Ylla Gosney, Attorneys at Law helps anyone that’s been hurt in a slip-and-fall accident at an Oklahoma City grocery store. There’s a lot of risks for these types of accidents in a typical grocery store environment, but it only leads to potential legal action when negligence is involved. Our team can help you through this process. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Why Would You Need a Lawyer After a Slip-and-Fall Accident?
While it’s not mandatory to hire a lawyer for a slip-and-fall claim at an Oklahoma City grocery store, going through the aftermath of such an accident can be challenging. Not only do you have to try to figure out who’s responsible, but you also have to manage your injuries. Obviously, this can be overwhelming.
Still, if your injuries are minor, you might not need a lawyer at all. However, when there’s serious injuries or complex situations, working with a lawyer can be beneficial.
At Ylla Gosney, we offer support by:
- Handling the legal details
- Collecting evidence
- Communicating with grocery store managers and insurance companies
- Filing a lawsuit if necessary
Our goal is to make the process easier for you and your family while also keeping your rights protected.
Who’s Legally Responsible For a Slip-and-Fall Accident at an Oklahoma City Grocery Store?
When you’re in a slip-and-fall accident at an Oklahoma City grocery store, figuring out who is legally responsible (or “liable”) is extremely important. Generally, the grocery store itself is primarily responsible under Oklahoma’s “premises liability” laws. They are required to make sure that the store environment is safe and promptly take care of any hazards.
However, it’s rarely that straightforward. While the particular store and its management will carry most of the liability, others might be involved too, like:
- Employees – Grocery store workers can be liable if they fail to clean up spills, block walkways with merchandise, or neglect safety measures, leading to a slip-and-fall.
- Contractors or maintenance workers – They may be held responsible for slip-and-fall accidents if their repairs or maintenance work create hazards, such as uneven surfaces or debris left in walkways.
- Local agencies – If local government agencies are responsible for maintaining adjacent public areas, their failure to address hazards like poorly maintained sidewalks can contribute to slip-and-fall accidents.
- Product makers – Manufacturers can be liable if defective products, such as faulty flooring or unsafe cleaning supplies, lead to slip-and-fall accidents in the grocery store.
Remember, you can also share some liability under Oklahoma’s “comparative negligence” rule. This means that your percentage of fault is factored into whatever result you get. So, if you ignored warning signs or were somewhere you weren’t supposed to be, you won’t be able to recover as much in a claim.
How to Recover Damages After a Slip-and-Fall at an Oklahoma City Grocery Store
Obviously, being in a slip-and-fall accident at an Oklahoma City grocery store isn’t what you want to happen. Yet, when there’s negligence involved, it makes it much more likely. These accidents frequently injure you in some way, whether physically, emotionally, or financially. All of this is factored into your legal right to file an injury claim to recover certain “damages” from the responsible party or parties.
But in order to recover these damages, you have to actually file the claim. You do this by:
- Filing an insurance claim out of court
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit
Once your claim is filed, you have to show your losses and then present a strong case that will allow either the insurance company or a judge and jury to decide how much you can get. In terms of the actual damages, you can recover things like:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship or reduced quality of life
Every case is different, and the results depend on your specific situation. It’s important to be patient, as the process may take some time. And while you have legal options, your claim is going to depend on certain steps you take.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Slip-and-Fall Claim?
Unfortunately, just having the right to file an injury claim against an Oklahoma City grocery store or anyone else that’s responsible for a slip-and-fall accident doesn’t automatically deliver your damages. You have to present a strong case, and that process starts immediately after the accident itself. So, to protect your claim, here’s what you can do:
- Take care of your health – The first thing you should do is take care of your health. Get immediate medical attention for any injuries at the store or by calling an ambulance if needed. Follow up with a doctor and keep all medical records, including bills and receipts.
- Report the accident – Simultaneously, tell a store employee or manager about the accident right away. Request a copy of the incident report they make, and keep a note if they actually take care of the hazard or issue.
- Get documentation of the scene – Document the scene with photos or videos, capturing any hazards. Note the date and time of the accident, and gather contact information from witnesses if possible.
- Preserve your evidence and information – Keep any damaged items, like clothing or shoes, from the incident. Do not repair or alter them, as they are crucial for your case.
- Be careful with any statements – Avoid making detailed statements or admitting fault to store employees or insurance adjusters. Stick to the facts and let our legal team handle any further communication.
Taking these steps is extremely important for a successful claim. Our team can assist in gathering additional evidence, such as surveillance footage, to strengthen your case. However, it’s ultimately up to you to take these steps, which will form the foundation of your claim.
What Can Happen to You in These Accidents?
You might not think about how–let alone expect–you could be injured in a slip-and-fall accident at an Oklahoma City grocery store. But again, there’s a lot that can go wrong in these stores, and this is heightened when there’s negligence like slippery floors, broken tiles, crowded aisles, or anything else involved.
A slip and fall at an Oklahoma City grocery store might seem minor, but it can lead to serious injuries. Depending on how you fall and where, you could experience:
- Bruises
- Broken bones, especially in your hands, wrists, elbows, or tailbone
- Muscle strains or pulls
- Neck and back injuries
- Ligament damage
- Emotional trauma
Every accident, even one that happens in a grocery store, can lead to numerous injuries and other damage that can impact your life. This make the legal process very important, and in order to fully pursue these options, reach out to our team.
Get Legal Support After a Slip-and-Fall at an Oklahoma City Grocery Store
If you’ve been involved in a slip-and-fall at a grocery store in Oklahoma City, it’s important to have the right legal support. Our team at Ylla Gosney understands the complexities of these cases and can guide you through the recovery process. Don’t hesitate–contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case.
