Lawsuits Against Safeway: Store Injury Liability

All property owners owe their customers a legal duty to keep them safe from harmful conditions. Grocery stores can be held liable in a premises liability claim when they fail to warn about potential dangers, such as wet flooring. People who slip and fall, possibly due to produce that was not cleaned up in a timely manner, often file Safeway lawsuits to obtain compensation for their injuries. The owner or occupier must make a reasonable effort to keep the premises safe and prevent their patrons from becoming injured while shopping.

Proving Liability Against Safeway Grocery Store

The key element in any personal injury case is proving negligence to determine who is liable for the accident. By demonstrating that the store is at fault, the plaintiff must be able to show the following:

• The property owner was aware of the dangerous condition and failed to take action
• They should have known that the hazardous condition existed and taken steps to warn customers, such as placing cones around a recently mopped floor
• If the property owner created the dangerous condition that led to the accident, then they are liable

Most large grocery stores have security camera to monitor for shoplifting or other suspicious activities. These can be invaluable in proving your claim if it shows food was left on the floor and the employees failed to clean it up. Witness can play an important role in your case when they can corroborate your story. These might be individuals who were there at the time the incident occurred or they may be employees. Former employees can be called to testify about store policies, such as how long they allowed dangerous conditions to exist before taking care of them.

Contributory & Comparative Negligence and Damages

Many states have laws regarding negligence when establishing liability. Store owners may claim that the injured party is partially to blame because of their carelessness. If the plaintiff contributed to the accident, they may be prevented from recovering damages. This is known as contributory negligence and even if they were only one percent responsible, their claim for damages may be greatly reduced. Some jurisdictions have comparative negligence laws. This means that the plaintiff may only recover a certain percentage for their injuries. For example, let’s say that the victim is suing for $100,000 and they are found to be 25% at fault. The damages they are entitled to would only amount to $75,000.

Recovering Damages For Your Injuries

Anyone who has been injured in an accident should consult with a personal injury attorney immediately. The statute of limitations in each case may limit the amount of time you have to bring a lawsuit. Lawyers may be able to prove your case by finding witnesses and deposing them under oath. Safeway lawsuits may be hard to win, but an experienced attorney knows how to gather evidence that can be used against them.