The Unforeseen Risks of Coronavirus (Covid-19) Shopping: Slip & Falls

Since Coronavirus being declared a national pandemic grocery stores have seen a heavy influx of shoppers. Governments have issued a stay at home order in order to flatten the curve of the diseases spread and this means many people are heavily stocking up on things like toilet paper and food so they can stay at home for long periods of time. As a result grocery stores have seen insanely long lines and many items are out of stock in places that you might go to to shop. As a result of this high demand in grocery store items grocery stores themselves have been struggling to get enough employees to fill shelves and keep up with the demand the pandemic has caused.

What many people have overlooked is that because grocery stores employees are overwhelmed this may lead to many more dangerous conditions that lead to slip and fall injuries in grocery stores, such as wet floors or improperly stocked shelves. Already in the U.S. more than one million people go to the emergency room for a slip and fall accident and with this pandemic I expect numbers to go up dramatically. And because the average cost of a slip and fall is $30,000-$40,000 dollars, and medical bills topping $34 billion in the U.S. each year, I think it is important to know your legal options in the case a slip and fall accident in a grocery store happens to you.

Why Coronavirus May Lead to Unsafe Conditions in Grocery Stores

When you are injured in an accident such as a slip and fall on commercial property these are called premises liability cases. Because grocery stores are so overwhelmed with shoppers right now the types of conditions that lead to premises liability cases may become prevalent. In order for there to be a case for premises liability there must be some unsafe or defective condition on someone else’s property. With workers concerned about stocking shelves they may be missing things right now like wet floors, which would classify as an unsafe condition. It is important to be extra careful when shopping right now only to not be infected, but also to avoid any unsafe conditions.

How To Receive Compensation if You Are Injured in A Slip and Fall in A Grocery Store During Coronavirus

Again, slip and fall injuries can be very costly. If one of these unfortunate accidents does happen to you, you might be wondering how you can receive compensation. Injuries can put you out of work for weeks, months or even longer. With unemployment reaching huge numbers and projected to reach an all time high during coronavirus many people already have enough financial worries right now. To have a premises liability case where you can receive compensation for your damages it is important that there were two factors surrounding your injuries. That is that there was some sort of unsafe condition surrounding your injury such as a wet floor, but also that the owner of the property failed to take proper steps to remedy the condition in other words was negligent. An important concept around negligence is “Duty of Care.” Owners of property have a duty of care to protect against injuries. Not having enough employees to be watching out for unsafe conditions may violate this duty of care rule. If all these conditions are met then you may be able to make a claim for your injuries.

What To Do if You Are Injured in a Grocery Store During Coronavirus

If you are injured on commercial property it is always important to consult with a skilled premises liability and slip and fall attorney. An attorney can help clarify whether you have a case or not, and will also be able to maximize the amount of money you get from your claim. Most personal injury lawyers take cases on a contingency basis meaning you will not pay anything until you win your case.