Injured in a Retail or Grocery Store? Contact a Skilled Attorney
Retail and grocery store injury lawyers represent people who have been injured in retail or grocery stores due to the negligence of the store owner or employee. The most common type of retail or grocery store injury is a slip and fall. Other common types of injuries include being hit by falling merchandise, tripping over an obstruction in the aisle, or being attacked by another customer. If you have been injured in a retail or grocery store, you may have a premises liability claim and could be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact GOLDLAW today to schedule a free consultation.
What is Premise Liability?
Premises liability is the legal term for a property owner’s responsibility to keep their premises safe for visitors. This includes both indoor and outdoor spaces. If a property owner fails to do so and someone is injured as a result, the property owner may be held liable. The level of care a property owner must take towards each type of visitor varies based on their status. Florida law recognizes three types: invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
Invitees
Invitees are defined as people who have been expressly or impliedly invited onto the property by the property owner for business or another lawful purpose. For example, customers at a grocery store would be considered invitees. Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care out of the three types of visitors. Therefore, the property owner must take reasonable steps to ensure that their premises are safe for invitees and warn them about any potential dangers they may not be aware of.
Licensees
Licensees are people who enter another person’s property with permission but not for business reasons. An example would be a social guest in someone’s home. The property owner only needs to warn licensees about any hidden dangers on their property that the visitors are unaware of. However, if the property owner creates new risks while the licensee is present – such as spilling something on the floor – they could be held liable if the licensee falls and gets injured.
Trespassers
Trespassers are people who have entered the property without permission from the property owner. An example of this would be someone breaking into an abandoned warehouse. Property owners generally owe trespassers no duty of care except to not intentionally injure them.
Proving Your Retail or Grocery Store Claim
When you are injured in a retail or grocery store, you may have a claim against the store owner or manager. In order to prove your claim, you will need to show that the store owed you a duty of care, that the store breached that duty, the breach caused your injuries, and as a result, you suffered damages.
The first step in proving your retail or grocery store claim is to show that the store owed you a duty of care. This means that the store had a responsibility to keep you safe from foreseeable harm. For example, if you tripped and fell on a wet floor, the store would be responsible for ensuring that the floor was dry and free of slippery substances.
Next, you will need to show that the store breached its duty of care to you. This means that the store did not take reasonable steps to keep you safe and prevent foreseeable harm. Continuing with the example above, if the floor was wet and slippery, but the store did not put up a sign warning customers of the hazard, then the store breached its duty to keep you safe.
Finally, you will need to show that the breach caused your injuries and that you suffered losses as a result. This means that you must have suffered some form of harm—such as an injury—for there to be damages (compensation) awarded in your case. If you merely slipped on the wet floor but were not injured, then you would not be able to recover any damages from the store. To show losses, you can present medical records and proof that you lost income from being out of work.
Evidence For Your Retail or Grocery Store Claim
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, there are a few different ways to prove that the store was negligent and that your injuries were caused by that negligence. Some of the most important evidence you can present includes the following:
Accident Reports
If you were injured in a retail or grocery store, the first thing you should do is ask the store manager for a copy of the accident report. The accident report should contain information about what happened, when it happened, and where it happened. This can be helpful in establishing negligence on the part of the store.
Witness Statements
If there were witnesses to your accident, be sure to get their contact information so that your attorney can follow up with them. Witnesses can provide valuable testimony as to what they saw happen and can help establish that the store was negligent.
Video Surveillance
Most stores have video surveillance cameras installed. If there is video footage of your accident, be sure to get a copy of it from the store. This video footage can be extremely helpful in proving your claim.
Statute of Limitations for Retail and Grocery Store Injury Claims in Florida
The statute of limitations is the timeframe in which an injured party has to file a legal claim. In the state of Florida, the statute of limitations for retail and grocery store injuries is four years. This means that if you are injured in a retail or grocery store, you have four years from the date of the accident to file a claim. After this four-year period expires, you will no longer be able to file a claim, regardless of how severe your injuries may be.
How Much Does a Retail and Grocery Injury Lawyer Cost?
Before hiring a retail or grocery store injury lawyer, it is crucial to understand how they will be paid. Some lawyers charge an hourly rate, while others may charge a flat fee. However, most lawyers who handle these types of claims work on a contingency basis, which means they only get paid if you win your case or settle it out of court. You should also ask about any other fees that may be involved in your case, such as filing fees or expert witness costs.
Contingency fees are a percentage of the total amount of money recovered. For example, if a lawyer recovers $100,000 for their client, the lawyer may take a 33.3% contingency fee, which means they would keep $33,000, and the client would get $67,000.
Why Choose GOLDLAW?
When looking for a retail or grocery store injury lawyer, it is essential to find one with experience handling similar cases in your area. GOLDLAW has the expertise you need. We’re the right choice for you because:
- Our lawyers specialize in retail and grocery store injuries and are familiar with all applicable laws and regulations.
- We have a strong record of winning. Our clients benefit from our dynamic working environment and dedicated, long-term employees.
- We’ll obtain what you rightfully deserve to compensate you for your injury or loss.
If you have questions or need help initiating a lawsuit due to an injury you suffered at a retail or grocery store, contact us today to schedule your consultation.
