Grocery shopping should not be dangerous, but Maryland supermarkets are loaded with potential hazards. Wet floors, falling objects, and broken tiles could all lead to injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises to catastrophic permanent damage. Often, these injuries would be prevented had the store manager or other employees attended to the known hazard. Failing to clear up known dangers could be considered negligent conduct resulting in liability for any injuries to customers.
If you or a loved one was injured due to a supermarket employee’s negligent conduct, contact our Maryland supermarket slip and fall injury lawyer. the seasoned attorneys at Rice, Murtha & Psoras represent Maryland residents who suffer harm in negligence accidents. Call (410) 694-7291 to schedule a free case consultation.
Injuries in Maryland Supermarkets from Slip and Fall Accidents
The injuries that occur in Maryland supermarkets are as varied as their causes. You might suffer a severe spinal injury after slipping on a wet floor, or you could break your ankle after losing your balance in an icy parking lot. Some common injuries people experience in accidents in and around a supermarket include cuts, fractures, pulled muscles, and traumatic brain and back injuries.
The consequences of your injury greatly depend on the severity of the harm suffered. A sprained wrist might require a short emergency room visit followed by a few weeks of recovery, or a traumatic head injury could result in severe brain damage followed by long-term physical therapy and costly medical treatment. Some injuries could limit or interrupt your ability to work, creating substantial financial stress. If a store employee’s negligence caused your injury, our Maryland supermarket slip and fall attorneys will vigorously work to hold the supermarket accountable.
Holding Maryland Supermarkets and their Employees Liable for Slip and Fall Injuries
Our Maryland attorneys will thoroughly examine the facts of your case to establish who is liable for any injuries you sustained. Demonstrating negligence and liability requires proving several elements:
First, the manager or employee of the supermarket must have owed you a duty. Premises liability law presupposes a duty upon store operators to keep customers safe from any unreasonable harm. Failing to adhere to this duty could constitute negligence.
Second, you must show that a hazardous condition existed on the premises, such as a malfunctioning freezer spilling water into an aisle. the water would present a slippery and potentially dangerous risk to customers walking through the area.
Notice of a dangerous condition is an essential element in proving fault. If the cause of harm was an unknown hazard, then the supermarket might be free of liability. However, ignorance is not necessarily a defense: if a store worker should have reasonably known of the dangerous situation, then failing to fix it could be negligent.
After establishing that the store manager or employees were aware of the hazardous condition, we will need to prove that they failed to fix the situation in a reasonable manner. For example, after discovering a leaking freezer in the morning, a prudent manager would cordon off the area until the aisle was dry and the leaking freezer was fixed. Failing to do so could constitute the kind of negligence that might cause a slip and fall injury.
Finally, we will have to prove that the dangerous condition directly resulted in your injury and, as a result, you suffered actual economic or noneconomic damages. If you lost your balance when walking through a wet area and broke your leg, then the store manager could be held liable for the resulting medical bills and lost wages
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Maryland Supermarkets
A leaking freezer is only one hazardous condition that could exist in a Maryland supermarket. Negligent upkeep at a supermarket could cause other unreasonable risks to customers as well. For example, failing to clear ice and snow from the parking lot around the supermarket could result in unreasonably slippery sidewalks and walkways. Additionally, stacking glass jars or other fragile items too high or too close to the edge of a shelf could lead to a spill.
Other conditions could be present in the building itself, such as broken or uneven floor tiles. Areas of the store that are hazardous to cross should be blocked off while the underlying problem is addressed. If an injury occurs because a known danger was ignored, then the store owner could be responsible for compensating any injured customers.
What to Do if You Are Injured in a Maryland Supermarket Slip and Fall
The first thing you should do after a slip and fall accident in a Maryland supermarket is seek medical attention. the slightest injury could result in more serious consequences if left untreated. For instance, the symptoms of a head injury might not be obvious, and medical care is necessary to evaluate the full extent of any brain injuries.
After receiving medical attention, you should report the incident and get a copy of the accident report. Along with the report, you should ask for the personal contact information of any eyewitnesses. You should also retain our Maryland grocery store slip and fall attorney to help you file a lawsuit. We will immediately contact the supermarket and request that they preserve any video evidence that documents your accident. Then we will work with the evidence and facts of your case to build a negligence lawsuit and hold all negligent parties liable for your monetary losses and pain and suffering.
For a Free Consultation, Call Our Maryland Supermarket Slip and Fall Injury Lawyers
Going to your local supermarket to buy weekly groceries should not end in long-term pain and suffering. If you suffered a severe injury from dangerous conditions in a grocery store, our seasoned Maryland personal injury lawyers might be able to help. We have the resource to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your injury and sue all responsible parties for financial compensation. Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to schedule a free case consultation.