ShopRite customer struck by pallet truck seeks damages from supermarket

A Philadelphia woman who suffered back and spinal injuries when a pallet truck struck her

while she shopped at a Delaware County ShopRite supermarket has filed a suit seeking damages against the company, claiming its negligence caused the accident.

According to the complaint, filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on April 3, Noelle Hepner was shopping in the rear of the store located on Chester Pike in Eddystone, Pa. The claim says that an employee operating a hand truck carrying a pallet of water containers struck Hepner and crushed her.

The court documents say that Hepner sustained severe and possibly permanent damage to her spine, back, knee and nervous system. The injuries forced Hepner to pay for costly medical care to correct the injuries, and they caused her to miss time at work, the complaint says.

The plaintiff says the accident could have been avoided if the employees had been properly trained to operate the machinery and to prepare the area of the store where the truck would be used by blocking access and checking for any customers that may be in the way.

Hepner has filed for damages in excess of $50,000. She is represented by Robert Huber of Huber & Palsir, LLC.

The case ID number is 140305613.