What happens if you fall at a grocery store? If you are involved in a slip and fall incident at a business or on someone else’s grounds you may be entitled to compensation. You can hurt almost anything when you slip and fall. It is normal for a fall to cause multiple injuries and certain parts of your body are more vulnerable than others. Your actions right after a fall can have a huge impact on any future legal action you decide to take. Property owners have obligations to keep you safe.
Real Cases in Virginia
As you read below there are two cases in which both plaintiffs slipped and fell in a known grocery store. Each case is different and will tell you weather they won or lost. Although every case is different, you should always seek a knowledgeable and experienced attorney to determine whether you have a case.
Robinson v. Kroger Co. 2015
The case is about a slip and fall that occurred at a local Kroger store in Lynchburg, Va. Ms. Robinson alleges that the defendant failed to post signs or place cards warning the public of the unsafe conditions. Ms. Robinson entered the Kroger store and shopped in the vegetable department, deli and bakery department. After shopping, Ms. Robinson approached the self-check out area and came parallel to a spill area where Ms. Robinson slipped and fell. She was grasping the shopping cart and noticed that the liquid was a puddle, but it was clear, so she did not notice it upon walking towards the checkout area. There was video footage presented as “surveillance”. The defendant’s motions for judgment was denied, a business owes its customers a duty of ordinary care when they are on the business’s premises. Ms. Robinson was able to fight her case and won.
Riggio v. Wal-Mart 2015
Ms. Riggio was at Wal-Mart shopping with her sister. Ms. Riggio alleges she slipped and fell in water that was on the floor. This was in result from a leaking roof, which had been leaking and was known to be leaking for a period of time. Wal-Mart denied any roof leaks in the area where the slip and fall allegedly occurred. Although, Ms. Riggio and her sister, as well as two Wal-Mart employees testified in their depositions that it was not raining on the day of the accident, the Wal-Mart report states that it was a “rainy day.” On the incident report it states that Ms. Riggio had complained about ankle pain and when she slipped she re-injured her ankle. Ms. Riggio was unable to return to her studies or employment because of extensive medical attention. In this case there was no evidence that Wal-Mart created any hazard or had actual knowledge. Various work orders and maintenance records reflecting maintenance work done on Wal-Marts roof were reviewed. Ms. Riggio motion was denied and Wal-Mart’s summary for judgement was granted and dismissed.
