Trader Joe’s is one of America’s most popular grocery store chains, with over 569 locations throughout the U.S. The first Trader Joe’s opened in Pasadena, California in 1967. Since then, the company has developed a reputation for unique food items at low prices, including a wide selection of international foods. A shopping trip to Trader Joe’s should be a pleasant and relaxed experience, without any hazards that can cause you to be injured. Unfortunately, accidents are quite common at supermarkets, and most of them are traced to an act of negligence by the business or their employees.
If you’ve sustained injuries from an accident at Trader Joe’s, you may be entitled to monetary compensation, which will reimburse you for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Filing an accident report is the first and most important step in the lawsuit process, but most people have little to no experience with incident claims against major retailers.
Normandie Law Firm has decades of experience helping accident victims that have been injured at grocery stores, big box stores, shopping malls, and other retail premises. If you need legal advice on what to do after an accident at Trader Joe’s, contact us right away for a free case review.
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Most Common Accidents at Trader Joe’s
Like any grocery store, Trader Joe’s locations are prone to a number of accidents inside and outside the store. Items falling off of shelves, collapsing store displays, slippery or sticky floors, and lack of security measures are just some of the hazards that can lead to serious injury. Common accidents on the premises of a Trader Joe’s include:
- Fall-related accidents: slip and fall / trip and fall claims
- Injured by falling objects, including store displays
- Accidents in public bathrooms
- Shopping cart injuries
- Assault and battery – mugging, robbery on property, assaulted by Trader Joe’s employee
- Sexual assault
- Parking lot accidents, including pedestrian struck by vehicle
Your Right to Sue Trader Joe’s for an Accident
In California, the right to sue a business for an accident on their property is based on the law of premises liability. Under this law, property owners have a duty of care to:
- Keep their property in a reasonably safe condition through regular inspections and maintenance
- Repair or remove any hazards that have the potential to cause harm
- Warn others of the dangerous condition – for example, place clearly visible warning signs around the area.
When a business or those acting on their behalf are negligent in their duty of care, they may be liable if someone is injured on the property. Thus, if you’ve had an accident at Trader Joe’s, you may have grounds to sue them if your accident was caused by an act of negligence.
In some cases, liability for an accident is easy to determine. For example, if a customer slips on a puddle of water that’s leaking from a freezer, the store is responsible, since they have a duty to maintain the equipment on their premises. But other cases are much more complicated, and a thorough investigation will be needed to determine Trader Joe’s involvement in your accident. That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced accident injury lawyer, which we can provide you with here at Normandie Law Firm.
How to File an Accident Injury Claim for Injury in a Trader Joe’s
Following the right procedures after an accident is essential to protecting your rights and securing the highest possible settlement for your injuries. Below is a list of the steps you should take if you’ve suffered an injury at Trader Joe’s.
- File an accident report immediately.
Ask for a manager so that you can file an accident report. Request a copy of the report and keep an eye out for any surveillance cameras that may have footage of the accident. This will be helpful information to give your attorney, who can obtain the footage on your behalf.
- Be careful what you say.
Never apologize for the accident by saying something like, “I should have been more careful,” which implies that the accident was your fault. Just stick to the facts, and if you’re not sure about something, say “I don’t know” instead of trying to come up with an answer.
- Collect evidence.
If you’re able to do so, take photos of your injuries and the scene of your accident. Make sure to save any damaged belongings, as well as your clothing and shoes, which may be useful in showing the severity of your injuries.
- Ask witnesses for their contact information.
If there are witnesses to your accident, ask for their contact information so that your lawyer can reach out to them later. Witnesses are a powerful source of evidence in a personal injury claim, as they can be called to testify on your behalf if your case goes to trial.
- Seek medical attention.
Please go to a hospital right after you file an accident report. For one thing, most insurance companies require you to be seen by a doctor within 72 hours after an accident. Otherwise, your claim will be denied, since it’s possible that your injuries were caused by a separate incident. You also have to consider that some injuries can take days or weeks to manifest. A doctor can run the necessary tests to diagnose these injuries early on, which will improve your chances for recovery.
- Contact a personal injury lawyer.
The claims process can be quite complicated, depending on the details of your accident and the extent of your injuries. You should not attempt to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company on your own. As soon as you can, contact our office to retain an attorney that’s experienced with grocery store accident claims.
What Should I Do if an Insurance Adjuster Calls Me?
Within a few days of your accident, you will most likely receive a call from Trader Joe’s insurance company. In fact, it’s likely that you will be spammed with calls from an insurance adjuster, as their goal is to talk you into a settlement as soon as possible.
Our recommendation is to avoid talking to the adjuster on your own, and instead, contact our office for representation from a Trader Joe’s accident injury lawyer. If you choose to speak with the company on your own, never agree to give a recorded statement, as these are specifically designed to trick you into saying something that can hurt your case. Another strategy commonly used by insurance adjusters is to offer you a low-ball settlement, particularly if you have a strong case. They know how desperate victims are to recoup their losses, and they are very good at exploiting this weakness to save themselves money.
Our attorneys will protect you from these tactics and ensure that you receive maximum payment for your physical and emotional injuries.
Average Settlement Value for Trader Joe’s Accident Claims
We are often asked about the average value of an accident case against Trader Joe’s, but realistically, it’s impossible to come up with a satisfactory answer to this question. The type of injuries, their impact on the victim’s life, the act of negligence that caused the accident – these are just a few of the elements that help us determine what a client’s lawsuit is worth. These factors are specific to each claimant, which is why a settlement from Trader Joe’s may fall between $15,000 to over $3 million. For severe, lifelong injuries with extensive emotional trauma, case values may exceed $5 million.
Length of Time to Settle a Trader Joe’s Injury Case
The timeline to resolve a personal injury case may be anywhere from 30 days to one or more years. If you can agree on a settlement amount right away, your claim may be resolved within a few months. However, many cases take longer to negotiate, perhaps around 6 to 12 months. If private negotiations do not get the results we’re looking for, we will proceed with a lawsuit. Once a lawsuit is filed, it will take one or more years to secure your payment, depending on the legal actions that we will need to undertake.
How Long do I have to File a Lawsuit?
Statute of limitations refers to the amount of time that you have to file a legal action against another party. In terms of a personal injury lawsuit, the SOL in California is generally two years from the date of injury. Please be aware that the courts are extremely strict about the deadline to file a lawsuit. If you are past the 2-year window to pursue an accident claim, you will most likely lose the right to sue Trader Joe’s. Contact us right away to initiate the legal process and receive the compensation you deserve.
Second Opinion on Active Injury Claims
We don’t just help new claimants – our lawyers are here to offer second opinions on active injury claims against Trader Joe’s. Maybe you want to verify that a settlement offer is in your best interest, or you have concerns about your case due to a lack of communication from your attorney. We are happy to discuss anything that’s on your mind and offer solutions to bring about a successful resolution to your case. There is cost to you for a second opinion, so there’s nothing to lose by meeting with one of our legal experts. Call us today if you’re interested in scheduling a free second opinion consultation.
Help from a Lawyer Experienced in Supermarket Accident Injuries
No one expects to be injured when they step inside a grocery store, and as a result, most people are unaware of their rights when they become an accident victim. The lawyers of Normandie are available to advise you of your legal options and help you recover the damages you’re entitled to.
Right now, you may have concerns about the cost of hiring an attorney to represent you. Our law firm offers a Zero Fee Guarantee, so there’s upfront cost for any of our services. Our bills are covered by Trader Joe’s and paid to us at the same time you receive your compensation award. That means we don’t make a cent unless you do – guaranteed.
We are available 24/7, including weekends and holidays, so please give us a call to learn about your rights and legal options from one of our attorneys.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Falling Store Display Injury Lawyer
Display at a Store Injury Lawyer
Tripped and Fell Over a Box in a Store Lawyer
