Why store policies and inspection procedures matter in slip and fall cases
One of the most important factors in winning a store slip and fall case is understanding how the store is supposed to operate behind the scenes.
Every major retailer and grocery store has written rules that tell employees:
- how often floors must be inspected
- who is responsible for inspections
- how spills or hazards must be handled
- how warnings and cones are supposed to be placed
- how incidents must be documented
Those rules are not suggestions. They are the store’s own safety standards.
How we obtain this information
At Shane Smith Law, we routinely obtain a store’s:
- inspection policies and manuals
- safety and cleaning procedures
- employee training materials
- incident and inspection records
We do this through:
- formal discovery requests
- depositions of store managers and employees
- and, when needed, early preservation and spoliation notices
In almost every store injury case, we take depositions of management to confirm what the rules are and whether they were actually followed.
Why this is so important to your case
These policies allow us to show:
- what the store was required to do
- whether the store followed its own safety procedures
- and whether the hazard should have been discovered and fixed
Many successful slip and fall cases are built on one simple question:
Did the store follow its own safety rules?
When the answer is no, that becomes powerful evidence for a jury.
That is why store policies, inspection manuals, and management testimony are critical in evaluating and winning these cases.
In pain? Call Shane.
Shane Smith Law | 980-999-9999
