Slip and Fall Accident at a Restaurant
If you have been injured as a result of an accident in a restaurant or burger bar, you are probably wondering what to do about it.
Was the accident your fault, or was the restaurant to blame? Slip, trip and fall accidents are quite common in restaurants and often they are caused by sloppy management or because staff has failed to keep the place clean and tidy.
When hazards like wet or greasy, slippery, floors or trash on the floor cause an accident it is not surprising that you might be faced with unexpected medical bills as well as lost wages from time off work.
Restaurant owners and their staff know that they have a responsibility to maintain a safe and healthy environment for their customers.
If there is clear evidence that a restaurant was to blame for any injuries you have suffered, you may be successful in claiming just compensation from them.
What Could Go Wrong When Visiting a Restaurant?
There are many reasons why customers become injured or fall ill at a restaurant.
The most common injuries happen when an unsuspecting customer slips up or trips over something like a messy or slippery floor, or when a floor surface has not been repaired or maintained recently and is loose, torn or uneven.
But there are other accidents too such as burns from hot equipment or flames from flambé demonstrations, food or coffee that is simply too hot and food poisoning from contaminated food.
Any one of these incidents might result in a customer pursuing a personal injury claim against the restaurant owner, the management or one or more of the employees.
Personal Injury Lawsuits Against Negligent Restaurants
One example of a lawsuit against a restaurant company stemmed from alleged company policy to cause ‘confrontation’ between restaurant workers and customers.
The company appears to have thought that the policy was designed to make having a meal in the restaurant, in this case Weiner Circle, more entertaining.
The usual scenario was a verbal jousting match with insults hurled between staff and diners, but it seems that it could get out of hand.
One woman alleged that the restaurant she went to allowed a fight to take place and she became injured in the scuffle, breaking a wrist and injuring her elbow.
She alleged in the lawsuit against Wiener Circle that the restaurant had encouraged an atmosphere in which injuries like hers could take place and did nothing to stop it.
When Injured Due to Negligence in a Restaurant Use a Lawyer
Restaurant owners and managers are not keen to acknowledge that injuries happen in their restaurants because of carelessness or negligence.
In most cases, there will be an attempt to place the blame on the person who was injured, claiming that they did not take enough care.
Because of the complexity or premises liability law and the difficulties in proving who was liable, it is not advisable to try and approach the restaurant by yourself if you have been injured or suffered harm while visiting one of their establishments.
As soon as your injuries allow, it is preferable to seek out a personal injury lawyer who has had experience in restaurant accidents.
An experienced lawyer will be able to provide a reasoned opinion about your chances of success in a compensation claim and help you to file, and possibly settle a lawsuit against those who were responsible for your injuries.
*The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Howard Johnson's, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
