Trip and Fall Accidents in Supermarkets and Shops

The Perazzo Law Firm shares insight for dealing with and preventing trip and fall accidents in public places

Accidents involving cables left unattended to along the walking surfaces of places like Publix, Walmart, or other business that regularly waxes their floors or carries out other maintenance tasks, can lead to personal injuries, and should be followed up with a call to Jonathan Perazzo of the Perazzo Law Firm in Miami.

When a customer enters a Publix or a diner enters a restaurant, walking surfaces need to be clear of obstacles and free of any possible substances that may lead to a slip and fall accident. When a maintenance worker or store employee carries out tasks such as waxing floors in a supermarket aisle, this person has the duty of implementing the proper safety precautions to avoid that a customer or visitor trips over a power cable or any other object that may obstruct the walking area.

Obstacles which can lead to a slip, trip and fall accident include the following:

• BROOM & MOPS – broom and mop handles can easily cause a trip and fall accident when left unattended to and stretched across a walking surface. They can easily go undetected and get stepped on, becoming a rolling pin under one’s feet..
• CARPETS & RUGS – most often cause trip and fall accidents when they have rips in them or there are areas of the carpet or rug that rise above the height of the walking surface.
• CHAIRS & TABLE LEGS -most people don’t realize it, but chair and table legs present dangers when they are not properly manufactured and extend into the walking path of pedestrians. Chair and table legs might stick out just enough for a person to trip and fall.
• DUST PANS – dust pans are very often left behind by cleaning crews and staff. They are very slippery and can lead to a serious slip, trip, and fall accident.
• ELEVATED / LOOSE FLOOR TILES – floor tiles, especially after flooding or through wear and tear, can rise above the height of the walking surface and cause someone to trip and fall.
• EXTENSION CORDS / POWER CABLES – electric maintenance equipment requires plugs and extension cords to operate and many times, the maintenance staff will forget to block off access to the area. When this happens, a customer may easily trip and fall, thus suffering personal injury.
• FLOORMATS – they can be slippery or sometimes be soiled with a slippery substance that might stick to the bottom of a person’s footwear. Though it might not be the very same person that steps and falls on this dangerous substance (liquid, grease, wax, etc.), another visitor may step and tread this potentially slippery substance along the walking surface.
• PERIMETER CHAINS / ROPES – when customers, shoppers, or visitors are warned to stay away or not enter from a particular place, chains (plastic) or ropes are extended across a certain area. Sometimes they are left behind or hang down low enough to not be seen by a customer or visitor.
• WIRES- wires contain electricity and can sometimes lead to electrocution if the wiring is worn and torn. Not only is wiring dangerous due to an electrical charge that comes into contact with someone, they can also cause a trip and fall accident.

If you have suffered injury by way of a trip and fall accident, contact the personal injury lawyer Jonathan Perazzo at the Perazzo Law Firm for a FREE initial consultation.

Slip, trip, and fall accidents are common in supermarkets and can occur for a variety of reasons. Some possible causes of slip and fall accidents in supermarkets include:

1. Wet floors: Spills or leaks from food items, drinks, or cleaning activities can create wet or slippery floors that are hazardous to customers and employees.
2. Uneven surfaces: Cracked or uneven floors, loose tiles, or uneven carpeting can create tripping hazards for customers and employees.
3. Cluttered aisles: Merchandise that is improperly stored or placed in aisles can create tripping hazards.
4. Poor lighting: Inadequate lighting can make it difficult to see obstacles or hazards on the floor.
5. Lack of warning signs: When hazards such as wet floors are present, it is important to place warning signs to alert customers and employees of the potential danger.

To prevent slip, trip, and fall accidents in supermarkets, it is important to implement safety measures such as:

1. Regular cleaning and maintenance of floors, including prompt cleanup of spills and leaks.
2. Ensuring that all floors and surfaces are even and in good condition.
3. Keeping aisles free of clutter and merchandise that could create tripping hazards.
4. Installing proper lighting to illuminate all areas of the supermarket.
5. Placing warning signs in areas where hazards are present.
6. Providing training to employees on how to identify and address potential hazards.

By taking these steps, supermarkets can create a safer environment for customers and employees and reduce the risk of slip, trip, and fall accidents.

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