This article is intended to help you understand how the claims process works after a slip and fall accident in Tampa, Florida.
In many cases involving Publix Supermarket slip and fall cases, negligence is a key issue. Moreover, if you can prove the store or its employee’s negligence caused your injury, you may have a valid personal injury claim against Publix.
Our team of Tampa personal injury lawyers have handled several cases where people have fallen at a Publix grocery store in Florida. Thanks to our success in representing Publix injury victims over the years, we have become very familiar with the process works. Furthermore, we know how to resolve the case efficiently and with a fair outcome.
If you were injured in a Publix store, we encourage you to read this article. If you are interested in filing a Tampa personal injury claim, contact me today.
Immediately After the Fall at Publix
The most important thing you need to do after falling in a Publix store is tell the manager so they can fill out an incident report. If you already left the store, go back to make sure this gets done. The incident report is a crucial part of your case because it will notify Publix’s claims center and launch their investigation.
Also, try to get the names and contact information from anyone who witnessed you fall or saw the liquid that caused your fall. That goes for any employees who witnessed your fall as well. If you are able to, take a picture of whatever caused you to slip and any relevant evidence such as your wet clothes and any follow up measures employees took. If an employee came to clean up a spill you can take pictures of that. Look around to check for wet floor signs. If they had warning signs of a wet floor, you may not have a strong claim against Publix because they warned customers of a known danger. All of this information will be helpful to your attorney for building a case.
Publix Accident Claims
We can’t share the exact details of our previous cases for confidentiality reasons. However, we’ve generally had very successful outcomes and most Publix cases have similar procedures so we can share generalities with you.
You Can Expect Publix to Contact You After a Slip and Fall Accident
Immediately after you slip and fall in Publix, you probably filled out an incident report at the store. As such, their risk management department in Lakeland, Florida will contact you. If you went to the hospital after you fell, they may offer you money. Even if you didn’t go to the hospital but claimed that you were injured in their store, they may still offer you money. Their offer can range from $1,500 to $2,500.
They most likely won’t ask for much detail regarding the accident or the nature and extent of your injuries. This is because they want you to take the money and do away with the case. Publix is one of the few chain stores of that size that make quick offers like this to avoid many claims turning into a legal proceeding.
However, what most people don’t realize is that they might be entitled to a substantial amount more than their initial offer – about ten times or more. That means you can win upwards of $15,000 to $25,000 by not taking the initial offer. If you believe you have a claim against Publix, call our team of Tampa Premises Liability Lawyers. We can answer all of your questions and give you solid legal advice so you can make informed decisions.
The best thing to do after a Publix slip and fall, especially if you filled out an accident report, is to not respond when they contact you. Instead, wait to consult with our legal team first. The Publix claims department not only wants to offer you an offensively low offer, they also want a recorded statement from you. This could be bad for your case because they want to try and find inconsistencies in your story or use your own statements against you later.
The bottom line is that speaking to Publix before you hire a lawyer could jeopardize your case and cost you a lot of money. If you say the wrong thing, they could use that to decrease the value of your slip and fall case.
Do I Need to Go to Trial to Settle My Slip and Fall Case?
You may need to go to trial to settle your slip and fall case with Publix, but it is possible to settle without needing to file a lawsuit. In fact, a lot of slip and fall lawsuits against Publix end up getting settled before trial.
Miami-Dade County court records show that Publix faces an average of two to seven premises liability cases every month. A premises liability claim is any type of accident where someone gets injured on Publix’s premises (including slips, trips, and falls).
Leading Causes Of Publix Slip-And-Fall Accidents in Tampa
Slips and falls commonly occur near the checkout counters. Since customers get sort of funneled to the checkout counters, accidents are more likely to occur in that area.
- A leaking cooler or freezer
- A defective motor on a fridge that causes condensation to build up and create a leak
- Dripping or leaking water from other electrical appliances
- Poor lighting
- Fallen objects obstructing the walkway
- Wet areas on the floor lacking signage
- Poorly maintained parking lots and sidewalks that are outside of the store
- Broke floors
- Unstable floors
- A broken Publix cart
- Fallen ceiling tile
- An employee spilled or dropped a liquid on the floor
- An employee pusing mop bucket across the store and leaving a pool of water as a slip hazard
Any time there is a leak or drip from a cooler, there’s a very high likelihood Publix was aware of it. IF they were on notice of the problem, that’s good for your case because it will be pretty straightforward to establish liability.
Let’s say they have a leaking cooler that they’ve already mopped up a few times before. They may have even had a mechanic come to repair it only to have the leak continue. Whatever the case, if Publix continued to keep a leaking cooler in the store without taking necessary measures to protect or prevent customers from injury, they can be held legally responsible.
Injuries That Result From Publix Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can end in varying types and degrees of injuries. It depends on how you feel and what caused your fall. According to statistics from the CDC, one in five slip and fall accidents result in serious bodily injury, such as traumatic brain injury. Brain injury symptoms can range from a mild concussion to a loss of consciousness or even brain bleeding.
In addition to TBIs, slip and fall accidents can cause bruising, leg injuries, arm injuries, back injuries, neck injuries, soft tissue injuries, broken bones, and spinal cord injuries. But the injuries can impact a person’s life severely; many slip and fall injury victims are unable to return to work or provide for their families because of their injuries. Others may also find themselves experiencing emotional distress, mental anguish, and a diminished quality of life after the accident. Sadly, in the worst cases, people even experience permanent brain damage or paralysis and experience life-altering consequences.
How Do You Prove Publix Was Negligent in a Slip and Fall Case?
Publix has surveillance and CC video footage all throughout their store, covering every aisle. If you slipped in their store, it would be on camera. Publix will watch the video surveillance footage of your fall, including the moments before and after the fall.
What Factors Will Affect My Publix Slip and Fall Claim?
Since every case is so unique, there’s no specific number or average for a slip and fall – or any type of personal injury claim for that matter. Your Florida personal injury lawyer can help assess the individual circumstances of your case in order to create a custom tailored plan.
Some factors that affect your claim and how much money you can win include:
- Whether Publix was negligent or not
- If there was a dangerous condition in Publix that causes you to slip and fall
- Your ability to prove that Publix and its employees know about the condition, created the hazard, or should have known about it.
- If the injury victim contributed at all
- The severity of the injuries
- How much evidence you have to prove that your injuries were caused by the slip and fall injury
- The extent of damages you suffered, including financial, medical, psychological, damages, lost income, and more.
Contact a Tampa Publix Injury Attorney Today
While Publix is one of the largest and fastest growing grocery chains in the country, it doesn’t mean they are completely safe. If you fell and got injured at a Publix store, you need to take action promptly.
By getting a Tampa Publix injury attorney early, you have a better chance at recovering maximum compensation. We can handle all communications with insurance adjusters and help determine how you will pay for medical bills. Our clients never leave with unpaid medical bills at the end of claim because we put together a strategy beforehand.
If you believe you have a Publix slip and fall claim, please call us now to see how we can help you. We offer a free and confidential initial consultation
