Slip and Falls in Grocery Stores

There are countless grocery stores throughout Upstate New York, and most people living in the area visit them on a regular basis. Grocery store patrons typically expect to conduct their shopping in a safe environment. Unfortunately, though, many people are injured in slip and falls in grocery stores each year. People hurt in accidents on other people’s property can often recover damages, and it is prudent for them to seek legal counsel regarding their rights. The skilled Syracuse personal injury lawyers of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers are proficient at helping people hurt in falls seek damages for their harm, and if you were injured in a slip and fall accident, we can gather the evidence needed to provide you with a strong chance of a good result. We regularly assist people in slip and fall cases in Syracuse, Rochester, and throughout Upstate New York.

As grocery stores typically sell prepared foods and produce and allow customers to select and package many items themselves, they are more prone than other businesses to have slippery substances on the floor. Items may leak or thaw, creating puddles, and if they are not cleaned up before a customer encounters them, they can lead to an accident. Similarly, there is often loose fruit, vegetables, and other food on the ground that can make it slick and cause a person to lose their footing and fall. In some instances, the process of cleaning a floor may make it slippery, and if grocery store workers do not place signs warning customers of the potentially dangerous conditions, they may subsequently slip and fall and suffer injuries. If rain is brought into a grocery store by customers or leaks in through a doorway, it can cause unsafe conditions as well.

When people slip, their feet usually go out from under them, and when they subsequently fall, their bodies will impact the ground. Thus, many people involved in slip and fall accidents suffer fractures, concussions, lacerations, muscle and joint sprain and strain, and other significant harm. In many cases, slip and fall accidents are preventable, and grocery store owners who fail to maintain their premises in safe conditions can be held accountable for harm suffered due to their carelessness.

Typically, people injured in slip and falls in grocery stores will assert negligence claims against the owner of the business. In general terms, a plaintiff alleging negligence caused a slip and fall accident must prove that the defendant had a duty to act in a certain manner, a breach of the duty owed, and harm that resulted directly due to the breach. In the specific context of a premises liability claim, a business owner has an obligation to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition to prevent people who are lawfully on their property from suffering foreseeable injuries. In other words, they must remove any harmful conditions and must warn people entering the property of known dangers that are not readily observable.

In cases involving slip and fall accidents caused by temporary hazards such as food or liquid, plaintiffs face an additional burden of proof. Specifically, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant either knew or should have known of the presence of the dangerous condition that caused the fall. To prove that a defendant had constructive knowledge of food or liquid on the floor, the plaintiff must show either that the condition regularly occurred at the defendant’s business and was therefore foreseeable or that it existed for so long that if the defendant exercised ordinary care, it would have learned of the hazard.

Speak to a Seasoned Personal Injury Attorney in Syracuse, Rochester, or Upstate New York

Grocery store owners have a duty to protect their customers from known risks, including falls caused by spilled drinks or other hazards. If you were injured in a slip and fall accident in a grocery store, you should meet with a lawyer regarding your rights. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our seasoned Syracuse personal injury attorneys are adept at proving negligent business owners should be held accountable for the harm suffered on their property, and if you hire us, we will work tirelessly to help you seek a just result. We regularly assist people harmed by medical malpractice in the pursuit of damages in Syracuse, Rochester, and throughout Upstate New York. To set up a confidential and free meeting, you can reach us through our online form or by calling us at 833-200-2000.