A client was leaving a grocery store when she caught her shopping cart on a new step a construction crew had installed at the entrance without any warning. Joe I. Zaid & Associates’ premises liability lawyers secured an $85,000 settlement for the injuries that followed.
How the Injury Happened
A construction crew was remodeling the store’s entrance and had installed a new step directly in the walkway. There was no warning sign or marking to alert customers to the change. As the client left the store, her cart caught on the unmarked step, causing her to fall and break her foot. Her granddaughter, who was riding in the cart, was also hurt in the accident.
The client reported the incident to a manager immediately, and a report was made. She saw an orthopedic doctor two days later, where the fracture was confirmed and she was fitted with a boot. Because the boot changed how she walked, she went on to develop hip and lower back pain as well.
Why the Case Involved More Than One Responsible Party
The hazard at the entrance existed because of construction work, which raised the question of whether the store, the construction company, or both bore responsibility for leaving the step unmarked. The store’s insurance adjuster asked the client to send over her bills and records directly, before she had legal representation involved.
How Joe I. Zaid & Associates Approached the Claim
The firm reviewed photos the client had taken of the scene right after the fall, along with follow-up photos showing that a barricade had since been placed around the area. That barricade pointed to the store recognizing the hazard after the fact. The firm also evaluated whether the construction company shared responsibility for the unmarked step, rather than treating the store as the only party involved.
The $85,000 Result
By pursuing the full scope of who was responsible for the unmarked hazard, rather than accepting the store’s initial request to handle the claim informally, the firm secured an $85,000 settlement. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in future cases. Every case is different and depends on its own facts. This result is one of several case outcomes the firm has secured for injured clients across Houston. Property hazards, especially ones involving contractors or third parties, can raise questions about who is actually responsible. Anyone hurt by a property hazard can reach out for a free evaluation to sort out who may be liable.
