Settlement for a Slip and Fall in a Brooklyn Supermarket January 10, 2012

In July 2011, a woman entered her local Pathmark supermarket in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn. As she walked towards the front of the store, she slipped on a small puddle of water and fell. The slip and fall left her with injuries to her back and leg. She asked me to represent her in an effort to collect compensation for her injuries. After conducting an investigation of her case and negotiating with the claims manager for the supermarket, we reached a settlement. Less than 20 days later, her settlement check arrived today, making her a very happy client.

The Facts of the Slip and Fall Case in the Supermarket

The woman had entered Pathmark to do some grocery shopping. She was dressed casually and wearing rubber flip-flop sandals. A small puddle of water – approximately 2 feet by 2 feet – had formed in front of aisles 17 and 18 of the supermarket, but it was not obvious to the observer. The woman walked in the area as part of her shopping and slipped on the puddle. Her feet went out from under her and she reached out to brace herself, but she landed on her behind.

Other patrons immediately came to her assistance and the store manager came over to help. The store manager called for an ambulance which took the woman to Methodist Hospital.

Proving Liability in a Supermarket Slip and Fall Case

The challenge in this case was to prove that the store was negligent in allowing the puddle and not cleaning it up or warning customers of the hazard. In this case, we had the statements of our client and the man who was shopping with her. We also managed to interview the store manager, who corroborated our client’s account of events. Using photographs and diagrams, we were able to demonstrate that this puddle formed in an area with high foot traffic that was immediately visible to the personnel working in the front-end of the store.

We built an argument that demonstrated that the water came from a leaking freezer and was in an area that the store should monitor and keep safe and was in an area that store personnel could easily see.

With this evidence and the way we built our arguments, we were able to present a compelling case to the defendant.

Settling a Case Quickly and for Good Value

While I love my work as a lawyer, I cannot stand the slowness of this business. So many cases take too long to resolve. In our law firm, we commit ourselves to moving every case as fast as possible. In this case, as soon as we completed our investigation and as soon as my client’s medical condition stabilized, we sent a Settlement Proposal to the insurance company for the supermarket. We entered into negotiations and when they asked for additional information, I provided it right away. In the end, we were able to settle the case for good value at an amount that pleased my client and we did so in less than six months with the settlement check arriving six months from the date of the incident.

I hope you found this information helpful. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a slip and fall at a supermarket or if you have been injured due to another’s negligence, you may want to consult a New York personal injury attorney experienced with slip and fall cases. I would be glad to answer your questions and assist you. The consultation is always free. You can call me at 1-800-660-1466 or email me. You can also visit my website or read more on my blog, New York Law Thoughts.

Carol L. Schlitt
New York Personal Injury Attorney
www.SchlittLaw.com
http://nylawthoughts.com
1-800-660-1466
Carol@SchlittLaw.com

This material is intended for informational uses only. It is not meant as legal advice. To receive legal advice, you should consult an attorney. Remember: past performance does not guarantee future results.