There’s no shortage of private-owned grocery stores and supermarket chains throughout California. Stopping by at one of these locations should be an uneventful part of your day, week, or month, but that all depends on the store’s ability to maintain the safety and cleanliness of their property. The truth is, supermarkets can be extremely dangerous places that are prone to the following accidents:
- Slip and fall
- Trip and fall
- Falling objects
- Shopping cart injuries
- Parking lot accidents
- Assault and battery
- Sexual assault
If you’ve been harmed on the premises of a supermarket, there are many questions you need answer to, including:
“How long does it take to settle an accident case against a supermarket?”
Settling a personal injury lawsuit can take a few months in some cases, or up to several years depending on the complications that are involved. In this article, we will go over the factors that typically affect how long it takes to reach a settlement for cases involving accidents at a supermarket. However, how these elements play out in your own accident claim is something you will need to discuss with one of our attorneys. For a free case review with a supermarket accident injury lawyer, please contact our law firm.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$1.1 Million
$1.5 Million
$600,000
$525,000
$734,851
Factors that Affect a Supermarket Accident Case Timeline
How long will it take to recover from your injuries?
Most claimants want to settle their case as soon as possible, and as a result, they jump on the first offer that’s made to them by the supermarket’s insurance company. But this can end up hurting you in the long run, especially if you have serious injuries like brain damage and spinal cord injury. That’s why it’s in your best interest to wait until you’ve reached maximum medical imprudent (MMI), meaning the maximum level of recovery that can be expected for someone in your condition. Working closely with your doctor and a lawyer experienced in accident cases at supermarkets will help you settle your case for the highest possible amount.
Can you settle your case with the insurance company?
As soon as you’ve hurt yourself at a grocery store, make sure to file an accident report by alerting store employees and asking to speak with a manager. This will initiate the claims process with the supermarket’s insurance company. Having a lawyer to assist you is extremely helpful, as they know how to negotiate with these companies and secure maximum payment for the harm you’ve suffered. They also have a sense of when negotiations are no longer fruitful and it’s best to move forward with a lawsuit. As there is a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit, timing is very important when it comes to suing a supermarket versus negotiating directly with their insurance company.
What is the defendant’s degree of liability?
Liability refers to the defendant’s responsibility for an accident, and in the case of a supermarket, this is normally based on their failure to take preventative measures that could have prevented injury to someone else. Supermarket owners can also be sued for acts of misconduct by their employees based on the law of vicarious liability. No matter the circumstance, the level of negligence by the supermarket is a big factor in the amount you are owed. For example, cases involving particularly outrageous or harmful conduct, i.e., gross negligence, can result in the victim receiving punitive damages, which will significantly increase their settlement value.
Will you need to take your case to trial?
It’s uncommon for a personal injury claim to go to trial, as major retailers usually try to settle these cases for as little as possible. There’s no denying that a trial is time-consuming and expensive, but sometimes, this is the only way for a client to receive justice when they’ve been injured at the hands of a negligent individual or entity. If a trial is necessary, the legal process to obtain payment can take up to several years in the state of California.
Monetary Damages from a Lawsuit
The specific damages you are eligible to receive play a direct role in the total amount you can recover from a lawsuit. Thus, it’s essential to have a sense of which economic and non-economic damages you can demand from a grocery store accident lawsuit. Here is a list of the payments that may be available to you:
- Medical expenses, including future medical costs for serious injuries
- Lost wages, and possibly future lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Property damage
- Attorney’s fees
- Punitive damages
Value of an Average Settlement for a Supermarket Injury Lawsuit
Having a sense of the total amount you can obtain is crucial when you are fighting for compensation after a serious accident. To that end, we can provide ranges of values based on what our clients have received from lawsuits against major retailers throughout California. As an example, the majority of slip and fall injury victims at our law firm receive anywhere from $250,000 to $2.5 million and above. Claims involving injuries from a falling object often bring in anywhere from $175,000 to $2.75 million.
The degree of injury is the biggest factor in what a supermarket accident lawsuit is worth. That’s why some claimants will receive less than the values we’ve stated, while others are awarded much more. As there are many elements that impact the value of a personal injury case, contact us if you’d like to learn what you can ask for in a compensation claim against a supermarket.
What is the Statute of Limitations to File a Supermarket Accident Lawsuit?
As a litigant in the state of California, you generally have two years to file a lawsuit against a grocery store if you were injured from an act of negligence or misconduct. This time period typically starts from the accident date, so it’s important to take action right away with guidance from a supermarket accident injury lawyer. If you are past the statute of limitations, it will be extremely difficult to get an extension from the court. Unfortunately, this will mean that your right to file a lawsuit against the store is permanently lost. Please don’t wait to initiate a supermarket accident claim with one of our attorneys. Contact us right away to schedule a free consultation if you’ve sustained injuries at a California supermarket.
Why is it Taking so Long to Settle my Case?
Without a full understanding of what’s happened in your case so far, all we can do is speculate on why it’s taking so long to bring you closure on a premises liability lawsuit. One possibility is that the legal process required to secure your payment is taking longer than expected. This is quite common, especially if your case is at the lawsuit stage. On the other hand, it could be that your lawyer’s lack of time, dedication, or experience is hurting your case.
To figure out what’s going on with your claim, please consider reaching out to us for a free second opinion. One of our accident injury attorneys will take the time to answer your questions and recommend solutions if there are indications that your case is headed in the wrong direction. This is a completely free service to anyone with a pending supermarket injury claim, so contact us anytime to schedule a second opinion consultation.
Legal Advice from a California Slip and Fall Lawyer
When you’ve suffered harm due to someone else’s actions or lack of action, it’s important to learn about the legal options that are available to you. In addition, you will need aggressive representation from a lawyer that’s experienced in personal injury lawsuits against supermarkets and grocery stores. However, we know that finances are tight after a serious accident, which is why many people choose to deal with the insurance companies on their own.
At Normandie Law Firm, we don’t believe in charging an injury victim when they are seeking justice from the party that has injured them. From the very first consultation, you are protected under the Zero Fee Guarantee. Under this agreement, we wait until the end of your case to receive payment from the defendant. That only happens if we win your case, meaning, there is no cost to you in the event we don’t recover your settlement.
Our lawyers are standing by to assist you, so contact us to schedule a free case evaluation if you were injured at a grocery store.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Super King Markets Slip and Fall Accident Injury Lawyer
Supermarket Shopping Cart Attendant Negligence Attorney
JONS Marketplace Injury Lawsuit Attorney
