A visit to the Family Dollar in your neighborhood should never end in you being transported to the hospital because you suffered an injury. But, the sad fact of the matter is that accidents happen and they can happen anywhere. The owner of the dollar store is responsible for removing any and all hazards known to them that could wind up harming a customer inside their store. One such hazard is a food item that has spilled on the floor.

Food items can easily spill on the floor of a Dollar General or Dollar Tree because of the carelessness of another customer or the mistake of an employee. A food spill becomes and issue when it is not cleaned up. Even when a customer spills the food and fails to tell management or an employee, an injury to a customer could still lead to the owner being held liable for the injuries.

Duty of Care on Part of Property Owners

Property owners, including those who own Dollar General and Dollar Tree stores have a duty of care that they must provide to their customers. This duty of care should prevent injuries to customers due to slip and fall, items falling from shelves, debris, liquid on the floor and even assault. When the property owner fails to provide a duty of care to customers they can be held liable in any type of personal injury case.

Common Food Spills

The most common food spills that occur in Dollar General or Dollar Tree stores include the following:

• Dropping cans that explode on hitting the floor
• Dropping produce that is then crushed on the floor
• Dropping a glass jar filled with sauce or oil that shatters on the floor
• Dropping a gallon of milk or orange juice that spills all over the floor
• Dropping butter or other slippery food items on the floor

Signage and Cleanup

When an employee comes across food that has spilled on the floor of the Dollar Tree they should clean it up immediately. This includes putting up a wet floor sign, removing the debris, and using a mop to clean the floor. The wet floor sign should remain in the area of the spill until the floor has dried completely. When signage is not used around a food spill it can lead to a customer suffering a slip and fall accident that causes injuries.

Compensation for Injuries

Were you injured because of a food spill on the floor of a Dollar Tree that was never cleaned up? If so, you can seek compensation for your injuries from the owner of the store. You will need to prove fault on the part of the store, including that the hazard should have been removed and that it directly led to the accident that caused your injuries. Plaintiffs injured in a food spill incident at a Dollar General can seek compensation for the following:

• Lost wages
• Medical expenses, including ambulance transport, surgery, testing, hospital bills and medication
• Pain and suffering

When you suffer an injury at the hands of someone else you deserve compensation for the expenses that stem from the accident. Make sure you report the incident to the store manager, ask for a copy of the report, and seek medical treatment.