What to Do After a Slip and Fall Injury at Walmart?

A slip and fall at Walmart can happen when you least expect it—slippery floors, messy aisle, or uneven ground, all of which are considered hazardous conditions. These accidents can lead to serious injuries, from broken bones and spinal cord injuries to head injuries and soft tissue injury.

No matter where you tripped and fell within the shop, in the parking lot, or near the entrance, being timely is essential in order to protect your health and your right to a fair compensation. Proper action following the accident will enable you to build a strong personal injury claim and make Walmart accountable if there were negligence issues.

How Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur at Walmart?

Slip and falls in large box retailers like Walmart are preventable.

They typically occur due to unsafe conditions such as:

• Spills or wet floors that have not been immediately cleaned up,
• Bursting freezers or cold storage areas,
• Overturned products or aisles full of littering products,
• Inadequate lighting in parking areas or aisle ways,
• Bumpy floors or cracked tiles,
• Improper footwear policy or lack of warning signs being posted.

Under Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Act, Walmart and other retail property owners have a legal obligation to provide customers with a safe place to be. When they fail to do this, they are legally responsible for the harm that occurs due to their negligence.

If you are harmed in a Walmart slip and fall incident, you must follow these steps right away to protect your health and strengthen your personal injury claim.

Immediate Steps to Take After You Slip and Fall in a Walmart

Seek Medical Care

Your well-being is most important. Even if your injuries seem minor, it’s essential to see a doctor right away. There are some types of injuries, head trauma, spinal cord trauma, or soft tissue trauma, that might not be noticed right away but will worsen over time.

A consultation with a medical expert will have your injuries diagnosed and documented. Such medical records are fundamental proof when making a slip and fall claim or when negotiating with the insurance company for reasonable compensation.

Document the Incident

After your safety and stability are assured, document the accident scene. Your phone can be used to photograph or record clear images of:

• The location where the slip and fall was suffered,
• Any visible hazards such as slippery floors, poor lighting, or uneven surfaces,
• Your injuries on your body, ripped clothing, or footwear,
• The lack of warning signs or obstructions.

This photographic proof can help support your personal injury lawyer’s evidence of Walmart’s negligence and strengthen your case as it makes its way through the justice system.

Obtain an Incident Report

Always inform Walmart employees and request them to create an official incident report. The report documents essential details such as the date, time, location, and how the fall happened.

Before you exit the store, ask for a copy of the incident report or for the name of the manager who completed it. If they refuse to give you a copy, write down their name, title, and phone number. Your slip and fall lawyer can obtain this report later from the headquarters of Walmart as part of your claim for personal injury.

Collect Witness Statements

If anyone saw your slip and fall accident, ask for their witness statements and contact details. Eyewitness accounts can corroborate your version of events, especially if Walmart disputes responsibility.

Make sure to gather:

• Full names and phone numbers,
• Written or recorded statements about what they observed,
• Descriptions of the hazard that caused your fall injury.

Witnesses can provide valuable evidence to support your claim compensation case and establish that the store’s negligence caused your injuries.

Report the Accident to Walmart Employees

Immediately notify a store manager or supervisor that you’ve been injured. Calmly explain what happened and identify the hazard that caused your slip and fall injury. Do not admit fault or sign any documents without speaking to a personal injury lawyer first.

It’s also a helpful idea to write down the names of Walmart workers you met, including the people who responded to your accident site or assisted you after you slipped. These details can come in useful if there is any contention about the details of your incident report.

Additional Steps:

• Keep all medical bills, receipts, and out-of-pocket costs for your treatment.
• Avoid working directly with Walmart’s insurance adjusters before you talk with your law firm.
• Call an experienced slip and fall attorney or Ontario personal injury attorney immediately for expert counsel and a free consultation.

File a Claim with Walmart

Once you have obtained medical attention and reported the slip and fall accident site after being treated, you should file a claim with Walmart. This claim informs the company and its insurer that you were harmed as a result of a dangerous condition on their premises and will seek damages.

Your personal injury lawyer handling your slip and fall accident can aid in preparation and filing of the claim to ensure it is processed correctly and within Ontario’s legislative timelines.

This would mainly include:

• Filing of the formal incident report prepared by Walmart employees,
• Filing of medical records supporting your slip and fall accident injuries,
• Including photos, witness statements, and other evidence gathered at the site of the accident,
• Bifurcating your medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Since big companies usually employ teams of adjusters to restrict payments, having a veteran slip and fall attorney represent you ensures your case is given the priority it warrants and that you get paid the maximum amount to which you are entitled.

Be Prepared for Aggressive Walmart’s Defence Strategies

Walmart is a big-box store with enormous legal resources, and it is no stranger to deploying aggressive defense tactics when it is faced with slip and fall lawsuits.

These tactics are designed to restrict Walmart liability and push victims into accepting smaller settlements. This is why one needs to have a good personal injury lawyer who is familiar with refuting these claims. Your lawyer will introduce medical records, obtain surveillance footage if available, and engage the services of expert witnesses in order to prove that Walmart negligence caused your fall injuries.

Consult Our Slip and Fall Lawyer to Maximize Your Compensation

At Grillo Law, our skilled slip and fall attorneys realize it is difficult to go up against a corporate behemoth like Walmart. We are ready to assist victims of falls in obtaining compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and continuing physical therapy fees.

The following will be done when you retain our law firm:

• Carefully investigate your place of accident and secure valuable evidence,
• Coordinate with medical experts to determine the extent of your injuries,
• Deal with all communication with Walmart’s insurance adjuster,
• Negotiate a reasonable settlement or, if needed, sue in order to secure your rights.

We provide a free consultation and work on a contingency-fee basis, so you do not pay any attorney fees should we not win an award of compensation on your behalf.

FAQ

I Fell at Walmart. What Should I Do?

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall at Walmart, follow these steps immediately:

• Seek medical care and have your injuries assessed by a medical professional.
• Report the incident to Walmart staff and ensure an incident report is completed.
• Document the scene by taking photos or videos of hazards such as wet floors or uneven surfaces.
• Collect witness statements and store employee names.
• Call a slip and fall attorney prior to speaking with Walmart’s insurance adjuster about your case.

Your attorney will assist you in filing a claim with Walmart and guide you through the legal process in an effort to get you a just compensation.

Can a Store Be Liable for a Customer Injury?

Yes. According to Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Act, store owners and operators have a statutory duty of care to provide safe premises. If the shopper is injured due to Walmart’s failure to clean up spills, mend hazards, or warn of hazards, the store can be held liable for negligence.

A personal injury attorney can review your case, help you decide if Walmart has violated its duty of care, and direct you in getting reimbursement for your loss.

Can You Sue Walmart for a Slip and Fall Accident?

Yes, you can. If your slip and fall accident resulted in injuries that were the fault of Walmart’s negligence, you are entitled to sue Walmart for fair compensation based on the Ontario laws. Your claim for injury can comprise damages against medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering, and rehabilitation costs.

Since the defence attorneys of Walmart are seasoned and combative, it is imperative that you have a reliable slip and fall attorney who can assist you in getting maximum compensation for your injuries.