The average person spends 60 hours every year shopping for groceries, not including transportation. Most people go food shopping at least once a week, especially if they’re feeding a family. Did you know that your local Acme owner has an obligation to keep you safe while you’re on their property? This protection is known as a duty of care under premises liability law. 

Premises liability promises that visitors to commercial properties such as grocery stores are protected when they lawfully visit these locations. Property owners are expected to ensure a safe environment for their visitors and are therefore responsible for injuries that occur on the premises. Property hazards can lead to various types of accidents that may harm store customers. A common danger found in grocery stores is unmarked pallets left in aisles, outside the store, or even in the parking lot. Accidentally tripping and falling on an unmarked pallet can lead to serious injuries, for which you need to file a claim against the property owner.

The Dangers of Unmarked Pallets

Pallets are used all throughout the retail industry to move large loads of products from one location to another. They often arrive at stores like Kroger and Shoprite with plastic-wrapped items sitting on top of them, which prevents the products from moving around, falling apart, or even tipping over during transit. Pallets are important but can also be extremely unsafe, especially if they are left in shopping areas without any signage.

Grocery store employees are responsible for keeping all aisles clear of hazards, including pallets. To help prevent accidents, is safest to restock shelves either overnight when the store is closed or during the day when customer foot traffic is light. If the shelves must be restocked when customers are around, pallets should be kept in the market’s storage area or behind the building on the loading dock.

Injuries Caused by Unmarked Pallets

If you are ever in an accident due to unmarked pallets in a food market such as Food Lion, Stop & Shop, Safeway, etc., you could suffer a wide range of injuries, including any of the following:

• Head trauma
• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Sprained ankles
• Puncture wounds
• Back injuries
• Torn muscles
• Strained muscles

If you injure yourself due to an unmarked pallet at a grocery store, it is important for you to immediately report it to management. It is helpful to request a copy of the report from management so you can keep it in your records. You should also take as many pictures as you can of your injury as well as the area where the accident occurred in order to provide good evidence for your case. After this, seek immediate medical attention. Make sure to save copies of all your medical bills, invoices and receipts from expenses related to the accident.