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Case Study: How Legal Representation Secured a $90,000 Settlement in a Walmart Slip-and-Fall Case After Store Denied Liability

Case Snapshot

Case Type: Premises Liability – Retail Slip and Fall
Location: Walmart Personal Care / Beauty Aisle
Hazard: Colorless Liquid Spill
Initial Store Response: Claim Denied – Alleged Lack of Notice
Legal Action: Lawsuit Filed and Discovery Conducted
Final Resolution: $90,000 Settlement through Mediation
Key Evidence: Surveillance Video and Photographs Showing Shoe Tracks in Spill

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The Situation: Customer Injured While Shopping at Walmart

Our client was shopping at Walmart in the personal care and beauty aisle while looking for a hair dryer. During the visit, the client slipped and fell on a colorless liquid that had accumulated on the floor.

Because the substance was clear and difficult to see, the hazard was not obvious to shoppers walking through the aisle. The fall caused injuries that required medical treatment and disrupted the client’s daily activities.

Retail stores like Walmart have a responsibility to maintain reasonably safe walking conditions for customers. When hazards are not addressed or properly monitored, serious injuries can occur.

The Challenge: Walmart Denied Responsibility for the Dangerous Condition

After the incident, Walmart denied liability for the injury claim. The company argued that it did not have notice of the spill and therefore could not be held responsible for the hazardous condition.

In many premises liability cases, large retailers rely on lack-of-notice defenses. This argument suggests the spill or hazard occurred so recently that store employees could not have discovered or corrected it in time to prevent injury.

Because Walmart denied responsibility and refused to offer a settlement, legal action became necessary.

Why the Client Turned to Vasilatos Injury Law

Slip-and-fall claims involving major retail corporations often require formal litigation to obtain key evidence. Without legal representation, injured customers may not have access to surveillance footage, store inspection records, or internal safety procedures.

Vasilatos Injury Law, through associate attorney Ellina Khotimlyansky, filed a lawsuit on behalf of the client to investigate the incident and pursue fair compensation.

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Legal Strategy: Using Discovery to Prove Store Negligence

Once litigation began, the legal team used the discovery process to obtain critical evidence from Walmart. Discovery allows attorneys to request documents, video footage, photographs, and internal records related to the incident.

The legal strategy focused on several key areas:

  • Securing Surveillance Footage and Photographic Evidence: During discovery, our attorneys obtained photographs and video surveillance from the store. The footage revealed several visible shoe tracks, both leading through the spill and inside the liquid itself.
  • Demonstrating the Spill Existed Long Enough to Be Discovered: The presence of multiple shoe tracks became a key piece of evidence. The tracks suggested that other customers or employees had walked through the spill before the incident occurred.

This evidence supported the argument that the spill was present for a meaningful period of time, Walmart employees had sufficient opportunity to discover the hazard, and routine safety inspections likely failed to identify or clean the spill

Mediation Strategy: Presenting Evidence of Store Responsibility

The case proceeded to mediation, where both sides presented their arguments to a neutral third-party mediator.

During mediation, our legal team emphasized that the number of visible shoe tracks demonstrated the spill was not a sudden or newly formed hazard. Instead, the evidence suggested that the dangerous condition existed long enough that Walmart employees should have discovered and addressed it through regular aisle inspections.

The mediator agreed with our position and recognized that the evidence significantly weakened Walmart’s lack-of-notice defense.

The Outcome: $90,000 Settlement for Walmart Customer Slip and Fall

Following mediation, the case was resolved with a settlement of $90,000.

This result provided meaningful compensation despite Walmart’s initial denial of responsibility and refusal to offer a settlement prior to litigation.

The Impact on the Client

The settlement helped the client recover financial losses related to the accident and provided support during medical recovery.

The compensation addressed:

  • Medical treatment costs
  • Pain and suffering associated with the fall
  • Disruption to daily life and activities

The outcome also held the retailer accountable for maintaining safe shopping conditions for customers.

Legal Takeaways: What Slip-and-Fall Victims Should Know

Premises liability claims and slip-and-fall accidents often involve complex legal and factual disputes. This case highlights several important lessons for injured shoppers.

  • Retail Stores May Deny Responsibility Without Investigation: Large retailers frequently rely on lack-of-notice defenses to avoid liability, even when hazards existed for extended periods.
  • Surveillance and Store Records Can Be Critical Evidence: Video footage, photographs, and inspection logs often determine whether a store could have prevented an injury.
  • Filing a Lawsuit May Be Necessary to Obtain Evidence: Many key pieces of evidence are only available through the discovery process after litigation begins.
  • Mediation Can Lead to Strong Settlement Outcomes: Presenting clear, persuasive evidence during mediation can significantly improve settlement value.
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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

Working Together To Serve Your Needs

Vasilatos Injury Law is the best injury law firm in the City of Chicago. Attorney Vasilatos handled my worker’s compensation case with professionalism, and worked hard to ensure I received the benefits I was entitled to. Whenever I called, my calls were answered or returned promptly. This was very important to me since other attorney’s never return calls or are never available to talk to you.

I have referred Vasilatos Injury Law to my friends and family who have also experienced excellent results.

Shirley Dillard

Principal at CPS-McNair Academic Cemter

I came to Vasilatos Law almost 20 years ago. I had a workers' compensation case with my former employer and Mr. Vasilatos always was and still is a true gentleman. He cares about his clients, he listens, gives great legal advice, and is always a phone call away. He is honest and will explain everything in detail. He is patient, sincere, very knowledgeable, extremely professional, and will always return your calls in a timely manner. I recommend Mr. Vasilatos and Vasilatos Law as the best law firm to represent you in your workers' compensation or personal injury case to anyone who wants results.

I hired Vasilatos Law firm on more than one occasion and they always delivered the best results. Vasilatos Law is the best workers' compensation and personal injury attorneys you can have on your side.

F. Zorba

My experience with the team at Vasilatos Law was outstanding. I am thankful. The paralegal staff was courteous and fast in their responses. They handled both of my cases with professionalism and care. I highly recommend Lee Vasilatos to anyone seeking legal services.

Elva R.

What a phenomenal group of personal injury attorneys. We have a lot of choices when it comes to choosing an attorney to represent us, hands down one of the best as I went down the road, not knowing what to expect. Attorneys Lee Vasilatos and Ellina Khotimlyansky worked with me every step of the way with a clear and descriptive approach on how my case would be justified. Thank you Vasilatos Injury Law Team.

Scott M.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue Walmart for a slip-and-fall accident?

What does “lack of notice” mean in a slip-and-fall case?

How do lawyers prove a store knew about a spill?

Should I accept a settlement offer from a retail store without a lawyer?

Injured in a Slip-and-Fall Accident? You May Have Legal Options

Retail stores must maintain safe environments for customers. When unsafe conditions cause injury, victims may be entitled to compensation.

Vasilatos Injury Law helps clients investigate slip-and-fall claims, obtain critical evidence, and pursue fair settlements against large retailers and property owners.

Contact Vasilatos Injury Law today to discuss your case and learn about your legal options.

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If you have questions regarding any aspect of workers’ compensation or personal injury, we invite you to call our office or complete the email form provided to the right.

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