Can I Sue if I Fell Down from Slipping on Hand Sanitizer?
Yes, it’s possible to sue for a slip and fall on hand sanitizer at a store, restaurant, office building, supermarket, etc.
Since the pandemic, just about any property we enter has a Purell dispenser or hand sanitizing station with antibacterial gel and wipes. And most of us squirt a dollop of the product into our hands out of sheer habit, though it’s never a bad idea to kill germs as we’re entering or leaving a new location.
While hand sanitizing can save lives, it can also be the cause of harm and suffering. You may have noticed that sanitizing stations are not always clean and well maintained. As a result, there may be sanitizer that ends up on the floor. Alternatively, there may be a defect that causes the auto dispenser to release too much product. In either situation, it’s only a matter of time before someone falls down from slipping on the puddle of sanitizing gel.
Based on the circumstances of your accident, you may have the right to file a slip and fall lawsuit against the property owner or manufacturer of the dispensing unit. A personal injury lawyer at our office can talk to you about the option of filing a slip and fall on hand sanitizer lawsuit during a free consultation.
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When you fall down from slipping on a substance that should not be on the floor, the trauma to your body can result in serious injuries. Sometimes, the extent of bodily harm can cause permanent disability and other debilitating conditions that make it difficult to perform basic tasks. Here are some of the injuries that hat are commonly associated with trip and fall and slip and fall accidents:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Dislocated or fractured hip
- Broken tailbone
- Torn ligaments and tendons
- Puncture wounds and deep cuts
- Dental damage (broken or missing teeth)
- Rupturing of internal organs
- Spinal cord damage
- Herniated disc and other back injuries
- Ankle sprain or wrist sprain
- Permanent nerve damage
- Tinnitus and other problems with your hearing
- Vision loss
- Chronic pain
The vast majority of slip and fall incidents are due to negligence by the owner of the property. Owners of residential and commercial properties have a legal duty to resolve hazardous conditions that can cause harm to others. So, they are usually responsible is someone falls down because they slipped on hand sanitizer on the floor.
For the most part, dispensers and stations for hand sanitizing are found in commercial premises, particularly grocery stores and other major retailers. Staff must be on the lookout for dangerous conditions on the property, and this includes debris, water, and other substances on the floor. If these problems exist and someone at the store is injured from a slip and fall, the store can be sued for monetary damages like medical expenses and pain and suffering.
Product Liability Lawsuit for a Slip and FallAside from a failure to maintain a hand sanitizing station, there may be defects with the product that create a buildup of product on the floor. You are probably familiar with Purell dispensers, either the push-style or the auto dispensers. We have noticed that a lot of these units release excessive amounts of product, to the point where some of it inevitably drips off your hands and onto the floor. It doesn’t take long before there is enough sanitizer to cause a fall-related accident.
To file a product liability claim, you’ll need to prove that the defect with the product existed before it left the manufacturer’s possession. But even if the product maker released an unsafe item, that doesn’t completely absolve the property owner of their duty in the event of an accident. After all, they still have an obligation to clean up messes from the floor and contact the manufacturer for a replacement or repair service.
The process of suing a product manufacturer is very different from filing a claim against a negligent property owner. In some cases, you may have grounds to sue both of these entities, so it’s important to have your case investigated by a slip and fall on hand sanitizer lawyer.
Slip and fall lawsuits generally have a deadline of 2 years from whenever the accident occurred, or when you are diagnosed with an injury resulting from the accident. For the most part, the accident date is used as the starting point for the statute of limitations, though you should always confirm how long you have for a lawsuit with a personal injury attorney.
Please be aware that injuries on property owned and/or operated by the government must be filed within 6 months. For example, if you slipped on hand sanitizer in a city or county government building, you have 6 months to submit your claim with the applicable agency.
No matter how long you have for a lawsuit, the key is to contact a slip and fall accident lawyer as soon as possible. Along with filing the necessary paperwork on time, our legal experts will use their negotiation skills to secure maximum payment for your injuries.
Contact DTLA Law GroupLegal advice is a crucial part of the recovery process when you are injured from a slip and fall due to another party’s negligence. Our law firm has decades of experience in fall-related accident claims, and we are more than prepared to fight for the compensation you deserve.
We know that concerns over the cost of hiring a lawyer may be stopping you from contacting us. No worries, as we will never charge you a single penny upfront. With the Zero Fee Guarantee, we agree that the only payment owed is a portion of your settlement. As a result, we eat the costs and charge you $0 in legal fees if we fail to win your case.
For a free consultation to learn about your rights and legal options, please reach out to us at your earliest convenience.
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