Grocery stores are a part of everyday life — places where families shop, employees work, and customers expect to feel safe. But like any business that welcomes the public, grocery store owners in Texas have a legal duty to provide reasonably safe conditions both inside and outside their stores.
Unfortunately, when grocery stores fail to implement proper safety and security measures, customers can suffer serious injuries. Under Texas premises liability law, grocery stores can be held legally responsible for injuries caused by unsafe conditions, including negligent security failures.
The Legal Duty of Grocery Store Owners in Texas
Texas law requires grocery stores to maintain a safe environment for customers. This duty applies to:
- The interior of the store
- Parking lots and walkways
- Entrances and exits
- Sidewalks and surrounding property owned or controlled by the business
If store owners fail to inspect their property, correct hazards, or provide reasonable security measures — and a customer is injured as a result — they may be held liable.
Common Safety Hazards in Grocery Stores
While many people think of slip-and-fall accidents when they think of grocery store injuries, the risks go far beyond wet floors.
Interior Hazards
- Spills left uncleaned
- Items falling from shelves
- Obstructed walkways or improperly stacked merchandise
- Defective automatic doors
- Poorly maintained shopping carts
Exterior Hazards
- Poor lighting in parking lots
- Uneven pavement or potholes causing trip-and-fall injuries
- Cracked or broken sidewalks
- Inadequate traffic control for vehicles and pedestrians
Negligent Security at Grocery Stores
In addition to general safety hazards, grocery stores in Texas — especially in high-crime areas — must take reasonable steps to prevent criminal activity on their property.
Negligent security claims often arise when customers are victims of:
- Assaults or robberies in parking lots
- Carjackings near entrances or at the fuel station
- Attacks near ATMs on store property
- Violence due to lack of security guards or surveillance cameras
Grocery stores that operate late at night or 24 hours a day have an even greater responsibility to implement security measures such as:
- Adequate lighting
- Working security cameras
- Visible security personnel
- Emergency protocols for employees
What Compensation Is Available in a Premises Liability Claim?
Customers injured due to unsafe conditions or negligent security at a grocery store may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses (hospital bills, physical therapy, surgeries)
- Lost wages or loss of future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress or PTSD
- Disability or disfigurement
- Wrongful death damages (for surviving family members in fatal cases)
What Should You Do If You Are Injured at a Grocery Store?
If you were injured while shopping at a grocery store in Texas:
- Report the injury to store management immediately.
- Ask for an incident report to be created.
- Take photographs of the dangerous condition or scene of the incident.
- Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
- Seek medical attention right away.
- Contact an experienced premises liability lawyer to protect your rights.
Contact Spagnoletti Law Firm for Help After a Grocery Store Injury
At Spagnoletti Law Firm, we represent injury victims throughout Houston and across Texas in premises liability claims. We know what safety measures grocery stores should have in place — and we know how to hold them accountable when they fail.
📞 Call us today at 713-804-9306 for a free consultation. There are no legal fees unless we win your case.
If you were injured due to a grocery store’s negligence or failure to provide a safe environment, let us help you seek justice and recover the compensation you deserve.