries? Maybe, a loved one or family member was hurt in a grocery store fall? Don't let your medical bills mount while awaiting answers from their insurance company. You need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side right now to fight for the financial compensation you are entitled to.

Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law has decades of experience and can help you today. For a free consultation about your case, contact us online.