When customers are at an Albertsons in Los Angeles, they’re not on the premises to inspect the floors. They’re at that particular store to buy groceries. Items are even placed at or near eye level, and suppliers compete for such space. Grocery store customers should look at those products, and not on the floor where they’re walking. What comes to issue is that floors at an Albertsons can become dangerous for customers with spills and other hazards that can cause customers to slip or trip and fall and seriously injure themselves. Here are a few examples of some of the hazards that customers might encounter:
- Accumulations of water from refrigerators or freezers.
- Cooking oil or olive oil on floors.
- Crushed fruit or vegetables on aisle floors.
- Displays protruding into aisles.
- Cleaning supplies for the store.
- Falling merchandise from high above.
Common Injuries in a Slip-and-Fall or Trip-and-Fall
When a person slips and then falls, he or she typically falls backward when one foot is extended and off of the floor. Common injuries might include the following:
- A serious head injury with a traumatic brain injury.
- A spinal cord injury or injuries to the structure of the spine.
- Arm, elbow or wrist fractures.
- Back injuries.
- Serious shoulder and scapula injuries.
- Joint injuries.
When a person trips and then falls, he or she typically falls forward when one foot becomes caught on an uneven or obstructed walking surface. Common injuries in a trip-and-fall might include these:
- A fractured hand, wrist, arm or collarbone.
- Shoulder fractures or dislocations.
- Knee fractures or cartilage injuries.
- Facial fractures or lacerations with concussion.
- Dental injuries.
- Neck or spinal cord injuries.
When Might Albertsons Be Negligent?
Under the law if premises liability, there is a legal duty incumbent upon Albertsons to maintain its premises in a reasonably safe condition so as not to harm anybody who is lawfully on its premises. If Albertsons or even a customer created an unsafe condition, and Albertsons knew or should have known about it and did little or nothing to remedy or repair the condition, Albertsons can be held liable for injuries and damages suffered in a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall. If Albertsons is indeed determined be at fault for a customer’s injuries and damages, California law provides that it can be held liable for the following:
- Past and future medical bills.
- Past and future lost earnings or diminished earning loss.
- Any permanent disability or disfigurement.
- Pain and suffering.
- Out-of-pocket expenses.
- Other valuable damages in the event of a wrongful death.
The Burden of Proof
You can’t fall over your shadow at an Albertsons and file a personal injury claim. Security cameras are all over the place. Of course, on your own slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall, the camera at the aisle where you fell will “unfortunately” not have been in operating condition at the time of your fall, but that doesn’t translate into your being unable to prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence. By preponderating, you’re merely showing that your version of the evidence and events was more likely true than not true. That’s the legal burden of proof that you must overcome in this type of case. That stained pair of pants and your shirt with the Italian salad dressing all over them that you preserved as evidence suddenly becomes pivotal in deciding your case.
After a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accident at Albertsons, notify management right away, and if at all possible, get photos of the location that you fell at and the substance or condition that caused you to fall. Ask any witnesses for contact information too. Don’t wash the clothes that you were wearing when you fell. They could be critical evidence. Ask for management to come to where you fell, and make a report. Then, ask for paramedics to be called to the scene and get transported to a local emergency room for an examination and treatment. After that, contact us at Maison Law right away for a free consultation and case evaluation. When you retain us to represent your best interests, you’ve made an excellent decision. Our goal would be to obtain the highest settlement or award that you deserve.
Contact a Los Angeles Slip-And-Fall Accident Lawyer
A small, locally-owned supermarket or a national chain will likely have lawyers at the ready after any accident in their stores. You should not face off against lawyers or insurance companies without a legal representative on your side.
Let an experienced Los Angeles Slip-And-Fall Attorney handle all communication with opposing lawyers and insurance agents to make sure you don’t forfeit your chance to get what’s fair for what you’ve been put through.
Contact attorney Martin Gasparian for a free and confidential case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian works with victims to make sure they don’t receive unfair blame for the negligence of a supermarket or any other business.
