Grocery stores are one of the most vulnerable places for slip and fall accidents to happen. Since there’s always a surge of people coming in and going out, and also with the workers at the store, grocery stores are prone to accidents because of their congested environment.
Falls in grocery stores cause thousands of injuries annually, with slips on wet floors accounting for a significant portion of premises liability claims. Supermarkets, where spills are common, are the common reason for slip-and-fall accidents, leading to over 1 million emergency room visits yearly.
It’s the best option to hire a personal injury lawyer after a slip and fall accident in grocery stores. An experienced attorney will assist you in proving your claims and getting the compensation you deserve.
Understanding slip and fall accidents
A slip and fall accident happens when someone falls due to the presence of hazards in a certain property, like a wet or uneven floor. If the fall resulted in an injury, a personal injury claim can be filed against the owner for negligence, and it requires immediate medical attention.
Grocery store falls contribute to about 15% of all slip-and-fall lawsuits. The injuries resulting from grocery store falls can range from minor cuts and bruises to severe fractures.
Head injuries
When grocery store falls are forward, head injuries often stem from direct impacts on hard floors after stepping on spills or produce. These head injuries can range from normal concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI), with falls causing the second most TBI-related deaths overall.
Soft tissue injuries
Almost 40-50% of grocery fall claims come under these injuries. If you stretched or twisted during your fall on wet aisles, it can affect muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your legs or arms upon sudden stops.
Sprains, bruises, strains, and cuts from the impact are common soft tissue injuries. The cuts usually need stitches and rarely require surgery.
Serious fractures like hip and wrist trauma
Another result is forward falls on a greasy floor, commonly causing hip fractures, with people over the age of 65 being the most vulnerable to this injury, accounting for as high as 50% of the cases.
Outstretched landings after a fall cause arm and wrist injuries, while pelvic cracks can emerge from side impacts. These injuries require surgery in most cases.
Back and spine injuries
Awkward landings or hyperextensions during falls result in back and spine injuries. Only a few cases are linked to direct trauma in these injuries, with the majority linked to repetitive stress caused by frequent fall accidents.
Spinal cord damage with a potential risk of paralysis, herniated disc, or slipping of the disc can happen with falling.
Dislocations
High-impact falls can cause your joints in your shoulders or knees to pop out, potentially leading to dislocations alongside fractures. These injuries are a common cluster with soft tissue injuries, and an isolated dislocation injury is limited.
Shoulders dislocate the most from outstretched arms hitting the floor.
Knee and ankle injuries
Landing awkwardly and twisting your ligament when you fall in a grocery store can lead to knee and ankle injuries. This is a common injury during a fall. Surgery or rehabilitation is provided for the patient’s recovery so they can walk properly again.
Dental injuries
When you lean forward during a fall, you end up hitting your face on the floor. This results in broken teeth, chipped teeth, or injuries in the gums. Even though this is a less common injury, it’s often overlooked on claims amid more visible injuries.
You would need immediate medical care for dental injuries since they can be very painful.
Key takeaways
- Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of accident to cause injuries in grocery stores.
- Head injuries like concussions and traumatic brain injuries can happen after a fall.
- Soft tissue injuries like bruises, sprains, and dislocations are common clusters, often being interrelated injuries in a fall.
- Elderly people are vulnerable to hip injuries during falls.
- Hyperextension while falling can cause back and spine injuries, resulting in spinal cord damage with a risk of paralysis.
- Fractures and knee and ankle injuries are common injuries in grocery store falls.
- Forward falls can cause dental or gum injuries.
