You can cruise Philly all day long and stay on the go until that gas tank reads empty. At that point, you’re not getting out of a stop at a local gas station. That trip may have you pulling up to the pumps at BP. There are several stations in the greater Philadelphia area.
These mini-marts can offer everything from auto inspections, car washes, and donuts. With that variety comes the increased risk of a slip-and-fall accident. If you step in food on the floor or a puddle outside you might take a hard tumble on the pavement or those hard tiles inside. You could suffer a broken bone or even brain damage depending on how you land. Your next trip may be an expensive hospital stay. You’ll be wondering who can be held responsible for the hazard that was left out for your foot to find.
Help for BP Gas Station Slip-And-Fall Victims In Philadelphia
If you are hurt in a fall at a gas station, you may feel embarrassed, but don’t worry. These accidents happen at places of business every day. It’s also important that you not accept blame for your accident. When property owners and proprietors leave out obstacles that can trip you or cause you to slip, they can be held liable for your medical bills and your time away from work.
BP Gas, of course, won’t readily admit liability, but with an attorney on your side, you can prove that your injury was the direct fault of the action or inaction of that store owner. Contact The Pearce Law Firm, P.C., of Philadelphia to find out everything that BP and their insurance agents aren’t telling you. We’ll provide you with a free consultation on your case, and let you know how much your injury may be worth.
Common Gas Station Accident Hazards In Philadelphia
Proprietors of any business invite customers inside to hopefully earn your money. Once they do they must accept a “duty of care” to keep any visitor safe across the entire property, inside and out.
Gas Stations are about more than just gas these days. BP stations can be virtual fast-food restaurants and some of them even come equipped with a Dunkin’ Donuts shop inside. These added features on top of the fountain drinks and aisles of chips and candy they sell all factor into the dangers that can end up on their floors.
Here’s a look at some of the most common problems that can end up sending you sliding and into a fall:
- Slippery footing — A giant, foamy coffee can end up on the floor and sit there until you unknowingly step in it and keep sliding. Drinks and food can also end up on the tile. The bathroom floors may also be a slick, soapy disaster that can leave you flat on your back.
- Aisle Hazards – A child’s spilled candy or peanuts can all roll under your shoe and send you backward. Displays and stocking boxes left out can catch your foot.
- Parking lot and pumps – Cracked pavement, a pothole, unsafe steps, and icy buildup can all drop you to the ground for a broken bone or worse. Car oil and other substances can make the cement surfaces slippery. You don’t want to see what can happen to your skull when you fall near a pump’s cement pylons. Car washes and auto repair shops on-premises can also contribute to these dangers.
What you Should Do After an Accident At BP Gas Stations
It’s always important to be thinking about building your case against BP as soon after an accident as possible. If you are physically strong enough, start collecting important details on the scene right after your fall. If you need medical attention, call 911, and ask someone else to help you gather evidence.
Snap photos of the obstacle that led to your accident before a mop or a tool belt are brought out and it’s cleaned up or repaired. As Edith Pearce, the founder of The Pearce Lawfirm, P.C., always says, tell someone about what happened, where it happened. Make sure to alert a manager so that he or she can write up an accident report for their corporate investigators.
Also, get contact information from any witnesses who saw the incident or can testify to the spill or obstacle that was left on the floor.
There’s also one thing you shouldn’t do. Don’t tell the gas station manager how badly you’re hurt. Also, a representative from BP will likely call you in the days after an accident. Don’t give them a statement about the accident or the seriousness of your injuries. They’d like to use your statements to turn around on you later to cast doubt on your account. Let your attorney do the talking for you once BP insurance agents and lawyers start reaching out.
Contact a Philadelphia Slip-And-Fall Lawyer
After taking a serious fall and getting injured at a BP Gas Station contact a highly rated Philadelphia Slip-And-Fall Lawyer such as Edith Pearce. Unlike the huge firms with dozens of attorneys and many different attorneys handling different aspects of your case, Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case that we handle. She genuinely cares about her clients and you will not be treated like just another case or file.
