Supermarkets are frequented by hundreds of people every day. There are often not enough workers to ensure that the stores are completely safe all the time. If you have been hurt at a Smart and Final supermarket, it is important that you take legal action against the store and pursue any compensation available. You are entitled to appropriate restitution if you were hurt because of the negligent action or inaction of the property owner. Our law firm, Normandie Law Firm, can represent you and fight for your rights as a victim. We will file your Smart and Final injury accident lawsuit for you and see to it that you are given the maximum compensation available for your case.
Premises Liability Details
Property owners have the requirement to provide safe areas for all people who enter the property. All individuals on private property fall under one of three categories. They are as follows:
Invitees, or customers present for a mutual benefit, who are afforded the highest duty of care
Licensees, or social guests, who are present without making payments, and are afforded less of a duty of care
Trespassers, or individuals illegally on the property, who are afforded the least amount of care but must not be targeted
Customers at Smart and Final are considered invitees, and are thus to be protected at all costs. If you were a shopper, you should not have to worry about potential dangers and hazards present in the store.
You can file a premises liability claim if one of the following scenarios is true:
- The property owner caused the hazard at the store
- The property owner knew about the hazard but did not try to fix it or did not alert customers to the dangers
- The property owner was not aware of the danger at the store but reasonably should have been, as any other property owner would have known
The majority of incidents at Smart and Final stores happen because the property owner does not know, but he should have. He could make sure that employees are diligent about fixing the store up, or he could always try to check the safety of the aisles.
Slip and fall accidents happen for a number of reasons, including:
- Slippery floors
- Wet floors from leaky refrigerators or spilled beverages
- Sleek floors that were cleaned and had no sign placed to indicate the danger
- Merchandise spilled in the aisle
- Broken carts
- Baskets left in aisles
- Holes or cracks in the floor
- Broken handrails
These accidents may not seem serious, but you could suffer a large number of injuries from them. We have handled cases in which clients were hurt in the following ways:
- Broken bones
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Closed head injuries
- Sprains
- Dislocations
- Muscle damage
- Nerve damage
- Herniated discs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Knee and hip injuries
- Paralysis
- Coma
- Death
If you need more information about premises liability claims, you can call our law firm for assistance.
How to Sue Smart and Final for a Slip and Fall Injury
You can contact us to figure out how to file a claim against Smart and Final for injuries for a slip and fall. We will give you the full list of expectations and steps to take to sue the company if you were hurt on their property. You should do the following:
- Go to the hospital or doctor to get treated for the injuries you suffered
- Do not wait too long to go to the doctor or you will worsen your injuries
- Do not hesitate to get treatment or the insurance agent will doubt that you were seriously injured or that you were hurt at the supermarket
- Take pictures of the injuries you suffered to illustrate the extent prior to healing or treatment
- Take photos of the Smart and Final in which you were hurt, such as the floor or any hazards that were present
- Get video footage or security camera shots from the store showing the incident
- Gather the Smart and Final contact information and Smart and Final insurance information so you can file a claim against the proper party
- File an incident report with the supermarket
- Interview eyewitnesses for their statements and testimonies
- Make copies of any receipts you had from a purchase you made at the store
Once you have gathered your evidence, it is wise to speak with a Smart and Final slip and fall lawyer. We can write your demand letter, organize your proof, hire expert witnesses, and negotiate your settlement with the insurance agency.
Deadline to Sue Smart and Final for an Injury Claim
The statute of limitations in California for slip and fall lawsuits is 2 years from the date of the injury. If you do not file your accident claim within that period, you will not be able to receive any compensation for your losses. We know how difficult it can be to take action quickly, but it is important that you do so. Your evidence will be preserved and you will have a greater chance of success.
It is possible that the statute of limitations can be extended past the deadline in some scenarios. If you were underage when you were hurt, you can wait until you turn 18 years old to sue. If you were left physically or mentally incapacitated after the incident, you can wait until you return to health or awareness before taking action. Additionally, the defendant must be present in the State of California; if he has left, the statute will not count down until he returns.
Victims are often unaware of the statute of limitations or take action entirely too late. If you come to our firm for representation, you will not run the risk of your claim being filed too late.
Average Settlement for Accident in Smart and Final
Your claim may be worth a fair amount of money if you were injured because of the gross negligence of a worker at a Smart and Final. You may be able to earn various types of expenses for your damages. Generally, these types of claims have an average value of more than $25,000, but some extenuating circumstances can cause them to be worth more than $1,000,000. A lawyer in Los Angeles for Smart and Final slip and fall accident claims can be crucial in helping you earn the maximum compensation available under the law. You may receive coverage for:
- Medical bills, including surgery costs, hospitalization fees, prescription fees, and physical therapy sessions that arise from the accident. If you need additional medical procedures in the future, you could also receive coverage.
- Lost wages, or income that you missed from your job because you needed time to recover or because you had to go through medical treatment. You may also earn anticipated lost income if future medical treatments or recovery time will prevent you from returning to work.
- Property damage, or any damages done to your personal items.
- Pain and suffering damages, or emotional damages, which include fear, anxiety, PTSD, psychological stress, mental strain, and more.
You may not have any legal experience, which can be a detriment to your case. It will be difficult for you to secure everything you need if you have never negotiated a deal, or if you do not know how to utilize the law to the best of your advantage. Our attorneys can work around the clock to ensure you are wholly covered for the losses you suffered.
Our Lawyers Speak Spanish
If you are in need of Spanish speaking lawyers for your lawsuit, you do not need to look any further. Our bilingual attorneys ensure that you will be appropriately informed of every detail about your case. You should not be hesitant to take legal action just because English is not your first language. We believe all individuals have the right to fair representation, regardless of their language.
The Best Firm in Town
With the assistance of our skilled attorneys at the Normandie Law Firm, you can receive the compensation you deserve for your slip and fall accident at a Smart and Final. We will help you file your claim and will negotiate with the insurance agent on your behalf. Our aggressive lawyers will do everything in our power to secure you a worthwhile settlement. We are available 24/7 and will always take your call to discuss your claim with you.
Call us today for a free legal consultation with an experienced attorney. You may have questions about slip and fall laws or you may want to know the average settlement for injury in Smart and Final. We will give you the crucial information you need to proceed with a lawsuit. By choosing us to handle your case, you also will receive a zero fee guarantee, which promises that you will not incur any out of pocket expenses for our help. We won’t get paid until and unless we win, and if we lose, you owe us nothing at all.
To get started on filing your slip and fall lawsuit against Smart and Final, call a lawyer at Normandie Law Firm today.
