A visit to any grocery store, gas station, or Wal-Mart in Kentucky may only have you focused on making your purchase and getting out. But many of us never consider the dangers that these public places can hold for anyone just walking up to or through their doors.
A spill on the floor or a misplaced display case can escape your sight until you hit the floor with a smack. The pain you experience may go away in an hour, or it could cause you mobility issues for years to come. At Kaufman and Stigger PLLC, we work hard to protect innocent victims who have been injured by a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall. Property owners try their best to get your hard-earned dollars, so they should also step up when you are hurt in their stores. Contact our attorneys at Kaufman and Stigger PLLC to make sure your rights are protected when you ask for compensation for your pain and suffering.
Circle K Slip-And-Fall Hazards in Louisville
Every driver needs a good pit crew to keep them gassed up and supplied for the trip ahead. In Louisville, that crew might be the folks at Circle K. Whether you’re craving a snack or running on empty, the 20+ locations around the city means you’ll never be far from a supply run.
You may have noticed that Circle K locations have been getting bigger and bigger in recent years. The sprawl of the pumps and the parking lot is almost matched by the size of the “mini” mart inside the store. The variety of services these gas stations offer has only grown too. The problem comes when so many customers pass through each day leaving behind obstacles for others to slip and trip on.
The trail of hazards can begin at the pumps, where cars have been leaking oil for as long as the gas station has been in existence. These oil slicks can land you on the cement and even cause you to smash your head into a raised platform or pylon. The journey into the store can be equally treacherous when ice and snow aren’t cleared properly.
The footpath inside can be even more dangerous. All of those giant drinks they sell can end up on the floor. The ice cubes can provide an especially hazardous slipping risk. Bathrooms use can leave a soapy mess on the tile creating a sliding zone if not mopped regularly.
Common Slip-and-Fall Injuries in Kentucky
The CDC reports that one out of every five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or head trauma. These incidents can have serious, life-altering effects, especially for the elderly who might take much longer to heal after a tumble.
In slip-and-fall accidents, victims often plummet backward and commonly see these types of injuries:
- Skull fractures and brain injuries can result in permanent damage. The symptoms can include memory loss, numbness, and seizures.
- Damage to the spinal cord can lead to a loss of control in the limbs, the upper or lower body, or even everything from the neck down.
- Dislocations and broken bones can result in disability. A hip fracture can take an especially long time to heal affecting the victim’s mobility.
- Trip-and-fall injuries generally send victims falling face first. A trip can lead to broken hands and wrists as victims try to stop their fall. The face can take damage as well, leaving broken noses, jaws, and busted teeth.
Gas Station Owners Duty to Care for Customers
You’d think store proprietors would want to keep their customers as safe as possible. Customers provide their livelihood. In fact, owners are required by law to provide safe passage to anyone legally visiting their properties. This is known as a “duty to care” in legal terms. If there is a hazard that could hurt a customer, they are expected to fix or clean-up that hazard in a reasonable amount of time and also clearly warn customers about the potential for injury.
If you’re injured, a store’s owner or operator may try to dispute your claim by bringing up certain factors. Their insurance company or their corporate lawyers may try to say that you were in a part of the gas station not meant for the general public. They may also claim that warning signs were put out that you should have seen. This is why it’s important to take many photos of the scene after you fall. So that you have proof of what the store looked like at the time of your accident.
The opposition may even claim that the accident was your fault because you weren’t paying enough attention to where you were going. Even if you weren’t paying attention when you fell, that doesn’t mean the property owner can avoid paying for your recovery. It may be decided that you and the store owner will share the blame in the accident. In these cases, the owner will hopefully be held responsible for a sizable percentage of the incident and still owe you a sizable compensation.
Contact a Louisville Slip-And-Fall Attorney
A stop to gas-up or use the restroom shouldn’t be a dangerous journey that leaves you with a debilitating injury. If a property owner was negligent in the care of his or her store and you were hurt, you should not be responsible for your own recovery. Allow a Louisville slip-and-fall attorney to represent you and make sure your pain and suffering and financial losses don’t go ignored.
The attorneys at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, have a combined 100 years’ experience in helping clients get the compensation they’ll need to fully recover. To discuss your case contact Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC today.