Have you been injured while shopping at a Trader Joe’s? If so, come talk to us at Crary & Domanico, P.S., we know how dangerous it can be shopping at a grocery store, and we have helped many victims get the compensation they deserve under the law.
You might have heard that a slip and fall case is hard to prove, or you might have even heard from the store’s owner or insurance company who told you that the store did nothing wrong. You are probably wondering how that could be since you were just shopping and are now seriously injured.
Our firm helps victims answer that question, and we know how to break through their defenses to make a claim that will stick.
Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s has been around for decades and in 2011, they opened their first store in Spokane. They immediately became a hit with shoppers who enjoy their Tiki hut motif and their fresh market approach to their food offerings.
Its popularity keeps people coming into the stores, and while this is a good thing, every grocery store has its share of accidents. Trader Joe’s is no exception. All grocery stores have a high-risk for shoppers getting seriously injured because of the nature of the business. Basically, things fall on floors and shoppers either slip or trip and fall.
At Crary & Domanico, P.S., we know how frustrating a slip and fall accident can be. You just went to the store to pick up some food items, and now you’re at the hospital. We stand ready to help you through this tough time so you can get back on your feet physically and financially.
How Injuries Happen at a Trader Joe’s
Falls are some of the biggest causes of personal injury and deaths, according to a report from the CDC. Most of these happen at home, but a large percentage happens in grocery stores where falls are caused by something on the floor.
Most shoppers aren’t looking at the floor but at the products, so it’s easy to not see the potential hazards. Food items make a great lubricant for creating a fall, and some of the more common fall hazards in a Trader Joe’s are:
- Broken wine bottles
- Watermelon
- Grapes
- Pickle juice
- Spaghetti Sauce
- Cooking oil
- Water
- Fallen Signage
- Mops
- Brooms
- Cleaners
- Leaks from roof
- Leaks and condensation from freezers and coolers
Duty to Keep Shoppers Safe
Under Washington law, Trader Joe’s has a duty to keep their premises reasonably free from hazards such as spilled liquids, debris, and other problems that can cause someone to fall.
This means if you fall and are injured at a Trader Joe’s, it’s likely that the store owner or manager is going to say that they were keeping the place reasonably clean and will most likely deny your claim.
At Crary & Domanico, P.S., we know how to make a claim stick. We know their defenses and know the tricks of the insurance companies that like nothing better than to deny you compensation.
Types of Injuries in a Slip and Fall
Unfortunately, there are many ways to get injured in a Trader Joe’s store. Falls can come from slipping or even tripping over something left on the floor. At Crary & Domanico, P.S., we’ve seen them all, and we have experience in getting compensation for any type of injury at a grocery store.
Some of the more common injuries we’ve seen come from stores like Trader Joe’s are:
- Broken Wrists
- Broken Hips
- Facial Bone Fractures
- Head Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Severe Back Strain
- Angle Breaks/Sprains
- Deep Lacerations
- Electrocutions
- Chemical Burns
Making a Claim
Many victims lose their compensation claims simply because they didn’t make a solid claim to begin with. The law requires that the victim prove that the store was negligent, and the injury alone is not proof of negligence. The store will counter with legally allowed defenses, and if the victim isn’t prepared, the claim will fall.
At Crary & Domanico, P.S., we’ve heard all these defenses and know to make a proper and legal claim and that will stick and get you the compensation you deserve.
Failure to Act after Becoming Aware of the Hazard
Washington law allows a premises owner the right to fix their problem in a reasonable amount of time, but just how long and what is reasonable is up to the jury. In most cases, the owner/manager is aware of the hazard but simply takes too long to clean it up. If someone comes along in the meantime and gets injured, then the store owner is liable for the person’s injuries.
Negligent Fixes
Proving negligence in the way a hazard was created or fixed is another way to make a solid legal claim. If the store created the hazard by improper maintenance on a refrigerator or they did a poor job of cleaning up a spill and didn’t put a danger sign out, then the victim can claim negligence.
Contact a Spokane Premises Liability Lawyer.
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.
