(300+)Hurt in a slip and fall accident at a grocery store? You must get immediate medical care, report the incident, secure evidence, and prepare a claim. You have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. This raises an important question: How much compensation can you get for a slip and fall accident in a grocery store? The short answer is that the value of your case will depend on the severity of your injuries and your ability to hold the store legally liable for the accident. Here, our Philadelphia slip and fall attorney explains how much compensation you can expect to receive for a grocery store fall accident injury in Pennsylvania.
Steps to Take After a Slip and Fall in a Grocery Store in Philadelphia
Were you or your loved one hurt in a slip and fall accident at a grocery store in Philadelphia? A proactive approach is key to putting yourself in the best position to get the proper medical care and the maximum available financial compensation. Here are four steps to take:
- Document the Scene: Slip and fall accidents are fault-based legal cases. The more evidence that you have, the better positioned you will be to bring a claim against a grocery store. If you can do so, you should take photographs or videos of the exact spot where you fell, including any liquid, debris, or floor hazard, collect names and contact information of any witnesses who saw the fall or the unsafe condition, and secure other key evidence.
- Get Immediate Medical Care: All slip and fall accident injuries should be evaluated by a doctor. Your health and well-being matter. You need the proper care. Further, you will not be able to get compensation for a grocery store slip and fall accident if you have not seen a doctor. Severe injuries require emergency medical attention.
- Report the Slip and Fall: Grocery store slip and fall accidents in Philadelphia should be reported. You should notify the store manager or employee in charge as soon as possible. At some point after the slip and fall accident, you should also request a copy of any written report for your personal records.
- Speak to a Lawyer Before Giving a Statement: Do not state the grocery store, a manager/supervisor at the grocery store, or any insurance adjuster until you have had an opportunity to consult with a Philadelphia premises liability attorney. Insurance adjusters often reach out quickly to gather statements that can limit your recovery. You need strong, experienced professional representation.
Your Guide to Liability for a Slip and Fall at a Grocery Store in Pennsylvania
It is important to emphasize that a grocery store is not automatically liable for a slip and fall accident that happens on its premises. Liability for a slip and fall at a grocery store in Philadelphia is governed by the Commonwealth’s premises liability law. Property owners and occupiers, including grocery stores, owe a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition for customers, who are considered “business invitees.”
Under Pennsylvania law, a store can be held liable if it knew or should have known about a hazardous condition and failed to correct it or provide adequate warning. For example, imagine a spill reported in a grocery store aisle by an employee. However, for an hour, nothing is done to clean it up. An unfortunate person slips and falls, suffering a serious head injury. They can pursue a claim against the grocery store because failure to clean the spill is considered negligence.
Note: In Pennsylvania, slip and all accident claims are subject to a modified comparative negligence standard of liability (42 Pa. C.S. § 7102). You can still pursue compensation even if you were partially at fault for your own fall accident, so long as your fault does not exceed 50 percent.
How Much Compensation? What to Know About Slip and Fall Grocery Store Settlements
Most slip and fall accident injury claims against grocery stores are resolved through a settlement rather than a jury verdict. How much compensation can you expect to get as part of a slip and fall injury settlement? The answer depends on several different case-specific factors, including your ability to prove fault and the extent of your damages. Our Philadelphia slip and fall accident attorney can help you seek compensation for:
- Ambulance costs;
- Emergency room care;
- Hospital bills;
- Health care costs;
- Rehabilitative support;
- Loss of wages;
- Loss of future earnings;
- Pain and suffering; and
- Long-term disability.
The Bottom Line: The amount of financial compensation that you can recover in a slip and fall accident injury claim will vary based on the extent of your injuries. There is no true “average” grocery store slip and fall accident in a settlement in Pennsylvania. You can seek financial compensation for the full extent of your actual economic and non-economic damages.
Why Trust Our Philadelphia Grocery Store Slip and Fall Accident Attorney
A negligent grocery store in Philadelphia can and should be held liable for a slip and fall accident under Pennsylvania’s premises liability laws. At Gibbons & Crichton, we have what it takes to hold negligent businesses and their commercial insurance companies accountable. With more than $100 million secured for victims and families, our case results and client testimonials tell the story best. Our office is located in the heart of Philadelphia (19103). We are proud to serve the community, and we are well-positioned to handle slip and fall claims at grocery stores throughout the region.
Contact Our Philadelphia, PA Slip and Fall Accident Attorney
At Gibbons & Crichton, our Philadelphia premises liability attorneys have extensive experience handling slip and fall cases. If you or your loved one was hurt in a grocery store slip and fall, we can help. Contact us right away for your free, no obligation initial consultation. With a law office in Philadelphia (19103 zip code), we handle grocery store slip and falls all across the region, including in 19121, 19154, 19141, 19132, 19152, 19114, and 19116.
