How Do I Sue My Walmart for a Slip and Fall?

5 min read time
Woman with a shopping cart in a store

As a customer at Walmart, you certainly expect that the premises are regularly reviewed and that obstacles, hazards, and liquids on the floor are cleaned up so that you are not at risk of falling. 

However, most people have been inside a Walmart and know how busy it can be. Getting injured in a Walmart is all too common and can lead to serious injuries. 

If you got hurt in a slip and fall accident at Walmart, you may be entitled to compensation. 

Suing a Walmart is not necessarily easy, and you may need to have a premises liability lawyer to help you with the legal process. The right lawyer can make a big difference in the outcome of your case. If you need to sue Walmart, it is imperative that you gather information as soon as possible after the scene. Slip and Fall claims against Walmart can be filed when a victim has been seriously injured because of a condition that the property owner should have reasonably known about or dealt with.

To get started, contact Morgan & Morgan for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

 

Why You Should File Against Walmart With an Experienced Lawyer at Your Side?

There are three major reasons that Walmart is one of the most difficult companies to recover compensation from, even when you can show that you have been seriously injured because of their negligence. 

The first is that Walmart is a major company. It is the biggest retailer in the United States, and they have extensive resources and strong legal teams ready to respond. These defense lawyers are thoroughly prepared to deal with any and all slip and fall injury claims regardless of the injury claim location. This means that it is vital that you consult with an experienced attorney immediately. 

Walmart also self-insures, which is another reason why you want a dedicated legal team to help you with your Walmart case. Many businesses use third-party insurance companies to pay for liability insurance in the event of an accident on their premises. However, Walmart is different. While other companies would have their slip and fall claims paid by their insurance company and not by the store, Walmart has its own insurance company to manage liability claims. This means that it is also Walmart's own funds on the line when someone files a premises liability claim. This gives them a vested interest in working as hard as possible to minimize any payout in a premises liability claim. Finding an experienced and dedicated lawyer to support you with this process is essential. You should only work with a legal team that has a strong background in premises liability law. There is a lot at stake when you proceed with a case like this, and you can bet that Walmart will fight back as hard as possible. 

The third reason that Walmart is one of the most difficult companies to sue and recover funds from is that they are a very aggressive company. Walmart survives and thrives in the U.S. economy due to offering competitively low prices. Costly premises liability or other claims filed against the company can diminish their profits and their revenue, making it hard for them to maintain their position in the market. They are also strong negotiators with all of their suppliers and approach insurance claims in the same way. Their goal is to respond to any claim aggressively so that fewer people are likely to pursue premises liability claims. Even though you may recognize that these are some of the challenges stacked up against you in a premises liability lawsuit, you should always hire a premises liability attorney to evaluate your right to pursue a claim and to discuss the most important components with you. 

A lawyer is a crucial component of your eligibility to recover compensation and the right law firm can send a very strong message to Walmart and their legal representatives about your willingness to fight. If you have been seriously injured in an accident, you may have no other option except to pursue compensation through the support of an experienced and dedicated lawyer. You may need the funds recovered from a premises liability claim to get compensation for your injuries and to recover other expenses, such as lost wages. 

With a significant amount on the line for your future, you need a strong legal team that is prepared to take this case to trial if necessary. Many premises liability claims against Walmart will settle outside of court because the company does not want to go to court. That being said, their attorneys on the side of Walmart's defense will have strong experience in going to court and will not be afraid to do so. You also need to have aggressive legal representation to support your interests and next steps. With so many different factors associated with recovering compensation and your very future on the line, you need to meet with a lawyer early on.

 

Should You Avoid Direct Communication With the Store?

Be careful about any communication with Walmart store employees or representatives after you get hurt. It is true that you need to communicate with them about the accident itself, as they likely need to record certain information like the time, location, and cause of the accident. However, limit yourself to as few details as possible. Your primary goal in these initial minutes after the accident is to make sure you get medical attention, not to provide Walmart with extensive details about the accident. You may choose to briefly state what caused the accident, such as liquid spilled in the aisle, and attempt to gather pictures or other information from these details. You may also wish to speak with any eyewitnesses who saw the accident happen, as this may become important after you file an insurance claim or a lawsuit. 

Be mindful of making any statements that show that you are taking blame for the accident itself or for those situations in which Walmart may present you with paperwork to sign. You have the right to have this paperwork reviewed by an attorney and should not feel pressure to sign anything in the moment, especially when you are not clear on what it means. You do not want to accidentally waive any of your rights or sign anything that could limit your ability to proceed with a case in the future if you needed to do so. Even if you are not yet sure about the extent of your injuries, it is far better to be careful in this situation and to avoid these kinds of issues.

 

What to Discuss in an Initial Consultation?

Most premises liability lawyers, including those at Morgan & Morgan, work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they do not receive payment for their services while they are working on their case and only recover a percentage of the winnings if you are successful in settlement or in trial. 

You need a lawyer who is aggressive and is fully prepared to take your case and fight for it as hard as possible. Your lawyer will discuss many components of your personal injury claim during an initial consultation with you. Experience really matters, so bring as much evidence as you can and do your research in deciding your shortlist of lawyers. 

During your initial consultation with Morgan & Morgan, we will discuss some of the facts of your claim to determine if you have grounds and legal basis to proceed. We will also talk about the evidence you may already have and other evidence that may need to be gathered in order to be successful with your legal claim. We will also explain to you what it will be like to work together should you choose to do so. 

Our attorneys are very experienced in helping you with each aspect of your premises liability claim and will also advise you about some of the common challenges that people experience in this situation. You have a knowledgeable lawyer who will communicate with you at each step in your case to help support you with your next steps and to tell you what options are available to you. If a settlement offer is presented by Walmart, you can analyze this information based on your lawyer's own estimates of your possibility of recovering compensation. 

Morgan & Morgan has nationwide reputation and will be recognized by Walmart as leading premises liability lawyers. When we believe we have a strong case, we do everything possible to fight on behalf of our clients. 

Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

Disclaimer
This website is meant for general information and not legal advice.

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