Can You Sue A Convenience Store For Injuries?
You may not think about it, but every time you leave your home, there is the risk of an accident or injury. One of these is slips and falls. Slips and falls lead to 1 million emergency room visits every year. These falls can lead to injuries, including bruises, broken bones, sprains, and head trauma.
A slip and fall can happen anywhere — even at a convenience store. For the most part, convenience stores can be, well, convenient. At just one stop, you can fill up your car, grab some coffee or food, and use the restroom.
However, there can be times when these stores can be inconvenient. Besides slips and falls, there are also other dangers that can occur at these stores, especially when a gas station convenience store teams up with a fast food restaurant.
For example, you could slip and fall on spilled beverages or melted ice. You could suffer food poisoning from the food sold inside. You could be a victim of assault or some other crime while inside the store. You could also get hit by another vehicle while parking or going through a drive-thru.
So you may wonder: what happens next? Can I sue the store for its negligence? The answer is yes, you can, if you have adequate evidence to prove your claim.
Evidence Needed
Evidence is needed to determine whether the incident did in fact happen. To prove your personal injury claim, you should gather the following:
- Photos of the accident scene
- Contact information of any witnesses
- Names of any store employees present
- Copies of any accident or police reports
- Proof of damages, such as medical bills and employment records
Proving Negligence
While having solid evidence is a good start, you also need to prove that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. If you caused your own injuries, you cannot file a claim. You will need to prove four elements:
- A store employee has a duty to provide a safe environment to customers.
- The store breaches their duty when they do not remedy a hazardous situation.
- The breach of duty caused the customer to get in an accident and suffer injuries.
- The victim suffered damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering due to the breach of duty and resulting accident.
Contact Us Today
A quick trip to a convenience store could lead to serious injuries. If you have been a victim, make sure you get the evidence you need to prove your claim.
An Alpharetta personal injury lawyer from Hawkins Spizman Trial Lawyers can help you file a claim if you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, no matter where the incident occurred. To schedule a free consultation with our office, call 770-685-6400 or fill out the online form. The firm serves Georgia, including Atlanta, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Cobb County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Johns Creek, and Sandy Springs.
Source:
nfsi.org/nfsi-research/quick-facts/