Slip and fall in a grocery store: causes, evidence, and next steps
Grocery stores have many hazards that can cause slip and fall injuries: spilled liquids, dropped grapes and produce, leaking freezers and coolers, wet floors near entrances, and freshly mopped aisles.
Common causes
- Spills that were not cleaned up or marked with a warning sign
- Produce, ice, or water around produce misters and seafood counters
- Leaking refrigerated cases and freezers
- Rainwater tracked in at entrances without adequate mats
- Torn mats, pallets, and stocking equipment left in aisles
The evidence that matters
A key question is often whether the store knew, or through reasonable inspections should have known, about the hazard. Useful evidence includes surveillance video, the store’s inspection or “sweep” logs, incident reports, photos taken right after the fall, and witness statements. Stores may overwrite video quickly, so a prompt written preservation request matters.
Next steps
- Get medical care and keep all records.
- Report the fall to a manager and note their name.
- Photograph the hazard before it is cleaned up.
- Keep your receipt and the shoes you wore.
- Be cautious about giving a recorded statement to the store’s insurer.
Learn more about who may be liable for a grocery store slip.
Have questions about your situation? An attorney can review the facts with you for free and with no obligation.
General information only, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and no particular outcome is guaranteed.
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