Our client was shopping for their weekly groceries when a store’s negligent maintenance turned a normal shopping trip into a painful and lasting injury. While walking through the store aisles, our client suddenly slipped on spilled hummus that had been left on the floor, creating a dangerous and invisible trap for unsuspecting customers.
The fresh appearance of the spilled hummus indicated that this hazardous condition had been present for a significant period, representing a clear failure by the store to conduct proper safety inspections and maintain safe premises for its customers.
Clear Evidence of Store Negligence and Liability
This case represents a clear violation of the store’s duty to maintain safe premises for customers. Some of the premises liability violations include:
- The spilled food product left on the floor created a slip hazard for customers
- The store failed to conduct adequate safety inspections and floor maintenance
- The dangerous floor condition should have been identified and cleaned during routine operations
Immediate Injury and Emergency Response
As our client fell, she instinctively attempted to break her fall with her dominant right hand, resulting in immediate and severe injury. The slip and fall caused immediate injury requiring urgent medical attention.
Immediately after the accident, the client reported the incident to store management. The store management promised to investigate the circumstances through security footage and recognized that the client required medical treatment for the injury.
Devastating Impact on Daily Life and Work Performance
The wrist injury created profound consequences affecting our client’s ability to perform essential daily activities. Some of the activities that were affected by the dominant hand injury included:
- A significant impact on work capabilities requiring hand function
- A reduced grip strength, which affected their ability to carry objects and perform tasks
- Ongoing pain interfering with routine activities and productivity
Additionally, our client suffered from a quality of life impact, which included:
- Persistent pain and swelling affecting daily comfort
- A reduced range of motion, limiting normal hand and wrist function
- An ongoing concern about permanent limitations and future complications
- An impact on independence and the ability to perform self-care activities
DiBella Law’s Successful $17,500 Settlement Achievement
The initial offer from the store was a $200 gift certificate, followed by a $3,000 offer when the initial settlement was rejected. Our legal team successfully negotiated a $17,500 settlement that provided comprehensive compensation for our client’s slip and fall injuries and their lasting impact on her daily functioning. This result reflects the clear premises liability of the store and the serious nature of dominant hand wrist injuries with neurological complications.
Protecting Customers from Dangerous Store Conditions
Slip and fall cases involving spilled food products require legal action to ensure stores maintain safe shopping environments for their customers. Grocery stores and retail establishments must regularly inspect their premises and promptly clean up hazardous spills.
Our legal team understands the serious consequences of premises liability accidents and the unique challenges faced by victims with dominant hand injuries affecting their independence and work capabilities. We are committed to holding negligent store operators accountable and ensuring injured customers receive full compensation.
The importance of this case highlights:
- A duty of stores to maintain safe floors free from slip hazards
- Serious consequences of spilled food products left unattended
- A need for regular safety inspections and prompt hazard remediation
- Protection for customers who suffer injuries due to store negligence
The Hidden Dangers of Food Spills
This case demonstrates that even routine grocery shopping can result in serious and lasting injuries when stores fail to maintain safe premises. The combination of wrist sprain, ligament damage, and neurological complications shows how a single fall can cause complex injuries affecting a person’s dominant hand function.
The store’s immediate settlement offers and progressive negotiations demonstrate recognition of clear liability and the seriousness of the injuries sustained from what appeared to be a simple slip and fall.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident at a store or business, our experienced slip and fall attorneys are here to help. We will thoroughly investigate the dangerous conditions, ensure proper medical documentation, and fight for the full compensation you deserve under premises liability law.
Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your slip and fall case and learn about your legal rights.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique and results depend on specific facts and circumstances. This case result is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.