Have you been injured in a slip and fall accident at the Costco Warehouse in Boynton Beach, Florida? Slip and fall accidents are unfortunately common at big-box stores like Costco. Slippery floors, spills that haven't been cleaned up promptly, debris and clutter in aisles, and other hazards can easily cause a customer to slip or trip and suffer serious injuries.
At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, our experienced Boynton Beach slip and fall attorneys have helped many clients injured at Costco and other retailers obtain the compensation they need and deserve. We understand the pain, mounting medical bills, lost wages, and other challenges you may face after a Costco slip and fall.
Let our dedicated legal team fight for your rights and help you pursue maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.
Table of contents
- Boynton Beach Costco Stores
- Common Causes of Costco Slip and Fall Accidents
- Costco's Duty to Keep Customers Safe
- Do I Have a Costco Slip and Fall Accident Claim?
- What Compensation is Available to Slip and Fall Accident Victims?
- How Does Costo Handle Slip and Fall Accidents at Its Stores?
- Why You Need a Slip and Fall Lawyer for Your Costco Accident
- Call the Boynton Beach Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers at Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers Today
Boynton Beach Costco Stores
Costco Warehouse is a members-only store that is growing in popularity across the country. Boynton Beach residents have two nearby Costco locations: Northlake Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens and Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach. More locations may be added in the future.
Shoppers enjoy a unique shopping experience in the warehouses, where they can buy various goods such as electronics, housewares, food, and clothing. Costco Warehouse is known primarily for selling bulk groceries at bargain prices. The bulk buying option and the lower prices are the primary reasons many shoppers choose to join the exclusive club and buy their goods at Costco.
Like other grocery stores and supermarkets, Costco Warehouse may often be the site of slip, trip, and fall accidents. Unfortunately, many of these accidents can result in injuries that can lead to expensive medical bills and lost wages due to an inability to work because of injuries.
Common Causes of Costco Slip and Fall Accidents
Several hazards frequently lead to slip and fall accidents at Costco Warehouses. Some of the most common causes include:
- Slippery floors due to spills, leaks, or recent cleaning/waxing
- Wet floors at the store entrance on rainy days
- Debris, products, or boxes cluttering the aisles
- Torn or bunched-up floor mats
- Uneven flooring, holes, or cracks in the floor
- Poor lighting making it hard to see hazards
- Lack of warning signs around known slipping/tripping hazards
These dangerous conditions can easily cause an unsuspecting customer to slip or trip and fall, often resulting in severe injuries.
Some common injuries suffered in Costco slip and fall accidents include:
- Broken bones (hip fractures, wrist/arm fractures, etc.)
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee injuries and torn ligaments
- Lacerations and contusions
- Neck and soft tissue injuries
In the most tragic cases, a slip and fall can even result in wrongful death, leaving a family grieving the loss of a loved one. If you've been hurt in a slip and fall at a Boynton Beach Costco, you may be facing extensive medical treatment, disability, inability to work, and pain and suffering. The store may be legally responsible for compensating you.
Costco's Duty to Keep Customers Safe
Like any business, Costco has a legal duty to maintain safe premises for its customers and address any hazardous conditions promptly. This means the store must regularly inspect its premises to identify potential slip and fall hazards. If a dangerous condition like a spill or torn floor mat is found, Costco must promptly fix it or put out visible warning signs to alert customers of the danger.
Costco can be held liable if your slip and fall accident resulted from its negligence in maintaining safe premises. For example, if employees knew about a spill or slick floor and failed to mop it up or put out warning signs within a reasonable period of time, leading you to slip and fall, the store would likely be at fault.
However, just because a slip and fall accident occurred doesn't automatically mean Costco was negligent. The store is not responsible for immediately fixing hazards it doesn't know about. There must be evidence that Costco knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to address it properly. This is where having an experienced slip and fall lawyer on your side can make all the difference.
Do I Have a Costco Slip and Fall Accident Claim?
If you've been injured in a slip and fall accident at a Costco Warehouse in Boynton Beach, you may wonder whether you have a valid legal claim against the store. The answer depends on the specific circumstances of your accident and whether there is evidence of Costco's negligence.
To have a strong slip and fall accident claim, you generally must prove the following elements:
- Costco had a duty of care to maintain safe premises for customers. This is typically presumed when you are lawfully on the property as a customer.
- A dangerous condition on the property, such as a slippery floor, torn floor mat, or obstacle in the aisle, posed an unreasonable risk of harm.
- Costco knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. For example, if employees were aware of a spill but failed to clean it up or place warning signs within a reasonable time, this would likely constitute notice.
- Costco failed to take reasonable steps to fix or warn customers about the dangerous condition. The store must address known hazards promptly.
- You suffered injuries as a result of the dangerous condition. You must have actual damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering resulting from the slip and fall.
- The dangerous condition was a substantial factor in causing your injuries. You must be able to show that you fell and got hurt because of the hazard, not due to your own carelessness.
You likely have a valid slip and fall claim against Costco if you meet these elements. However, if the dangerous condition was so open and obvious that a reasonable person would have seen and avoided it, or if you were not watching where you were going, Costco may try to argue comparative negligence.
Proving Costco's negligence in a slip and fall case requires thorough investigation and evidence. The store may try to deny liability or argue that you were responsible. This is why it's crucial to have an experienced Boynton Beach slip and fall accident lawyer on your side.
What Compensation is Available to Slip and Fall Accident Victims?
If you've been injured in a slip and fall accident at a Costco Warehouse in Boynton Beach, you may be entitled to compensation for various damages.
Some of the common damages available in Costco slip and fall accident cases include:
- Medical expenses: This includes costs for emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, medication, physical therapy, and any ongoing or future medical care related to your slip and fall injuries. You may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket medical expenses and any costs paid by your health insurance provider.
- Lost wages or income: If your injuries cause you to miss work, you can seek compensation for your lost wages. This also includes loss of future earning capacity if you suffer long-term impairment or disability that affects your ability to work.
- Pain and suffering: You may be entitled to compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your slip and fall injuries. This can include actual pain, discomfort, anxiety, depression, loss of enjoyment of life, and other psychological impacts.
- Disability or disfigurement: If you suffer permanent impairment, scarring, or disfigurement from the accident, you can seek damages for the impact on your life and self-image.
- Loss of consortium: This compensates your spouse for the loss of marital benefits like companionship, assistance, and intimate relations due to your injuries.
- Wrongful death: If a loved one tragically dies from slip and fall injuries, eligible family members can pursue damages for funeral and burial expenses, medical costs, loss of financial support, loss of services and support, and emotional distress.
The value of a Costco slip and fall case depends on factors like the severity of the injuries, length of recovery, extent of financial losses, and strength of evidence proving Costco's negligence.
How Does Costo Handle Slip and Fall Accidents at Its Stores?
When a slip and fall accident occurs at a Costco Warehouse in Boynton Beach or elsewhere, the store has certain protocols and procedures for handling the incident. Understanding how Costco typically deals with slip and fall accidents can help you protect your legal rights if you've been injured.
Accident Reporting
If you report a slip and fall accident to Costco management, they will likely create an incident report. This report will document details like the date, time, and location of the fall, a description of the accident, and your injuries. Costco employees may take photos of the scene and ask you and any witnesses to provide statements.
It's important to accurately account what happened but stick to the facts. Do not admit fault, speculate about the cause, or downplay your injuries. If you can, you should also gather your own evidence by taking photos and getting witness contact information before leaving the store.
Medical Assistance
Costco may call for medical assistance if you are seriously injured. However, even if your injuries seem minor, seek medical attention right away. Some injuries, like concussions or soft tissue damage, may not be immediately apparent. Promptly getting evaluated by a doctor documents your injuries and is important for your health and any legal claim.
Preserving Evidence
After a slip and fall accident, Costco has a duty to preserve any evidence related to the incident, such as surveillance footage, accident reports, and witness statements. The store should not destroy or alter relevant evidence. If you hire a slip and fall attorney, they can send a spoliation letter instructing Costco to preserve all evidence pertaining to your accident.
Insurance Claims
Costco carries liability insurance to cover accidents on its property. After a slip and fall, the store will likely notify its insurance carrier. An insurance adjuster may contact you seeking a statement, access to your medical records, or offer a quick settlement.
It's best not to give any statements, sign medical releases, or accept settlement offers without first consulting with a Boynton Beach slip and fall lawyer. Insurers often use tactics to minimize payouts and may try to get you to say something that jeopardizes your claim. A lawyer can handle all communications with Costco's insurer and advocate for a fair settlement on your behalf.
Litigation
Sometimes, Costco may deny liability for a slip and fall accident or fail to offer an adequate settlement. If this occurs, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the store to pursue compensation. Costco has a team of defense attorneys who will fight to avoid or minimize liability.
This is why having an experienced slip and fall attorney in your corner is essential. At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, we have the knowledge, resources, and trial experience to take on big retailers like Costco. We can gather evidence, consult with experts, and build a strong case demonstrating Costco's negligence and liability for your injuries.
Why You Need a Slip and Fall Lawyer for Your Costco Accident
Slip and fall accident cases against big corporations like Costco can be very complex. The company will have experienced defense attorneys and insurance adjusters who aim to avoid liability and minimize payouts. Without a skilled slip and fall accident lawyer advocating for you, you may be pressured to accept a lowball settlement that doesn't fully account for your losses or even have your claim unfairly denied.
An experienced attorney can thoroughly investigate your accident, gather critical evidence, interview witnesses, and build the strongest case possible demonstrating Costco's negligence and liability. Your lawyer can also handle all communications and negotiations with insurance companies on your behalf.
At Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience with Costco slip and fall accident claims. We know the common tactics these big retailers use to avoid responsibility and how to fight back. Our attorneys work tirelessly to pursue maximum compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
We offer free consultations to hear your story and advise you of your legal options with no obligations. We also take cases on contingency, so you pay no upfront fees and only owe attorney fees if and when we recover compensation for you.
Call the Boynton Beach Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers at Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a slip and fall accident at Costco or another store in Boynton Beach, don't wait to get legal help. In Florida, you typically have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner they can start building your case.
The attorneys at Frankl Kominsky have experience handling personal injury cases and have also represented numerous slip and fall victims. Our Boynton Beach personal injury lawyers will work hard to help our clients receive the best possible outcome in their legal cases, which may include medical reimbursement, compensation for lost wages, damages, or pain and suffering.
If you or someone you know has suffered a slip and fall at a Boynton Beach Costco or other supermarket, call us today at (561) 800-8000 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. We serve clients throughout South Florida, including Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Pompano Beach, and Delray Beach, and are fluent in Spanish and Creole.