Some people go into Trader Joe’s and are immediately overwhelmed by the differences from the standard grocery store. Other shoppers go in and are immediately at home with Trader Joe’s unique selection of flavors and products.
No matter your perspective, both first-time and long-time shoppers at Lexington’s Nicholasville Road location are owed more than just healthy choices and low prices. Customers are owed a completely safe visit to any grocery store they enter.
If an obstacle like a pile of boxes or a puddle of water sends you into a slip or trip at Trader Joe’s and you are injured, you should be able to count on help with your recovery and the bills that follow. The slip-and-fall attorneys with Lexington’s Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, work with victims to make sure they don’t get taken advantage of by a major grocery chain and their lawyers. Contact us for a free, no-obligation evaluation of your case when you are hurt at any grocery or department store.
What to Do If You are Injured at Trader Joe’s in Lexington
Finding yourself suddenly on the floor or out on the pavement in the parking lot at Trader Joe’s can leave you feeling at your most vulnerable. A slip-and-fall on a spilled drink inside or trip over a pothole outside can result in a painful injury and you may not even be able to get up at that moment.
In the minutes after a fall, the most powerful evidence that proves a grocery store was negligent can be collected. If you feel you are safe to move and stand, you should set off to gather certain evidence immediately on the scene. If you don’t feel you can move, you should ask someone with you or a witness to help you with gathering these details:
- Paramedic report – If you feel you need emergency medical treatment call 911. Give emergency crews a full report on how you were injured.
- Get photos and/or video – Document the obstacle that sent you to the ground. Slick spots and candy on the floor can quickly be cleaned up by Trader Joe’s employees leaving you with only your word of what happened. Use your cellphone to show any warning signs or the lack of signs around the obstacle.
- Talk to a manager – You’ll have to inform a manager or store representative about what happened so they can fill out an incident report. Your attorney will be able to obtain this report later and use it as evidence. You should not discuss the nature of your injuries at this time. You may say you’re okay and then find the next day that you have muscle damage or even a broken bone that didn’t hurt right away.
- Get information from witnesses – Employees who are willing to help can also be witnesses for you. If witnesses are willing to write down their account and sign and date it, let them do just that. They might also let you get video of them talking about what happened. Make sure you can reach them later.
- Keep evidence – Keep your receipts if you’ve already purchased something in the store. If any personal items or even your grocery items are damaged in the fall try to hang on to them to use as visual evidence.
- See your personal physician — Make an appointment with your doctor. Document every injury and pain that appears after the accident.
Earning Compensation from Trader Joe’s after a Slip-And-Fall
Things like snow and ice in the parking lot or a broken pickle jar in an aisle can all do a surprising amount of damage when they send you down on a very hard surface. All of these obstacles should be cleaned-up or repaired well before you get the chance to take a tumble over them, but sadly these hazards can sit for hours or days before any owner, manager or employee sees to them.
Trader Joe’s franchise operators and proprietors owe their customers a “duty of care.” This legal concept means that they are responsible for your safety and care when you drive onto their lot and when you are on any aisle or in their bathrooms. If they aren’t actively monitoring for hazards during their business hours then they can be responsible for your entire recovery, every hospital and physical therapy bill, and your missed wages at work.
Contact A Lexington Slip-And-Fall Lawyer
Slip-and-fall victims often wonder if they need an attorney, and the answer is almost always yes. Giant chains like Trader Joe’s will have insurance company agents and lawyers on their side with years of experience and are good at their job which is to pay you as little as possible or nothing at all. You need someone just as experienced to help you level the field.
Talk to a Lexington Slip-And-Fall Attorney you can trust to be on your side and fight for your fair compensation. The attorneys at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, have that knowledge and a combined 100 years’ experience in helping clients get the compensation they’ll need to make a full recovery. To discuss your case, contact Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC today, by clicking here to contact them online.