While Costco’s warehouse stores are widely popular – thanks in part to their bulk savings and budget-friendly food court – they’re also prone to slip and fall injuries due to hazards like slippery floors and heavy foot traffic.
Costco is obligated under California premises liability law to keep their stores safe, so if you’re injured after a slip and fall accident at Costco because they failed to keep their store safe, you can recover compensation from them for your injuries.
Costco slip and fall settlements will have varying values based upon numerous factors. They may be worth anywhere from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars.
Call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 if you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident at Costco. We can help you recover compensation for lost wages, medical bills, pain, suffering and more.
Table of Contents:
- What Is the Average Costco Slip and Fall Settlement?
- Factors that Impact Your Settlement
- Examples of Costco Slip and Fall Settlements
- Is Costco Liable for My Injuries?
- Common Causes of Costco Slip and Falls
- Typical Slip and Fall Injuries
- How to Maximize Your Costco Settlement
- Statute of Limitations for Slip and Falls
- How Our Lawyers Can Help
- Contact Us Today
What Is the Average Costco Slip and Fall Settlement in California?
A slip and fall case involving Costco may be worth anywhere from a few thousand dollars, when the injuries sustained are minor, to millions of dollars for personal injury cases involving catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries.
| Injuries | Approximate Settlement |
| Minor – Bruising, Cuts, Sprains | $5K – $20K |
| Significant – Fractures, Torn Ligaments, Mild Concussion | $20K – $75K |
| Critical – Spinal Damage, Brain Injury, Disabling Injuries | $100K – $1,000,000+ |
The average value of a slip and fall case involving Costco will be similar to the average value of a grocery store slip and fall settlement.
Factors That Affect Your Costco Slip and Fall Lawsuit Value
Factors which affect the value of your premises liability case against Costco include:
- Injury severity: The potential value of an injury claim rises when the injury is more severe.
- Medical expenses: A settlement will include reimbursement for medical bills which relate to your injury.
- Lost wages: If you are prevented from working by your injury, fair compensation will include compensation for lost wages.
- Loss of earning capacity: You may qualify for compensation from Costco or Costco’s insurance company if your injury has impacted your future earning potential.
- Pain and suffering: An experienced lawyer can help you recover compensation for physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injury.
- Costs of long-term care: If you’ve been injured and you require ongoing rehabilitation or care for things like chronic pain, these costs may be included in a settlement.
- Case strength: Your case will be stronger and the potential value of your claim will grow as you gather additional evidence that Costco committed negligence. It is vital to your case that you be able to prove that Costco’s negligence caused your slip and fall accident.
- Liability: If you sued Costco and it is found that Costco was solely responsible for your injuries, the size of your settlement might be larger. If you are found to be partially responsible for your own injuries (e.g. comparative negligence), the size of your settlement may get reduced.
Examples of Costco Slip and Fall Settlements
Examples of settlements and verdicts in Costco slip and fall cases include:
- $1.6 million: A woman got hurt at Costco after slipping on a puddle which had no warning signs around it despite it being noticed over 90 minutes ago. The woman felt pain immediately after the incident as well as ongoing pain. This led to pain management treatments, neck surgery and medical visits. The woman continues to suffer from pain and limited neck motion range. This impacts her quality of life and daily activities. A jury found Costco 87 percent at fault for the accident and the plaintiff 13 percent at fault. $1.6 million in damages was awarded to the woman.¹
- $400,000: A man slipped on cardboard while exiting Costco’s check-out area, fracturing his ankle. Costco argued the accident occurred in an employees-only area. The jury ends up finding Costco at fault, but finding the plaintiff was 15 percent at fault. The man was awarded $400,000 by the jury.¹
- $125,000: A man was walking into Costco and he slipped on a recently painted curb. He fell and hit his head, suffering a fractured orbital bone. He filed a lawsuit, claiming that while it’s standard to use high-friction paint on walking areas, Costco instead chose to use high-gloss paint. He also claimed another customer had slipped on this paint previously, so Costco was aware of the dangerous condition. The man accepted a $125,000 settlement on the first day of trial.¹
Is Costco Liable for My Injuries?
Premises liability law governs slip and fall cases. Under these laws, property owners such as Costco have a duty to make sure their premises are maintained in a condition which is reasonably safe.
This includes preventing dangerous conditions like poor lighting, uneven flooring or spills, and adequately warning customers when hazards like these exist.
If you have been injured because Costco or Costco employees failed to meet this duty, then you may be able to hold Costco accountable for your damages and injuries.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents at Costco
Common causes of slip and fall accidents at Costco include:
- Spills: Improperly cleaned or unattended spills (food, liquid soap, leaks, from freezers, etc.) can lead to dangerous conditions. Spills can happen when customers consume drinks or food while they shop.
- Structural issues: Poorly maintained walkways, loose mats or uneven flooring can contribute to slip and fall accidents. Uneven or cracked flooring can reduce traction and create trip hazards.
- Clutter in aisles: Pallets left in walkways, poorly stacked displays and merchandise which protrudes into aisles can lead to tripping hazards. Cluttered aisles may also make it hard to see possible hazards.
- Wet floors: Floors which have been cleaned recently and don’t have wet floor signs may be dangerous.
- Crowd management: The negligent management of crowds, particularly during peak hours, may increase the chances of an accident happening.
- Parking lot issues: Uneven surfaces or potholes can lead to injuries in parking lots.
- Poor lighting: Lighting which is inadequate may make it hard for a customer to see a hazard. Poor lighting may be especially common in bathrooms.
- Staff oversight: Many of the aforementioned issues are preventable. However, when employees are negligent, it increases the likelihood of accidents.
The above issues are also common causes of slip and fall accidents at WinCo, Food 4 Less and other warehouse grocery chains.
Typical Costco Slip and Fall Injuries
Common injuries which may occur at Costco locations include:
Fractured Bones
Broken bones may happen after falls, particularly in the elderly or people with osteoporosis. When falls apply enough force or pressure on bones, bones may fracture.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
These head injuries may happen in falls even if your head doesn’t hit the ground. When brains receive jolts without direct impacts, it can still cause serious harm. Traumatic brain injuries may be dangerous since you might not seek medical attention as you might not realize the injury’s severity.
When traumatic brain injuries aren’t recognized and treated, secondary injuries can occur which can be more serious than the initial injury. Untreated traumatic brain injuries can lead to months of pain. These injuries may need to be identified and evaluated via a medical evaluation by a specialist..
Soft Tissue Injuries
Falls that don’t break bones can still be painful and seriously harm victims. Soft tissue injuries happen in parts of the body such as tendons, ligaments and muscles. These injuries may lead to bruising, swelling, pain or even permanent tissue damage.
Sprained Wrists or Ankles
Falls can lead to uneven or unusual steps, or attempts to cushion falls with arms. When ligaments in ankles or wrists tear during falls, strains or sprains may occur. These injuries can be slow to heal since ligaments don’t end up receiving a ton of blood.
These may not seem like serious injuries but they can impact your life a lot. You might not be capable of buttoning shirts, cooking or typing. Ankle sprains can prevent you from walking.
Knee Injuries
Slip and fall accidents can lead to knee damage since you could twist while you fall. Knees have a lot of ligaments and bone. ACL and MCL injuries can heal very slowly.
Dislocated patellas may also occur. You might require knee reconstruction surgery.
Dislocated Shoulders
When unexpected falls occur, it’s common for the shoulder to be struck. This may lead to a dislocated shoulder, which is when your upper arm ends up popping out of its socket. Shoulders are especially vulnerable to dislocations during falls as they’re the human body’s most mobile joint.
Nerve and Spine Damage
Falls can lead to back injuries which are particularly damaging. Nerve and spinal damage can lead to:
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Weakness
- Intense pain
- Paralysis
Injuries to the spinal cord are often catastrophic since they permanently alter the way of life of the victim. When slip and fall accidents lead to spinal cord injuries, victims may be able to recover compensation for hospital expenses and future medical care.
Bruises and Cuts
Bruises or cuts can occur during falls. While cuts might not seem to be serious, disfigurement can be considered a very significant loss. It’s vital to take pictures of bruises and cuts to document injuries.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain may occur after slip and fall accidents. Your life can be forever altered by ongoing pain. It can permanently alter your mobility level, affect your ability to participate in activities that you enjoy, or affect the ability you have to work. It’s vital to work with a lawyer to hold Costco responsible for losses like these.
How to Maximize Your Costco Lawsuit Settlement
- Immediately seek medical care: If you have been injured at Costco, you should immediately seek medical attention. You should do this even if you do not think you have been hurt badly. Some injuries don’t end up showing symptoms for months after accidents. Should you fail to have your injuries promptly documented by medical professionals, you may find it harder to see Costco held liable for your injuries, as Costco or their insurer may claim something other than your slip and fall accident caused your injuries.
- Report the accident: Report the accident to the store manager.
- Preserve evidence: Take pictures and videos of the accident scene and your injuries. Get a copy of the incident report from Costco. Gather witness information, like statements from witnesses and witnesses’ contact information.
- Consult with a lawyer: If you have gotten hurt in a slip and fall accident at Costco, it’s advisable for you to consult with a lawyer. A lawyer can help you to understand your legal rights, assess your claim’s strength and negotiate a settlement which is fair. Lawyers often work on a contingency, which means you only have to pay them once they win your case. Insurance adjusters might try to deny your claim or minimize your injuries’ severity – lawyers won’t let insurance companies get away with these tactics. Costco or their insurance company will also want you to give them a recorded statement – don’t do it! Have your lawyer talk with them instead.
Statute of Limitations for Costco Slip and Fall Lawsuits
In California, injury victims have two years from the date of their injury, in most cases, to hold liable parties legally responsible for their injuries. This time limit is called a statute of limitations and is an important time limit to keep in mind. You can be forever barred from recovering compensation for your injuries if you fail to file a claim in time.
There are important exceptions to the two year time limit, though, and while some of the exceptions can lengthen the time limit, others can shorten it.
Consult with an experienced slip and fall attorney today to find out if you still qualify to file a lawsuit. It’s best to call a lawyer today, regardless of how much time you have left to file a claim, as it can take quite a while to build a strong slip and fall case. Calling a lawyer today gives your lawyer the most time possible to build a strong case for you and make sure everything gets filed on time.
How Our Costco Slip and Fall Lawyers Can Help With Your Case
There are many benefits to hiring a California slip and fall lawyer. We can:
- Prove that Costco is liable for your injuries
- Collect evidence
- Handle negotiations with insurance companies
- File a lawsuit if Costco refuses to offer a fair settlement
- Do this all without charging you any fee until we win your case
Contact Our Costco Slip and Fall Attorneys Today
Call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or fill out our quick contact form.
We have been handling slip and fall cases just like yours since 1990 and have recovered over $750,000,000 on behalf of our injured clients. Our vast experience in handling premises liability cases against companies like Costco will let us pursue fair compensation for you.
We can get you the proper medical care you need and won’t charge you a penny until we win your case.
Call us today.
References
1. Miller & Zois
