Walmart has become a staple in the eyes of many individuals over the years who use their services for prescription medicine, groceries, and more. You may think that the simple act of walking around a grocery store is safe from dangers. However, a slip-and-fall could occur in the blink of an eye due to any number of hazards. When one of these accidents takes place, you may wonder who can be held liable for the harm that you have endured.
The Oildale Walmart slip-and-fall lawyers at Maison Law offer resources and support to individuals who have sustained injuries in one of these accidents. Slip-and-fall claims in California can be incredibly complex, as there are many parties who can be liable and many things to keep in mind as you face the insurance company. Contact us for a start on your free and confidential case consultation.
Leading Causes of Slip-and-Falls at Walmart
In some cases, a slip-and-fall causes little more than embarrassment if individuals are present. For others, a slip-and-fall accident in Walmart on a hard floor can lead to life-altering injuries that follow you through life.
Even though grocery store employees and employers owe a duty to maintain a Walmart and keep it safe from all hazards, this does not always happen. Slip-and-fall accidents tend to happen when this duty is breached through the following ways:
Food and Liquid Spills: Sprayed fruits and vegetables, as well as leaking freezers, can present many dangers to individuals. When a spill is not quickly cleaned up, it could cause an individual to slip and fall, leading to severe injuries.
Uneven Flooring: Over time, grocery store floors receive wear and tear that you wouldn’t expect to see in other places. Stores must make sure that repairs and replacements are made as quickly as possible when these conditions are discovered.
Slippery Entrances: When water that is tracked into a store from outside is not cleaned up, it could lead to serious harm and injuries when a victim falls.
Cracked Parking Lot Surfaces: There are certain entities that are responsible for maintaining parking lots to make sure that they are free from cracks or potholes.
Lack of Warning Signs: If a staff member doesn’t remove a hazard on a floor right away, they are supposed to alert customers to the area with a warning sign. If they do not do this, a personal injury claim could result.
What To Do After a Slip-and-Fall in a Walmart
Protecting your well-being and rights after a slip-and-fall accident in a Walmart is incredibly necessary if you want to bring a successful personal injury claim. Because Walmart is the biggest retailer in the whole country, it can be overwhelming to take on this chain with a personal injury claim. The big-name insurance companies are looking out for Walmart’s best interests, which is why you will need all the evidence that you can get.
After a slip-and-fall at a Walmart, here are some steps that you want to take:
- Never delay when it comes to reporting your accident and injuries. A store report can be made with an employee or a store manager. You can also obtain surveillance footage of the incident in some cases, but you will have to act quickly before any evidence of the fall disappears.
- Gather evidence such as photos of the area where you fell, contact information from any witnesses, and clothing you were wearing at the time of the fall to show that they were covered in liquid or waxy residue that contributed to your fall.
- Seek medical attention for your injuries and go to the hospital for documentation and a checkup if your injuries are severe enough. Some symptoms might not start to show up right away, which is why you want to ensure that your health is protected.
Do I Need a Lawyer After an Oildale Walmart Slip-and-Fall Accident?
Though it is not always necessary to have the help of a lawyer if you have sustained a slip-and-fall without injuries or other damages, in some cases it is beneficial and necessary for the best results.
Unfortunately, big-name insurance companies are known to deploy bullying tactics to keep individuals from gaining the damages they need after a slip-and-fall accident. Because Walmart is such a large company, its insurance company will use intimidation tactics to ensure that you get the smallest settlement possible or try to convince you that the fall was your fault and that you do not have a claim worth pursuing. Because a lawyer knows how to navigate these claims and obtain all available evidence, it can be incredibly useful to have an attorney on your side.
On top of handling the complex legal claims for you, an attorney will also deal with the insurance company and negotiate on your behalf so that you can focus on healing. It can be stressful to deal with seemingly never-ending bills, which is why you should always consider speaking with a legal advocate that you can trust when it comes to a premises liability claim involving Walmart.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a claim after my slip-and-fall at a Walmart?
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California, including slip-and-falls, is two years. This means that you have two years from the time of your injury to bring a claim until you are barred from doing so.
What if Walmart “should have known” about a dangerous condition on the property because it was present for some time?
The law states that a property owner “should have known” about a hazard or danger for a reasonable amount of time. This means that, if a floor was cracked for years before you fell, the business owner should have discovered the hazard and it was unreasonable that it took them years to do so.
What is liability insurance and what does it have to do with my claim?
Business owners are required to carry liability insurance in case a slip-and-fall or other accident occurs on their property. The property owner’s liability insurance should reasonably cover you and you should be offered a settlement that covers all of your damages.
Contact an Oildale Walmart Slip-and-Fall Lawyer
After a slip-and-fall in an Oildale Walmart, maximizing your damages is a major concern for your physical and financial recovery. Because Walmart can be ruthless and leave few avenues for injured victims, it can be beneficial to speak with an attorney immediately after one of these accidents. You do not want to miss out on any opportunities due to being unfamiliar with the law or being taken advantage of by the insurance company.
Contact Maison Law soon after your slip-and-fall accident for a free and confidential case consultation. It is normal to have questions and we will answer them every step of the way based on the unique circumstances of your case.
