It is the responsibility of a grocery store to keep its property safe for shoppers. If someone should sustain a slip and fall injury at a store or on the stores property – such as in the parking lot – the store is not automatically responsible. There must be proof of negligence that needs to be determined.
A retail store, like any property owner, has a responsibility to keep their property free from hazards that could cause injury to visitors. They have to take “reasonable” steps to ensure there are no hazards. Of course the key word there is “reasonable.” Under the law it refers to what the average store would do under similar circumstances. That is what lawyers and judges deal with every day.
Establishing Slip & Fall Personal Injury Liability
It’s important to understand that a store, no matter what type of store it is, is not an insurer of safety. It doesn’t matter what great lengths they go to in order to guard against injuries. They need to only take reasonable steps to prevent injuries. Here is an example: imagine you are at a store and someone drops an ice cube out of their purchased fountain drink. You come by a minute later, and slip on that ice cube. The store is probably not liable. There is no reasonable way the store could have known about the ice cube on the floor at that time.
It is a stores responsibility to keep their floors free of potential hazards. It is the job of the owners, managers and employees to maintain the safety of the store and not create any future dangerous conditions. The store must also fix any condition or warn customers about an existence of a hazard in order to prevent customers from injury. If the store does not keep up their efforts to properly maintain a safe environment, it is legally liable for a customer’s injuries.
An Experienced Syracuse Slip & Fall Lawyer Can Make All the Difference
Slip & Fall accidents can happen anywhere: in a grocery store, on an apartment complex sidewalk, in an office building. Slip & Fall accidents happen when you least expect them. And being involved in a slip and fall accident can change a person’s life forever. The Syracuse Slip & Fall Accident Attorneys at McMahon, Kublick PC have the knowledge and experience to take control of the situation. Call us today for a free case evaluation.
