A number of accidents can happen in a coffee shop, not all of which are likely to be your fault. If the coffeehouse manager or an employee were at fault, and you have been injured you may be able to recover the cost of your injuries, including lost earnings, if any, with a personal injury claim against the company.
An attorney who specializes in these accidents can explain what is needed before going ahead with legal action.
Personal Injury Settlement Payments
Every state permits personal injury claims to be made by those who have been injured through no fault of their own. However, not every state has exactly the same rules. Some of the most commonly claimed damages after a personal injury can include:
Medical Expenses: These include operations, medication, rehabilitation and any future treatment expected. It is important that long lasting injuries should be evaluated very thoroughly and a realistic amount put forward to cover every eventuality, otherwise you may find you are out of pocket later in life.
Property Damage Costs: This is normally the most straightforward of personal injury components to calculate. For example, if an employee stumbles into you and damages your laptop, you may be able to claim the cost of repairing or replacing your laptop, along with other damages.
Pain and Suffering: These damages can be very real, but hard to quantify in practice. Many, although not all, states allow payments under this category. Sometimes, the amount agreed on is more than any other component of the case. A particularly painful injury that results in chronic pain, for instance, could be awarded more money than say, a dislocated joint.
Loss of Earnings: Included in this component is the predicted loss of earnings into the future if the injury is not short-lived. If the injury has left you paralyzed (e.g. because of spinal cord damage) it is vital that an accurate amount is calculated as part of the overall claim.
Considering a Claim? Contact an Attorney!
You can try and negotiate compensation by yourself. There is nothing that says you have to use an attorney, but consider the fact that it can be quite hard to work out how much you should claim for by yourself, as well as the fact that the vast majority of personal injury attorneys do not charge legal fees until a claim is won.
You still have to pay for their services, but it will be deducted from the overall settlement.
The attorney is unlikely to suggest going ahead with legal action unless he or she thinks that there is a good chance of winning. This is useful advice because unless you are an attorney yourself, it can be hard to decide whether it is worth it, and what you'd want to claim in damages.
*Disclaimer:
The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against the Caribou Coffee Company, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
