It's no fun slipping over when you are in a restaurant. It's not the embarrassment you feel when it happens in front of all the other patrons. It's the feeling of frustration experienced when you know it happened because the floor was slippery or because you just tripped over some sort of obstacle that had been carefully left in your way.
Accidents like these can result in expensive bills and weeks or longer without any money coming in from your job or business. It's important to realize that the state you are in has laws in place that are designed to protect you from any sort of negligence on the part of a property owner or one of their employees.
If you were injured at any steakhouse, there might be financial resources available for you. Let an experienced personal injury attorney explain how you could claim for compensation for your injuries.
Could a Serious Slip-and-Fall Accident Happen at a Steakhouse?
Accidents, especially slip and fall type accidents, burns and scalds and food poisoning incidents could always be a possibility at any restaurant. Many restaurant chains are less able to keep a close eye on safety standards at all of their outlets, many of which may be franchises.
So What Could Happen at a Restaurant?
The most common sorts of accidents at a restaurant happen when something has been left on the floor or a liquid has spilled on to the floor and causes slippery conditions. In well run restaurants, even when they are very busy, these sorts of potential hazards are removed quickly before a patron falls over and breaks their leg.
Even a clear warning notice may be sufficient to prevent a serious accident and also make it difficult to justify an injured patron from claiming that the accident was the fault of the restaurant.
Premises Liability Law in Action
If an accident victim claims that their injuries have been caused by negligence on the part of a property owner, then they are attempting to use their state's premises liability law.
According to Orlow Law, a very serious accident just outside a Virginia gas station convenience store resulted in a woman losing consciousness and suffering from post-concussion syndrome.
She alleged that she had fallen over as a result of a puddle of water that had been spilled on to the ground outside the store from an awning located above the store's entrance.
Because the accident victim had been a very successful businesswoman, and she was no longer able to continue with her job because of an inability to multi-task, the amount claimed was relatively high. The case went to court and she was awarded an amount of $12.2 million by the judge in compensation for her losses.
A Personal Injury Attorney Can Help Make the Claim Process More Successful
Most attempts at trying to persuade a restaurant, store or other property owner to admit that they were responsible for a serious accident are likely to lead to failure or at the most an unsatisfactory offer of compensation. This is where the efforts of an experienced personal injury attorney can make all the difference.
A good attorney can:
- Assess your chances of success
- Suggest what is needed to persuade the court that a property owner was indeed liable
- Help gather important evidence
- Contact useful witnesses, including employees and manager(s) at the location where the accident happened
A successful premises liability claim depends on very thorough prior preparation and convincing evidence if it is to succeed.
Additional Resources
*The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Outback Steakhouse, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
