Slip and Fall caused by Broken or Defective Refrigerator

Were you involved in a slip and fall accident? Were you involved in a slip and fall accident that occurred because of a broken or defective refrigerator? If you were involved in a slip and fall accident because of a broken or defective refrigerator, you might have grounds to pursue a claim. Depending on the specific details of your claim, you could pursue a claim and even recover some sort of compensation.

If you are interested in learning more about your right to sue and recover compensation for the harm that you suffered after experiencing slip and fall accident due to a broken or defective refrigerator, do not hesitate to contact the experts at Normandie Law Firm. Normandie Law Firm is an injury law firm with many years of experience handling all sorts of claims – always dedicated to representing the best interests of our clients.

If you are ready to pursue your claim against the party or entity that contributed to the harm that you suffered, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with our lawyers immediately. Our lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with all the information that you need to begin or continue your claim against the party or entity that caused the harm that you suffered.

Slip and Fall Accidents are Common

In 2016 alone, approximately 9.2 people went to the emergency room for injuries associated with falls. On average, there are over 8 million E.R. visits due to slips, trips, and falls. Falls are actually the leading cause behind non-fatal injuries (that have been medically treated). Falls are also the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Without a doubt, falls could result in significant injuries.

Some of the common injuries associated with slip and fall accidents include the following:

• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Facial injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Fractured bones
• Hip injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Keen injuries
• Hand/wrist injuries
• Foot/ankle injuries
• Nerve damage
• Muscle damage
• Torn ligaments
• Sprains and strains
• Lacerations
• Contusions
• Abrasions

If you suffered any of the harm listed above as a direct result of a slip and fall accident caused by a broken or defective refrigerator, you might have grounds to take action. Depending on the details of the incident and the harm that you suffered, you might have grounds to file a claim (and even recover some compensation).

Slip and Falls and Broken or Defective Refrigerators

Refrigerators are some of the most common appliances used in a number of situations. Refrigerators, like all other appliances, occasionally need maintenance to ensure that they remain in an acceptable working condition. Some of the most common issues that refrigerators can develop result in water leakage. Refrigerators can leak water for a number of reasons, two of which include blocked defrost drains and clogged/frozen water supply line, for example. Leaking refrigerators are relatively common; therefore, slip and fall accidents in certain locations with leaking refrigerators are also common.

Leaking Refrigerators in Supermarkets

Supermarkets are generally equipped with multiple commercial-grade refrigerators. Without the proper maintenance, it is just a matter of time before these refrigerators start leaking. The leaks usually start very close to the base of the refrigerators – which is essentially unperceivable to shoppers. As leaks spread and cover more of the floor, shoppers might still be unable to see the hazard – because shoppers are usually focused on the shelves and making their purchases.

Store owners, managers, and employees all have the duty to ensure that the entire premises is free of any hazards, such as leaking refrigerators, that could pose slip and fall risks. When store owners, managers, and employees fail to address hazards and put customers at risk, they could be liable for the harm that their customers suffer (with some exceptions).

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Leaking Refrigerators in Hotels and Motels

Depending on the type of hotel or motel, rooms might be equipped with mini fridges or with full-sized refrigerators. Like all other refrigerators, the refrigerators in hotels and motels also need to be maintained. Because hotels and motels do not regularly have long-term occupants, it is unlikely that guests will stay long enough to even notice a hazard; therefore, hazards are not often reported. When staff enter rooms, it is usually only for a short length of time to clean up and get the rooms ready for the next guests. Leaking refrigerators in hotels and motels could quickly prove to be dangerous. Motel and hotel guests never expect to be exposed to any hazards during their stay.

Hotel/motel owners, managers, and all staff have the duty to keep the premises free of any hazards, which could include leaking refrigerators. This hazard could represent significant slip and fall risks. If hotel/motel guests suffer harm due to the failure of these parties to address this hazard, they could be liable for all harm guests suffer (with some exceptions).

Leaking Refrigerators in Homes

Leaking refrigerators are also common in homes. Homeowners, the owners of the refrigerators, often fail to take any action after becoming aware of an issue with their refrigerator. They might occasionally mop up leaks or place napkins or rags to soak up the leak – but neither of these possible actions are permanent solutions. Many homeowners seem to forget that they have a duty to keep their visitors safe.

All homeowners have a duty to keep their premises free of any hazards, to ensure that their guests (given that they are lawfully on the property) are safe. When homeowners fail to address their leaking refrigerators, they are allowing a hazard to exist on their premises. If this breach of duty results in innocent visitors suffering accidents, homeowners could be liable for the harm suffered.

Defective Refrigerators in General

In some cases, however, refrigerator leaks are simply a result of product defects. Refrigerators can be defective even straight out of the manufacturer. The companies that manufacture refrigerators have the duty to ensure that all their products are in working condition and essentially safe to be used by their consumers. When companies fail to identify and address the hazards present in their products, they are putting their consumers at risk of suffering injuries.

Defective refrigerators could contribute to slip and fall accidents. The hazard could result in an incident before anyone could identify and address the hazard. Defective products represent a breached duty of care (from companies towards their consumers). When this breach of duty (their defective products) result in an accident that harms unsuspecting consumers, companies could be accountable for the harm suffered.

Understanding Liability for the Harm Caused by Broken or Defective Refrigerators

Liability for the harm caused by broken or defective refrigerators will be based on either premise liability or product liability, depending on the specific details of the incident. Consider the following information.

Based on premise liability, property owners, managers, etc. have a duty to ensure that their premises are free of any hazards that could represent a risk to visitors. A broken, leaky refrigerator represents a hazard that could put visitors at risk of suffering slip and fall accidents and injuries. If property owners in supermarkets, hotels/motels, and even homes fail to take action to address the hazard, they are negligently putting their guests at risk. Based on premise liability, property owners could be liable for the harm that their guests suffer while on their premises.

Based on product liability, all companies (including those that design and manufacture refrigerators) have a duty of care towards their consumers. They have the duty to ensure that all their products are free of any hazards and completely safe to be used by consumers. Companies must inspect their products and subject them to the appropriate tests to be able to identify and address hazards before making products available to consumers. By failing to address hazards and making defective products available to consumers, companies are breaching their duty of care towards consumers and negligently putting their consumers at risk of injury. Based on product liability, companies can be liable for the harm that their consumers suffer due to their defective product.

If you would like to learn more about establishing liability for the harm suffered due to a broken or defective leaky refrigerator, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with our slip and fall attorneys as soon as possible.

Do You Have the Right to Sue?

Do you have the right to sue for the slip and fall accident that you suffered due to a leaking refrigerator? In many cases, it could be difficult to establish whether you have the right to sue for a specific injury that you suffered. In general, any party that is harmed as a direct result of the negligent and reckless actions of another party likely has the right to pursue a claim. When someone owes you a duty of care (e.g. the duty to ensure that the premises is safe or the duty to ensure that products are not defective), their breach of duty could cause an incident and could directly result in harm. If the harm you suffered is a direct result of a breach of duty (or of negligence), you could pursue a claim. Depending on the details of your claim, your right to pursue a slip and fall claim against the liable party might be based on premise liability of product liability.

Could You Recover Compensation?

You could recover compensation for the harm that you suffered. Depending on the specific details of your claim, you could receive many different types of compensation. For example, you could recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, funeral and burial costs, and punitive damages. The specific type of compensation available for recovery will be based on the exactly how you were affected by the slip and fall incident.

If you would like to learn more about the type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to recover if your slip and fall accident claim reaches a successful outcome, you can trust the experts at Normandie Law Firm. At our firm, our slip and fall experts are ready to aggressively fight for your right to recover the highest amount of compensation available for your claim.

What Should You Do?

Taking the appropriate action after suffering any sort of harm related to the negligent actions of another party is essential to being able to eventually pursue a claim. However, the recommended actions to follow are different based on the type of accident suffered or the type of claim being pursued (specifically premise liability versus product liability).

All parties involved in an accident should do the following:

• Seek immediate medical attention
• Take photos of all injuries suffered
• Take photos of the hazard that caused your accident
• Take photos of the scene of the accident
• Gather all medical records
• Gather witness information (if available)
• Seek legal assistance immediately

If your accident occurred in a supermarket, hotel, or motel and you are pursuing a premise liability claim for your slip and fall accident, you should also do the following:

• Ensure that an owner or manager is aware of the accident
• File a written accident report with the owner or the manager
• Make a note of the name of the parties that acknowledged your accident
• Identify any surveillance cameras that could have captured your accident
• Gather insurance information (if applicable)

If your accident occurred directly because of a defective product, you should also do the following:

• Take photos of the defective product
• Do not tamper with the defective product in any way (do not attempt to repair)
• Stop using the defective product
• Keep the defective product in a safe place where it will remain as-is
• Contact the company to report the defective product and the harm that you suffered
• Do not agree to a free repair or a refund
• Do not agree to return the defective product to the company
• Do not sign any documents

If you would like to learn more about the specific steps that you should follow based on the circumstances of your incident and the type of claim that you are pursuing, do not hesitate to contact our law firm as soon as possible. Our lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with the guidance that you need to pursue your claim.

How Long Do You Have to File?

All claims are subject to specific deadlines, referred to as statutes of limitations. A statute of limitations determines the length of time that claimants have to file. In general, injury claims in California are subject to a two-year statute of limitations, meaning that claimants will only have two-year to file their claims. If claimants fail to file their claims within the time allowed by the applicable deadline, they will lose their right to sue. Without a doubt, claims are subject to strict deadlines; however, many exceptions could apply based on the specific details surrounding the claim. If you would like to learn more about the length of time that you have to file your slip and fall claim, do not hesitate to contact our firm as soon as possible.

Contact Our Law Firm Today

After suffering a slip and fall accident caused by a broken or defective refrigerator that was leaking, you might be interested in pursuing a claim. To learn more about your right to file a slip and fall accident claim for the harm that you suffered due to a broken or defective refrigerator, do not hesitate to contact our law firm as soon as possible. At Normandie Law Firm, our experts are dedicated to providing all affected parties with the guidance that they need to pursue claims and hold all liable parties accountable for their actions. If you would like to discuss your claim with our experts, do not hesitate to contact our firm today.

Our firm is dedicated to ensuring that all affected parties have access to the legal representation that they need to pursue their claims. Because of this, our firm offers free legal services – which include free consultations and free second opinions. During our free consultations and free second opinions, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns, doing everything to ensure that you have access to all the information that you need to start or continue your claim.

Our free legal services are available as part of a Zero-Fee guarantee – a guarantee that our clients will never be required to pay any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Our firm is also based on a contingency structure; therefore, our clients will never be required to pay anything until after reaching a successful claim outcome – if you do not win, you will not be required to pay.

To discuss your claim with the slip and fall experts at Normandie Law Firm, contact us at your earliest convenience.