Cowen Edwards helps slip and fall accident victims in Fort Lauderdale. Of the many different places you go on a weekly basis, one of the most common is a Publix grocery store. Unfortunately, for all of its convenience, there’s any number of potential reasons you could slip and fall there. When this happens, you can lean on our team for legal support and guidance. Contact us today to set up a free consultation.
When Do You Need a Lawyer?
A slip and fall inside or outside of a Publix could happen when you can least afford it, but it does give you certain legal options. However, whether or not you need a lawyer depends on your circumstances. If your injuries are minor, you probably don’t need to worry about legal action. But, if your injuries are more serious, our team can step in and be a huge help to you and your family.
With our experience and resources, we can explain the process, help you gather evidence, negotiate with Publix and their insurance company, and make things easier. We offer free initial consultations, and if you want to move forward, we work on a contingency-fee basis. This means there’s no upfront cost for you.
How Liable is Publix For a Slip and Fall Accident?
A big question you’ll have to answer once you decide to file an injury claim is how responsible Publix is. Obviously, if the accident happens on the store’s property, they’ll have some liability. That said, how liable Publix is really depends on what happened.
Basically, there’s two things that you need to establish to show Publix’s level of liability:
- Knew about the potential hazards and didn’t do anything about it
- Should have reasonably known that the hazard could exist and didn’t fix it
So, for example, if you slip and fall on a slippery floor because Publix or an employee didn’t clean up a spill quickly enough, the store will be responsible for covering your damages. That said, a variety of hazards can exist due to negligence or even the design and layout of the store itself. This potentially opens up liability to other parties like:
- Employees
- Product manufacturers
- Security or maintenance personnel
- Contractors or designers
Remember, part of your legal options means filing an injury claim against whoever is responsible. So, the more people that are involved, the more you can potentially recover. However, this can also complicate things, which is where our team can step in and help. But there’s also things you need to do.
What You Should Do After a Publix Slip and Fall
Being hurt in a slip and fall at a Publix is certainly not what you want, especially when you’re just making a quick grocery run or you’re with your kids. Unfortunately, though, this can happen. But just having the legal right to file an injury claim isn’t enough, you also need to do a few things to protect your health and claim:
- Get medical care – Seek immediate medical attention for any injuries, both at the store and later with a doctor. Publix should have first aid available on site, but if you’re hurt, it might be a good idea to call an ambulance. Keep thorough records of medical documents, including bills and receipts.
- Report the incident – Notify a Publix employee or management about the accident right away. This alerts them to the problem and should signal them to take corrective action. Request a copy of an incident report, also.
- Collect evidence on-site – Document the accident scene and any hazardous conditions with photos or videos. Record the date and time, and gather contact information from witnesses if possible.
- Preserve evidence – Keep any damaged clothing, property, or footwear from the incident as potential evidence. Avoid repairing or altering anything, as it is essential for your case.
These steps are crucial for your claim’s success. Our team can aid in gathering evidence, including valuable items like surveillance footage, to bolster your case. Remember, it’s up to you to show the extent of your injuries and other losses.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Claim?
Generally speaking, the claims process for recovering damages in a slip and fall accident claim is going to play out in one of two ways: an insurance claim out of court or a personal injury lawsuit. The choice is totally up to you, but our team will be there to guide you through the decision-making process.
If you decide to go with an insurance claim, we’ll assist you in submitting it to the responsible party’s insurance company. They’ll launch their own investigation into what happened. Afterward, they may offer you a settlement, where it’s also up to you to accept or reject it. If you say no, the next step is to file a lawsuit.
In Florida, for a slip and fall at Publix, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a civil lawsuit under the state’s statute of limitations for injury claims. If you file a lawsuit, you may potentially be able to recover:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Repairing or replacing damaged belongings
- Losing the enjoyment in your life
- Punitive damages, if the negligence was intentional or excessive
Every slip and fall case is different, and the result depends on what happened during your fall and how strong your claim is. Remember, the claims process can take time, so it’s important to be patient.
What Are Some Potential Injuries in a Publix Slip and Fall Accident?
You might not think that slipping and falling at Publix would be all that serious. However, like any accident, you may respond differently. So, while you can be as careful as possible, you could still face injuries in a slip and fall. Potential injuries in these types of accident include things like:
- Bruises
- Broken bones, especially your hands, wrists, elbows, or tailbone
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Muscle strains and pulls
- Ligament damage
- Emotional trauma
Regardless of how they happen, it’s always important to take the right steps in the aftermath of a slip-and-fall at a Publix. Doing so not only protects your health and safety, but is important for your potential legal options.
Contact Cowen Edwards After a Slip and Fall Accident at a Fort Lauderdale Publix
Experiencing a slip-and-fall accident at a Fort Lauderdale Publix is never something you want to go through, especially because in many cases, it probably could have been avoided. Still, when it does happen, you need the right team on your side. At Cowen Edwards, our lawyers understand how to approach these claims and can guide you through the recovery process. Don’t wait–if you’ve been in a slip and fall at a Publix, contact us today for a free consultation.
