Motorists around Spokane are often seeking out the cheapest gas in the city. That search can lead them all over the place. Tesoro 2Go may be one spot to get an economical fill-up or a cheap snack.
Gas Stations try to attract as many grab and go customers as possible, but did you know Tesoro 2Go is also responsible for your safety every time you pull up or walk through the front door? A trip to gas up or a pop into the restroom could land you in a painful accident if safety isn’t a top priority.
Tesoro 2Go and the Risk to Customers
One million people a year go to the emergency room after a slip-and-fall according to recent numbers. Outside the home, these incidents often happen due to hazards left lying around at grocery stores or big-box retailers. But as service stations serve up more fast food and line shelves with more products, the risk of a customer taking a tumble keeps growing.
More business means more careless people buzzing in and out. That’s more chance for spilled drinks and more leaky cars driving through. All added hazards that can lay you out after a tumble. The duty to protect any visitor to any gas station falls under premises liability laws.
A victim can land on broken pavement or a hard floor and wind up with a serious injury. The injured person may wonder if the accident could have been prevented. They may also want to know who can be held liable for the long, expensive recovery that may be ahead.
A Spokane premise liability attorney with CCD Law can help you answer these questions and help you build a strong case to recover the money you’ll need to pay medical bills and make up for missed time at work.
Gas Station Slip and Fall Hazards
A visit to a Tesoro 2Go usually doesn’t take long. They are brief stops on your way to some other destination. That’s the appeal of a convenience mart, but the rush in and out can present obstacles we may not spot until it’s too late.
A manager or employee not paying attention to their store, pumps and parking lot may not see a potential hazard and fail to clean it up or repair it before someone gets hurt. This would make the gas station owner and operator liable.
These are just a few of the hazards anyone can happen upon at a service station:
- Spills— Food and drinks on the floor present a danger but also the area around the gas pumps is especially dangerous. Motor oil and other car fluids can pool into a dangerous slipping hazard.
- The parking lot- Broken pavement, unsafe steps, ice, and snow can trip you up before you even reach the front doors.
- Bathroom Hazards – Gas station bathrooms seem to have floors that are either very sticky or extremely slippery.
- Floor Hazards — Broken Tiles, uneven surfaces, or even a misplaced floor mat can send you sprawling.
- Items in the aisles – Just like the big stores, with all of the products gas stations now sell, items can be left just out of eye view by customers or even stockers.
Common Slip-and-Fall Injuries
When a person has a slip-and-fall accident, he or she is most likely to fall backward. Here are some common types of slip-and-fall injuries:
- Skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries that can result in debilitating cognitive deficits. These types of injuries are most often seen in the elderly.
- Damage to the spinal cord and spinal structure that can lead to disability, paralysis, and diminished life expectancy.
- Dislocations and fractures that can require surgery and result in permanent partial disability. A hip fracture is a common outcome in a fall.
Trip-and-fall injuries are usually different from slip-and-fall injuries in that the victim generally falls the opposite direction. The victim is usually sent forward in a trip-and-fall. Uneven sidewalk or flooring surfaces can cause a trip. Potholes in parking lots are commonly associated with trip-and-fall accidents and injuries.
A person is instinctively going to put their hands out to break a fall in a trip-and-fall accident. That’s why shoulder injuries are so common in these types of falls. Along with brain and spinal cord injuries, facial and dental fractures are not uncommon in trip-and-falls.
Comparative Negligence in Washington
You may feel embarrassed by your fall and even try to blame yourself. A gas station’s own insurance adjusters may even blame you. Avoid this line of thinking.
Even if you were partially to blame for your accident, you don’t have to give up on pursuing compensation for injuries. You may still collect damages because Washington is a pure comparative negligence state. This means the blame can be divided between the people and companies involved.
For instance, if it’s determined you weren’t watching where you were going the retailer can still be liable for part of the injuries. You might take 25% of the responsibility and the store would still be held at fault for 75% of the damages. Even 75% coverage on your medical bills can make a big difference in your financial well-being in the aftermath of an accident.
Washington Deadline for Filing a Claim
Victims in a slip and fall accident have up to three years after an accident to file a claim for damages according to state statutes. It is not recommended to wait long to file your claim because the more time that passes after an accident the harder it will be to collect evidence, locate witnesses, and retrieve the documents you’ll need to build a strong case.
If the owner and operators of a gas station are found at fault, state law allows for compensation for the injured person. These awards for damages may cover medicals bills, rehab and treatment, lost time from work now and in the future. Compensation can also cover permanent disability, pain, and mental anguish.
Contact a Spokane Premises Liability Attorney
If you’ve suffered an injury in a slip and fall accident at any place of business like a gas station or store, you’ll want to secure the help you’ll need in making a recovery. An experienced Spokane attorney can file a claim against the owners and operators who did not properly protect you from harm when you visited their property. They must be held liable for your pain and suffering.
Established in Spokane in 1948, Crary & Domanico, P.S. is committed to providing our clients with the absolute highest quality legal representation. If our Premises Liability Lawyers represent you for your accident case, you have our assurance that we will use our absolute best efforts to win your case. Contact us after any accident resulting in a serious injury for a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation. We will only offer you advice which is in your best interest.
