Slip And Fall In Grocery Store In Michigan: Do I Have A Case?
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If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall at a grocery store in Michigan, an experienced lawyer who specializes exclusively in this area of law can help you recover pain and suffering compensation for your injuries and money damages to pay for your medical bills and lost wages.
You want a lawyer who specializes exclusively in these types of premises liability cases, and has both a track record of winning big cases and a reputation for never backing down until a fair and full settlement is reached.
The best and most experienced lawyers near you are at Michigan Slip & Fall Lawyers, where attorney Tim Holland and his team has a track record of success winning million-dollar settlements and verdicts for their clients. The secret to their success is that they specialize exclusively in these types of premises liability claims and purposefully take fewer cases than other firms so that they can dedicate more time and attention to each client.
What should you do after a slip trip and fall at a grocery store in Michigan?
In Michigan, if you are injured in a slip and fall in a grocery store, immediately report the incident to the manager, take photos and video of the dangerous conditions at the scene that caused your injuries, seek medical attention even if your injuries seem minor, and hire an experienced attorney.
Here are more details about what you should do after an accident:
- Seek medical attention – It’s crucial to get immediate medical care after a slip and fall at a grocery store in Michigan for two main reasons: (1) the sooner you receive treatment, the faster you can recover, and (2) prompt medical attention helps link your injuries to the accident, which is essential for your case. Even if your injuries seem minor, seek medical help, as some injuries, like whiplash, may not show symptoms until days or weeks later.
- Take photos and videos – Documenting the hazardous condition that caused your injury is vital, as the store will likely clean up or address the hazard quickly after an accident. Capturing images or videos will serve as proof that the danger existed when you fell.
- File an incident report – Immediately reporting the incident to the store manager will alert them to the situation and create an official record. Without this report, the insurance company may argue that the incident never occurred.
- Talk to witnesses – Witnesses can be pivotal to your case. Speak with anyone who saw the accident, get their account of what happened, and ask for their contact details.
Photograph your injuries – As your injuries heal over time, it’s important to take regular photos to document the severity of your pain and suffering. - Keep a journal – Writing down your injuries and their impact on your daily life can be extremely helpful when it’s time to calculate your damages.
- Hire an experienced attorney – One of the most important steps you can take is to hire a lawyer who specializes in these types of premises liability cases. A skilled attorney with a proven history of securing favorable verdicts and settlements is your best option for obtaining a settlement that truly reflects the value of your case.
Can I sue a grocery store if I was injured in a slip and fall in Michigan?
In Michigan, you can sue a grocery store for injuries you sustained in a slip and fall on the store’s property if you can prove the store failed to make the premises safe for you and other customers.
To win, you need to show that the store owner or manager failed to inspect the premises, make necessary repairs, and warn customers about the dangerous conditions on the property. You will also need to show that the property owner’s failure to do these things caused your injuries and damages.
Causes of these types of accidents
The most common hazards for these types of accidents at stores are:
- Slippery substances on floors
- Foreign objects on floors
- Unstable or broken tiles
- Defective steps
- Poor lighting
- Exterior potholes or asphalt cracks
Common injuries from these types of accidents
The most common injuries after a slip and fall at a grocery store in Michigan include:
- Death
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injury/brain damage
- Spinal cord injury
- Internal organ damage
- Fractures
- Sprains and tears
- Bruises, scrapes, and cuts
How do I file a claim for my injuries?
To file a slip and fall lawsuit against a grocery store in Michigan, there are several key steps you need to follow. These steps are:
- Hire an attorney to initiate your case
- Notify the responsible parties to preserve crucial evidence
- Conduct discovery to collect information
- File your lawsuit in the appropriate jurisdiction
- Notify the store manager and fill out an incident report
What are the elements in a grocery store slip and fall case in Michigan?
The elements in a premises liability slip and fall case against a grocery store in Michigan are:
- Your status – You must establish that you are either an “invitee” or a “licensee” with respect to the store (M Civ JI 19.01) An invitee is someone who is invited onto the property for the owner’s financial benefit, such as a customer in a store. (M Civ JI 19.01). A licensee is someone who enters onto the property “for any purpose other than a business or commercial one” and “with the express or implied permission” of the property owner. (M Civ JI 19.01).
- Possession and control – You establish that the store had possession and control over the property. (M Civ JI 19.02).
- Hazardous condition – You must establish that a hazardous condition or hazard existed at the store.
- Duty of care – You establish that the store owed you a duty of care (this is determined by your status relative to the property).
- Breach – You must establish that the store breached this duty by failing to make the store safe or failing to warn you about unknown or hidden hazardous conditions.
- Causation – You must establish that this breach caused your injuries.
- Damages – You must establish that you suffered actual injuries and incurred damages, such as pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, etc.
What damages can I recover from a slip and fall in a grocery store in Michigan?
The amount of damages, i.e., compensation, you receive will be based on several factors, such as the extent of your injuries, your medical needs, the cost of medical care, the wages you’ve lost, the amount of liability insurance the store carries, and the experience and reputation of your attorney.
Types of damages may include:
- Economic damages – These cover medical expenses and lost wages.
- Noneconomic damages (pain and suffering) – These address physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, shock, loss of social enjoyment, and feelings of embarrassment or humiliation. (M Civ JI 50.02).
How is liability determined in a slip and fall in a grocery store in Michigan?
In Michigan, liability for slip and fall accident in a grocery store is determined by showing that the store: (1) had possession and control over the property where you were injured; and (2) breached its duty to protect you by failing to make the store premises safe.
Stores have a “duty to exercise reasonable care to protect” their customers “from an unreasonable risk of harm caused by a dangerous condition” on their property. (M Civ JI 19.03). To avoid breaching this duty, a store must “make the premises safe” as required by the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision in Stitt v. Holland. To accomplish this, the store must: (1) inspect the grounds; (2) make necessary repairs; and (3) warn customers about discovered hazards or known dangers.
How is negligence established in these types of cases?
In Michigan, to establish that a grocery store’s negligence was the cause of your slip and fall injuries, you must have the evidence to show the following:
- Duty – The store owed you (the customer) a duty of care to protect you from dangerous conditions and to make the premises safe for you.
- Breach – The store breached this duty by failing to inspect the premises and make necessary repairs, or by failing to warn you about the hazardous condition.
- Causation – The store’s breach caused your fall and your resulting injuries.
- Damages – Your injuries caused legitimate pain and suffering, medical costs, and lost wages
What is the legal responsibility of property owners?
A store is legally obligated to take reasonable care to protect its customers from a hazardous condition on its property and must make the premises safe for those customers.
How long do I have to file a claim after a slip and fall in a grocery store in Michigan?
In Michigan, if you suffered injuries after a slip and fall in a grocery store you must file your lawsuit within three (3) years from the time of the accident, and a failure to do so will result in the permanent loss of your right to sue. This three-year window is known as the statute of limitations.
How a lawyer can help you in a grocery store slip and fall case in Michigan
Hiring an experienced slip and fall lawyer for your claim against a grocery store is one of the most crucial steps in securing maximum compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and other economic losses. An experienced attorney who specializes solely in these types of premises liability accident cases understands exactly how to build your case and maximize its value.
Your lawyer will investigate your claim, preserve evidence (such as surveillance video, photographs, witness statements, incident reports), assess liability and damages, and negotiate with both the insurance company and defense lawyers on your behalf.
Having a skilled attorney ensures a quicker, higher settlement. In fact, studies by the insurance industry itself show that injured victims represented by experienced lawyers with strong track records typically receive settlements up to four times (4x) larger than those without legal representation. Don’t risk losing hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars, by hiring a lawyer without specialized experience in these types of accident cases.
Injured in a slip and fall accident in a grocery store in Michigan and need a lawyer? Call our attorneys now for a free consultation!
If you are injured in a slip and fall accident in a grocery store in Michigan and you need help winning a settlement that reflects the full value of your case, call now to speak with an experienced lawyer. Our attorneys have a proven track record of securing top settlements for victims, they’ll give you the peace of mind you deserve while working to get you the compensation needed to help rebuild your life.
We pride ourselves on offering every client personalized care, compassion and respect. Clear communication is a cornerstone of our practice, and we promise to always be available for you. You can count on us to return your calls, respond to your emails, and answer any questions you may have.
To speak with an experienced attorney about your case, call us today or fill out our contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll guide you through the laws and help you understand your options. There’s absolutely no cost or obligation. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
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Get help from our Michigan slip and fall lawyers today
You do not have to go it alone after your slip and fall accident. Let the experience attorney Tim Holland and the lawyers at Michigan Slip and fall have on slip and fall cases along with their track record of getting the highest settlement amounts possible for their victims give you peace of mind, while they help to pick you back up and get you the compensation that you need and deserve to start rebuilding your life.
We pride ourselves on treating every client with care, compassion, and respect. We pride ourselves on communication and we will always be there when you need us. We will ALWAYS return your calls and emails and answer your questions.
To speak with an experienced slip and fall accident attorney about your injury, call us now, or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.
We will help you understand Michigan’s slip and fall law and answer all of your questions about how we can make the law work for you. There is absolutely no cost or obligation. We’re here for you now.
Meet Our Attorney
Tim Holland is arguably Michigan’s most experienced and successful slip and fall lawyer. You can read more about Tim Holland’s experience and success here.
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