Supermarkets are supposed to be safe environments where individuals can do their weekly grocery shopping. However, supermarkets can be surprisingly dangerous if unsafe conditions are left unattended. If hazardous conditions are left unattended and nothing is done to remedy the hazard, serious accidents and injuries could result. Supermarket accidents are more common than people may realize as unsafe conditions pose a serious threat to customers’ well-being. If you or someone you care about has been injured due to negligence in a supermarket accident, contact a qualified Memphis Premises Liability Lawyer who can help you seek reasonable damages for your injuries.
What unsafe conditions cause supermarket accidents to happen?
Supermarket owners and staff members have a responsibility to uphold a safe shopping environment for their customers. If they fail to do so, they will be held liable for any damages. They must attend to any unsafe conditions that could result in accidents or injuries. These hazardous conditions may include:
- Spilled merchandise left unattended
- Poorly placed or unsteady displays
- Poorly placed carpet or mats
- Uneven floors
- Defective shopping carts
- Defective automatic doors
- Broken glass due to a glass jar falling off the shelf
- Loose produce or other merchandise on the floor
- Potholes or other unsafe parking lot conditions
- Insufficient security
Unsafe conditions can be a serious threat to customers as they grocery shop. Victims may experience minor to severe injuries due to someone else’s negligence.
What is premises liability in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, if an individual is injured on someone else’s property due to negligence they can file a claim against that property owner for damages. However, they must satisfy the burden of proof. Victims can fulfill the burden of proof by proving that the property owner had a duty of care. In this case, supermarket owners or staff members knew or should have reasonably known about the unsafe property conditions that caused your injuries. If they failed to attend to or remedy this unsafe condition, you may seek financial compensation for damages. After being injured, victims should:
- Seek medical attention (keep all medical records)
- Take photographs or video footage of the hazardous condition that led to your injury
- Ask the on-duty manager and staff for their names
- File an incident report
- Ask any witnesses for their contact information
All of these steps will help you prove your injuries were due to negligence. By documenting the incident, you are helping your case and satisfying the burden of proof. Under Tenessee law, victims have one year from the date the injury was inflicted to file a claim against any negligent parties. However, if victims fail to file a claim within this timeframe, they will be barred from ever doing so. If this deadline is missed they will lose any opportunity to recover damages for their injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to another person’s negligence, reach out to one of our knowledgeable and dedicated team members. Our firm is committed to helping victims recover reasonable damages for their injuries. We want to help you seek the justice you deserve.
