So today I was in the grocery store...

[one_voice]

and I'm walking down the frozen food aisle, and bam down I go. There was a puddle of water (that I didn't see)and before I could stop myself I fell. Now my right knee has a huge knot on it, and a big ole bruise. And it hurts like hell.

Luckily, (I think?) there was an employee standing right there when it happened. And he tells me, the freezer has been leaking for a while. WTF?

Anyway they took my information, in case "anything" comes of it.

All I know is it hurts really bad, and looks really gross. :-(

[grasswire]

1. $

You deserve some compensation for your pain and suffering.

But first you need to take pictures of your knee. It would be even better if you could see a doctor, but if that costs you a lot of dough you have to make that call.

Then deliver a letter to the store manager with copies of the pictures of your injury and a request for compensation for pain and suffering.

That supermarket is smart to have a protocol for this kind of "trip and fall" but one employee was really stupid to say that the freezer had been leaking for a while. That's flat-out negligence. Others may have been hurt, or could be hurt.

My sister once slipped on a grape in the produce aisle. She immediately had a huge huge hematoma on her leg, cuz it slid under the grocery cart. That kind of thing scares the hell out of the produce manager.

[ThomasQED]

2. Oh geez.

[one_voice]

9. I hope she didn't suffer any long term damage!

[peacefreak]

3. Get yourself to the ER or your MD!!!

You need to get this on record.

[Ilsa]

4. I slipped and fell on a leaking freezer. The grocery store

was happy to pay for my xrays and a new pair of slacks (the dirt wouldn't come out). They knew I could have hit them harder for pain and suffering. My hip hurt for a week.

[Bennyboy]

5. Go to the doctor RIGHT NOW!

Seriously. DO NOT TAKE ANY OFFER. Get an attorney and sue them. This is gross negligence here, they knew the freezer leaked and did nothing about it. You are going to make a lot of money.(I am (was) a slip and fall prevention contractor).

My mom slipped and fell in a Toys R US. Thy sued, She blew her knee out. Finally, the insurance co, after years of wrangling, got my parents to settle. for $225,000. Ask my Mom today, and she would tell you that she would not have settled for less than a million dollars. She has been in constant pain now for 30 years and cannot walk five feet without a walker now.

So don't settle. Get what it is worth. they will try to offer you something the very second you file a complaint. DON"T TAKE it. See a lawyer.

[redwitch]

6. My friend fell on a broken jar of apple sauce.

Needed major surgery to her knee, very painful. A year of therapy after the surgery. Her insurance co. says the store is at fault, the store says it isn't their fault as they didn't know about the spill. $200,000 in medical bills and nobody wants to pay them.

[one_voice]

10. That's horrible...

I wouldn't think it would matter if they knew in "advance" about the spill. Their job is to keep the store safe for their customers. I hope it works out for her!

edited cuz I'm stupid...

[Bennyboy]

11. Actually it does matter, A LOT!

There is a negligence thing. To collect on a slip and fall, you must show that the store (in this case) knew that there was something that could cause a slip and fall, and did nothing about it.

In fact, that is my hook. I tell the store owners or manager, that their floors are slippery and need to have my products applied. I show them on my meter that they do not meet ASA standards when wet...

This makes them more culpable if they do nothing about it, because it shows that they willfully disregarded the evidence that showed that their floors were a danger.

Same thing with the cones. If they put those out, that shows that they know the floors are slippery, but have done nothing about it other thna putting cones out.

[one_voice]

15. I didn't know that...

I figured being a grocery store, things get spilled/dropped etc, so it's something they should always be aware of.

They didn't have the "caution wet floor" cones today when I fell. I was very surprised that the employee told me that the freezer had been leaking a while. The employee cleaned up the water, and put these tube like things down to absorb the leaking water and a rug. I made sure I got his name, not too mention the store manager told me the employee told him the same thing.

[zanana1]

7. Agreed. nt

[one_voice]

8. Thanks for all the advice...

I'm seeing my doctor first thing in the morning, already have the appt set up. I've kept ice on it this afternoon, which is risky. I have a neuromuscular disease and am very sensitive to cold.

The manager at the store said they'd pay for any medical bills. I just have to contact the store for the insurance information. Thankfully my son was with me so I had him to help with the bags and stuff. And he's been taking pictures as it's gotten worse.

I'm afraid of what it's going to feel like tomorrow. :scared:

[Bennyboy]

18. The rule is this....

20 K if your knee hits the floor, 40 if you go to the doctor. That is what they will offer you soon. DON'T TAKE IT.

But like I said before, DO NOT SETTLE for anything. That type of injury may be with you for decades and require treatment etc.

So let them squirm a bit.

[proteus_lives]

12. Was there a wet floor sign?

If not, they should pay any medical bills if you need assistance.

[Bennyboy]

13. Wet Floor signs actually show negligence.

Weird but true. the fact that they knew the freezer was broken and leaked for days proves negligence. Putting out a wet floor sign shows this even more.

[proteus_lives]

14. Hmm, good point.

[one_voice]

16. Nope...not one sign..

and they knew the freezer was leaking. The manager assured me they'd take care of any medical bills, which was pretty cool.

[proteus_lives]

17. That's right and good of them.

If you do need them to pay, someone's head will roll for there not being a sign or tape out.