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Dangers You Should Be Aware of When Grocery Shopping in Inverness
While you may be shocked to hear this, shopping for groceries, or virtually anything for that matter, can be dangerous for unsuspecting customers. No matter how careful of a shopper you are, dangers are present everywhere and unfortunate accidents happen every single day at grocery stores, home appliance stores, toy stores and shopping malls. Injuries at local shops and retail stores can range in severity, from minor scrapes and bruises to severe traumatic injuries.
Although some accidents cannot be prevented, there are a number of injuries that a shopper can endure that are entirely preventable. In fact, when unfortunate accidents happen that are the direct result of store negligence, liability can actually fall back on the shop or store owner. Customers have the right to shop in a safe and hazard free environment, and when owners fail to keep their stores clear of threats, unfortunate accidents can occur. Shopping injuries can vary depending on where you are doing your shopping for the day. However, whatever harm you suffered, if the fault is found to lie with an employer or employee who failed to provide a clean, adequately maintained and safe shopping facility, you may be eligible to pursue a premises liability claim for damages from your injuries.
It only takes one negligent employee or store manager who ignores his or her obligations to create an unsafe environment for customers. Hazardous shopping situation can include the following:
- Failure to clean up spills in aisles or pick up broken objects
- Inadequate shelving structures for supplies
- Large, sharp or protruding objects blocking store aisle ways
- Employees operating heavy machinery in an unsafe manner
- Employees moving heavy boxes or objects without looking out for customers
- Maintenance workers changing overhead lights or fixtures while customers are shopping in the area
- Inadequate lighting in the store
- Broken stairs or cracked pavement at the store’s entrance
No matter what the accident, as a customer, you have a reasonable expectation of safety when you are out shopping for your groceries and other personal necessities.
In general, if you are injured while on the site of a commercial property like a mall or grocery store, you will likely be able to file a personal injury claim through what is known as a premises liability lawsuit. Premises liability laws protect both workers and customers from dangers lurking around any business site. In order to prove negligence, it must be shown that the owner of the business or property was aware of a hazard and did not fix it, failed to adequately maintain the property or did not routinely inspect for unknown or hidden dangers.
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury as a result of a negligent grocery store employee or store owner in Inverness, Crystal River or any surrounding area, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Contact a Citrus County Premises Liability Lawyer at Whittel & Melton today online or call 352-726-0078 to learn more about your legal rights.