Chemical Engineering Expert Advises on Slip and Fall at Gas Station

Case Overview

Plaintiff pulled up to the pumps at gas station located in Wyoming and proceeded to fill his gas tank. These pumps dispersed both gasoline and diesel with the diesel being the pump furthest to the right. Plaintiff positioned her car so that her gas tank was aligned with the unleaded pump handle and that put the driver door closest to the diesel pump. When alighting from the car the plaintiff slipped and fell on what she believes was diesel that had been spilled or leaked onto the ground. Her spinal injury from this fall required surgery.

Questions to the Retail Store expert and their responses

Are there separate and distinct standards for diesel pumps as opposed to regular gas pumps when it comes to maintenance, inspection, and/or clean up?

Gas stations that operate with regular gas and diesel have to implement different standards for the care of both fuels.

Does the viscosity or slipperiness of diesel fuel create an inherently more dangerous slip and fall hazard requiring more stringent maintenance guidelines?

It should be well known in the industry that diesel fuel creates an inherently more dangerous slip and fall hazard, and the fact that this wasn't cleaned immediately speaks to the negligence of the defendant in this case.

About the expert

This expert specializes in gas station operations, management, and safety, with specific focus on fuel service stations and gas pumps. He earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and a MBA in Finance from Drexel University. He has 35 years of experience in the gas industry with ARCO and BP. As President of BP West Coast Products, LLC and Vice President Retail Operations, he had responsibility for ARCO gasoline retail sales and AMPM operations worldwide, consisting of the C-Store business with 700 franchisees, 3000 convenience stores, and $3 billion in revenue.

E-009330

Specialties:

Retail Store