Maison Law represents victims who are hurt in slip-and-falls and other accidents at California Smart & Final locations. We help victims hold this massive store chain fully accountable when its unsafe aisles cause customers to suffer injuries. To find out what you should be demanding from Smart & Final after suffering harm on its property, contact a skilled, local lawyer and schedule a free, no-obligation case consultation.
Do I Need a Lawyer After Suffering an Injury at a California Smart & Final?
If you slip and fall or trip on Smart & Final’s gleaming aisles and your injuries are serious, like a wrist fracture or head trauma, you may need the protection of a skilled California Smart & Final slip-and-fall lawyer.
When your injury was caused by the carelessness of a store chain and its employees, you can seek full compensation for your recovery costs. Unfortunately, large companies will fight back and even hire their own lawyers to attack your case.
Insurance adjusters and corporate attorneys look for ways to blame you for the accident or cast doubt on how serious your injuries are. Your Maison Law attorney is a safeguard against this treatment. Your lawyer investigates the accident and presents all evidence to force a business to accept responsibility and pay the maximum compensation available.
A skilled attorney can often secure a much bigger settlement check for you than you could earn by handling your claim yourself. Your lawyer can also take care of every frustrating part of the claims process, giving you additional time to focus on healing.
Frequently Asked Questions By Victims After Accidents at Smart & Final
Accident Dangers at California Smart & Final Stores
Smart & Final and Smart & Final Extra! are warehouse stores with plenty of rooms for bargains, but also some hazards as you scan your shopping list. Some of the most common accident dangers at Smart & Final stores in California include:
- Spills on floors that result from food boxes or liquid containers being damaged, which create slippery floor conditions
- Ice melting out of refrigerator and freezer units, which can lead to slips
- Boxes or inventory blocking aisles and other spaces, leading to trip and falls
- Inadequate lighting throughout the store or out in the parking lot
- Merchandise that is stocked high on shelves and falls onto customers below
- Rolled up carpets
- Exposure to harsh chemicals and cleaners
- Exposed electrical wires
- Parking lot hazards
Though property owners are supposed to correct any hazards at a Smart & Final store, they might not notice them or fail to correct them until it’s too late. You could step in a pothole, fall forward, and suffer a knee fracture. You might step in a jar of mayo busted on the floor, sending you slipping backward to hit your head on a shelf or on the tile. You might leave the store with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) to experience seizures and memory loss days later. Thanks to California’s premises liability laws, victims don’t have to face the physical and financial toll of their injuries alone.
Who Is Responsible if I Fall at a Smart & Final and Get Hurt?
Business owners and the operators of any store are bound by a legal duty of care for customers in California. They must act to keep anyone who comes onto their property, both inside and outside, protected.
Smart & Final owners and employees are required to fix any hazards they create or discover through their business practices. They must repair leaking freezer cases and remove displays that can trip someone up on an aisle before someone gets hurt.
They must also monitor their floors for obstacles that other customers drop, like spilled drinks or merchandise left on the floor. They must inspect for these dangers constantly and remove them in a reasonable amount of time. When they don’t, they can be held fully liable for the recovery costs victims will face. Victims are empowered to file personal injury claims and demand help with hospital bills, supporting themselves while they can’t work, and many other hardships that come with a serious injury.
Injuries Caused by Smart & Final Accidents
From slip and falls to being struck on the head by overhead items, any type of accident that occurs in a Smart & Final store can lead to serious injuries. Some of the most common and serious injuries that result from these accidents include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries and other head-related injuries
- Damage to the spinal cord/paralysis
- Broken bones and dislocations
- Internal organ damage or internal bleeding
- Facial lacerations and scarring
- Death, in the most serious cases
In many cases involving injuries, you will be left with a wide array of bills that you may not be able to handle on your own. This is why it is crucial that you gather necessary evidence that can support your claim so that you can move forward and receive the financial support you need.
How a Lawyer Can Help You After an Accident at a Grocery Store
After you have been hurt in a serious accident at a Smart & Final grocery store, you may be interested in seeking assistance from a dedicated and knowledgeable legal advocate. An attorney may be able to do the following things for you:
Evaluating Your Claim: A legal advocate will take a closer look at your specific accident claim and determine how viable it is so that you can find out if you should move forward with a case.
Investigating Your Claim: An investigation into your claim is important, which is why an attorney will revisit everything that happened on the day of your accident. This includes getting surveillance footage from inside the store, speaking with witnesses, and gathering other evidence that can be useful in your claim.
Handling Insurance: The insurance company involved in your case will do whatever it takes to offer you as little as possible after an accident. Luckily, we are here to help you negotiate with the insurance company so that you can receive the highest settlement.
Hiring Expert Witnesses: Expert witnesses will be able to review your case alongside your lawyer, such as medical professionals, reconstruction specialists, and more.
Full Representation: If you cannot reach a settlement with the insurance company, an attorney will help you bring your claim to court and represent you every step of the way.
On top of these important aspects, an attorney will not allow you to miss deadlines in your case. In California, premises liability claims must be brought within two years from when you first discover your injuries. If you wait any longer, you could be barred from a claim altogether. This means that you won’t be able to obtain damages for medical bills, lost income, and other aspects. It is crucial that you act quickly to retain your rights after an accident at a grocery store.
What Can I Receive Compensation for After a Slip-And-Fall Injury?
When filing an injury claim with a giant business, it’s critical to have a slip-and-fall attorney handling the complicated paperwork. Your attorney should also handle the negotiations with the insurance company or lawyers representing the business owner or corporate owner.
Your lawyer also ensures that every hardship you and your family have endured during recovery is highlighted in a complete list submitted to the at-fault party.
Each and every damage you’ve suffered has the chance to increase the money you receive in a settlement check:
- Hospital and medical expenses.
- Costs associated with a permanent physical disability, such as medical equipment and renovations at home and at work. Potential costs for education to learn a new career.
- Emotional and physical distress. The physical pain you experience and the anxiety, and the depression that may follow a traumatic incident and a difficult recovery.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
- Travel expenses. Money spent on transportation to appointments and seeing specialists who may be far away. These costs build when victims are on crutches, in casts, or in wheelchairs, and can’t drive.
- Income and benefits the victim has forfeited while missing work.
- Damage to personal items.
Contact a California Grocery Store Accident Injury Lawyer Immediately
If you or someone you love has been hurt in an accident at a Smart & Final grocery store, you have options under California law. It is a smart idea to speak with a California grocery store accident injury lawyer that you can trust at Maison Law. We are here for victims and their families and will provide them with useful resources when they need them the most. Please contact us today for a free and no-obligation case consultation so that you can get started.
