Slip-and-Fall Liability: When Is a Supermarket Responsible?

Spills in supermarkets can cause injuries, but liability is not automatic.

The issue

A customer may slip on a spilled product and seek to hold the supermarket liable for medical expenses and other losses.

What must be considered

The key question is whether the supermarket acted reasonably. This may include whether it had cleaning systems, inspection procedures, staff awareness and a reasonable opportunity to discover and remove the hazard.

Why evidence matters

A claimant must prove more than the fact that they fell. The evidence should address how the hazard arose, how long it was present, and whether the supermarket should reasonably have dealt with it.

Practical point

Businesses should have clear inspection and cleaning procedures. Injured customers should gather evidence as soon as possible after the incident.