Hurt in a Car Accident or
Motorcycle Crash? Lost a Loved
One in a Wrongful Death?
Florida Gas Station Fall Injury Lawyer
Florida Gas Station and Convenience Store Slip and Fall Attorneys Whittel & Melton
Florida Personal Injury Attorney for Injuries from Trips, Slips, Falls, Almost Falls
at Gas Station, Bodega and Convenience Stores
866-608-5529 Toll Free Statewide
Gas station and convenience store slip and fall accidents are a top cause of injuries to consumers throughout the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are about 168,000 gas stations across America, so accidents are bound to happen. According to the 2021 Nielsen Convenience Industry Store Count (NACS), there are 150,274 convenience stores operating throughout the U.S., and the state of Florida takes third place for the most stores with 9,619 following California with 12,074 stores and Texas with 15,695 stores. When you go to a gas station or convenience store, you never expect to become injured in a slip and fall accident. When you have been harmed in a gas station or convenience store slip and fall accident, our Florida Slip and Fall Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are here to explain your rights.
What is a Gas Station or Convenience Store Slip and Fall?
A gas station or convenience store slip and fall is one that happens due to an unsafe condition on the property, which can easily result in a serious injury to a victim. Falls can occur because of a fuel spill, cracks in the sidewalk, spilled liquid on the floor, or even due to the dangerous behavior of other patrons on the property. When a slip and fall happens at a gas station or convenience store, then a victim may be able to recover financial compensation under the legal concept of premises liability.
Premises liability is the legal theory that a business, such as a gas station or convenience store, has a duty to keep their property reasonably safe for its visitors and customers. The following are dangerous conditions at a gas station or convenience store that could result in a slip and fall injury:
- Potholes
- Poorly stocked shelves
- Cracked or uneven flooring/pavement
- Poorly cleaned restrooms that have soap, water, and other fluids or trash on the floor
- Broken steps or stairways
- Broken door handles
- Poor lighting
- Equipment in the wrong place
- Displays in aisles that are easily tripped over
- Gas and oil spills
- Water or other liquid spills
- Loose or missing handrails
- Food spills
- Hidden holes
- Actions of other patrons like battery, assault, or a sexual attack
In order for our Florida Slip and Fall Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton to determine legal liability in your case, we will have to get more details about your injury and how it happened. If the property owner knew about the dangerous condition that caused your accident and failed to take the necessary steps to remedy the situation, then you may be entitled to financial damages for your suffering, like lost wages, medical bills, therapy, pain and suffering, and more.
What Should I Do After a Slip and Fall Accident at a Gas Station or Convenience Store?
A slip and fall case against a gas station or convenience store could possibly be resolved informally through a simple demand letter, but you may also need to file your case in court. Every case is different, so our Florida Gas Station and Convenience Store Slip and Fall Lawyers at Whittel & Melton will need to review your case in order to determine what steps will be necessary for your unique situation. The following actions could prove useful in your case and provide us with the best information/evidence needed to build a successful case on your behalf:
- Go to a doctor to get a full diagnosis of your injuries. In any accident, your health is most important, so make sure to get medical attention right away. By having your injuries documented by a medical professional you are also protecting your legal rights because these records can show the injuries you sustained and that they were caused by a gas station or convenience store slip and fall.
- Taking photos of the area that caused your slip and fall. Look around the area for defects or dangerous conditions that may have contributed to your slip and fall accident. Any evidence that you can gather that shows the property owner acted negligently will help support your claim for compensation.
- Taking photos of your injuries suffered in the slip and fall accident. Photographic evidence is great because it can corroborate your version of what happened and the extent of your injuries immediately following the incident as opposed to later when your injuries have had time to heal.
- Request copies of surveillance footage. Your entire slip and fall accident may have been recorded by the gas station or convenience store’s surveillance cameras. This footage could prove very useful for your slip and fall claim.
- Follow proper procedures and protocol to support your potential legal claim for damages. Certain procedures, like filing an accident report or notifying the property owner of your injuries can be very important steps to protect your rights after a slip and fall injury at a convenience store or gas station. You need to make sure all the information is accurate and that you are careful in what you say in order to best protect your rights.
- Get witness statements. If anyone saw your slip and fall accident happen, then they could prove useful in backing up your claim for damages. If possible, try and get any witnesses contact information so that their statements can be obtained before they forget any important details.
- Contact our Florida Gas Station and Convenience Store Slip and Fall Lawyers at Whittel & Melton as soon as possible after your slip and fall or trip and fall accident at a gas station or convenience store. We can make sure your rights are protected and that you have the best possible claim for financial compensation for your injuries. We can organize your case and prove fault lies with the property owner in order to recover maximum compensation for all expenses you have incurred as a result of your injury in addition to other damages like not being able to work and pain and suffering.
While all of these steps may seem overwhelming, we don’t want you to worry! You have the right to seek legal help from our Florida Gas Station and Convenience Store Slip and Fall Lawyers at Whittel & Melton, and we can help you navigate the legal process quickly and efficiently. Call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online 24/7 to get a free consultation.
How Long After My Convenience Store or Gas Station Slip and Fall Accident Do I Have to File a Claim?
Every state has a statute of limitations that places a strict time frame on how long a person has to file a claim for damages after an accident. In Florida, the time frame allotted for filing a slip and fall injury claim is four years. If a victim fails to file a claim within this time frame, then the courts will refuse to hear their case and they will no longer be eligible to seek financial compensation for damages.
What Are Common Convenience Stores or Gas Station Slip and Fall Accident Injuries?
Common gas station or convenient store slip and fall injuries often include:
- Broken Bones: Even the slightest bone fracture can require surgery, a cast, and weeks to heal. You could even need pins, screws, or plates inserted during surgery to fix a more complex break. Your injury could also require physical therapy to regain strength to the area harmed. In certain cases, broken bones can lead to permanent problems with mobility and quality of life.
- Dislocated Joint Injuries: When you suffer a slip and fall, how you land can end up dislocating your shoulder, wrist, or arm. These injuries can be quite painful and result in soft tissue injuries that may require surgery to remedy. Soft Tissue Injuries: A soft tissue injury can be a sprain, stretched, or torn ligament, muscle, or tendon. Minor sprains and strains can heal from time with just rest. However, a torn ligament, muscle, or tendon from a slip and fall accident, such as a torn ACL, may require surgery.
- Back Injuries: A slip and fall accident can easily lead to serious back injuries, like a herniated disc or a fractured vertebrae. These injuries can be quite painful and may never fully heal. You could possibly suffer physical limitations for the rest of your life after a serious back injury.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: Mild, moderate, or severe TBIs are common injuries after a slip and fall accident. These injuries can range from concussions to permanent disabilities and even coma or death.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: A slip and fall could result in a spinal cord injury that results in paralysis. You could be looking at loss of movement, circulation problems, and a risk of contracting certain infections from an injury of this caliber.
Call our Florida Gas Station and Convenience Store Slip and Fall Lawyers at Whittel & Melton To Learn More About Filing a Claim – 866-608-5529
If you’re injured in a slip and fall at a gas station or convenience store, we strongly urge you to call us at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation. We can provide you with all the necessary information you need before demanding compensation from the property owner or insurer. We have experience handling premises liability claims and know how to work with insurance adjusters to obtain full and fair financial compensation.