Any time you leave the house and head to the store, there’s a risk of injury. And while all Georgia shoppers should exercise a reasonable amount of caution, it’s ultimately on stores to keep their premises safe for patrons. If employees and managers do not uphold this legal duty, it means they have been negligent.
This is more common than you’d think at warehouse stores like Costco. If you have slipped, fell, and been injured in Costco, it’s time to talk to a Costco slip and fall accident and injury lawyer in Georgia.
You may be entitled to full compensation of your costs after a slip and fall in Costco. But you will need strong legal representation for a chance at success.
At John Foy & Associates, we have been helping slip and fall accident victims for more than two decades, and we’re not intimidated by big cases like those against Costco. We can give you a FREE consultation to discuss the details and how we can help.
To get started, call us at 404-400-4000, or fill out the form on this page today.
How Premises Liability Works at Costco in Georgia
Premises liability has to do with an owner’s responsibility if someone is injured on their property. This could be at a neighbor’s home, in a grocery store, at a warehouse retail store like Costco, or any other type of property.
Every owner of a property has a legal duty to “exercise ordinary care” when other people visit their property. That means keeping the area safe so that others don’t get harmed.
When someone does get hurt on their property, if they did or didn’t do something that led to the accident, the property owner is liable for the victim’s damages from their injuries. This applies to Costco, as well.
Examples of exercising ordinary care can include:
- Drying wet floors
- Remedying known dangerous conditions or hazards
- Making sure walkways and steps are safe to walk on
- And alerting customers or visitors of any potential dangers on the property
If Costco does not fix an obstacle or hazard within a reasonable amount of time and you, as a shopper, suffer a slip and fall accident, they have been negligent. Negligence is a legal term for fault and can mean the store is liable for your damages.
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Examples of Slip and Fall Accidents at Stores Like Costco
Since Costco stores sell in bulk and require huge warehouses, they come with a lot of potential hazards. Below are just some of the ways slip and fall accidents may happen in Costcos.
Slip and Fall Accidents in Costco Grocery Areas
Freezers or refrigerators in the grocery sections of Costco can break and leak liquids onto the floor, causing slip and fall accidents if customers don’t know about the hazard. Liquids could also spill in any area of the grocery section, and if they are not cleaned up right away it can easily cause slips.
Additionally, when the floors are cleaned, the floor surface can become very slippery, and there may not be signs to warn customers.
The same is true for any grocery store. Please reach out to our legal team if you need help filing a:
- Kroger slip and fall claim
- Sprouts Farmers Market slip and fall claim
- Trader Joe’s slip and fall claim
- Whole Foods Market slip and fall claim
- Aldi slip and fall claim
- Food Lion slip and fall claim
Slip and Fall Accidents in the Costco Bathrooms
If bathrooms are not carefully monitored and cleaned regularly, customers can fall on leaking or splashed water from the sinks or toilets as well as other items like paper towels or wet toilet paper.
Slip and Fall Accidents at Costco Entrance/Exit
Merchandise that has been dropped or left out, unsecured or rolled-up mats, or ice are all possible hazards that can lead to slip and falls as customers enter or exit a Costco store.
Food Vendor-Related Slip and Fall Accidents
Many customers love the food samples routinely offered around Costco stores, but the presence of food throughout the building offers extra potential dangers. Plus, larger portions can be purchased as shoppers move around the store.
This means people can easily drop or spill food or drinks as they shop, and other customers can sip and fall on them at any time. Store employees should be diligent about noticing and cleaning up any issues that could lead to falls.
Parking Lot or Sidewalk Slip and Fall Accidents
Costco can be liable for accidents that happen outside of the store, too. If someone falls on the sidewalk or in the parking lot on their property, it may be due to the store’s negligence. Pavement and curbs must be free of potential hazards like large cracks or uneven surfaces that could lead to accidents.
Slip and Fall Accidents Anywhere Else in Costco
The above examples are just a few places accidents can happen in a store like Costco. Dropped objects or extra merchandise can also lead to slip and fall accidents in the electronics department, home department, and more.
Two Things You Need for a Georgia Slip and Fall Accident Claim Against Costco
No matter where or how you slip and fall in Costco, if you are injured and the store was negligent, you likely have a valid case. You will need to file a Georgia personal injury accident claim against Costo for your damages.
To do so, you will need two main things:
- Evidence of the store’s negligence
- Proof of your damages
You’ll need to demonstrate that a Costco employee failed to know or recognize a hazardous situation and remedy it within a reasonable amount of time or that they caused the hazard and it led to your accident. You can start compiling evidence right away by taking pictures of the scene, reporting the accident to a store manager, getting the names of any witnesses to your slip and fall accident, and seeing a doctor as soon as possible.
You will also need to provide proof of your damages, including any medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering you face because of your accident injuries. A Costco flip and fall accident and injury lawyer in Georgia can help you with this entire process and make sure all damages are accounted for in your claim.
What to Do If Costco Won’t Settle Out of Court
It’s very common for Costco to deny all responsibility in a Georgia slip and fall claim in one of their stores. They will want to avoid losing money on your claim, so they’ll look for ways to blame you and avoid liability. If they will not agree to settle outside of court, you may file a personal injury lawsuit against the company.
If you take the case to court, it will be up to the jury’s decision whether or not you are awarded a settlement. If they are on your side, you can potentially win a lot more. Past successful cases have seen slip and fall victims win hundreds of thousands of dollars from Costco.
Talk to a Costco Slip and Fall Accident and Injury Lawyer Georgia for Free
Costco is a huge company, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be liable for injuries that happen on their property. If you were hurt in a slip and fall accident at a Costco, don’t let the big name scare you out of seeking fair compensation for your costs. Contact John Foy & Associates today for a FREE consultation to discuss your situation and how we can help.
With more than 20 years of experience helping injury victims win the money they deserve, we know what it takes to win high-profile cases. Call 400-400-4000, or fill out our contact form today for your free consultation.
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