Some types of accidents never seem to hit the headlines, yet can be surprisingly common. Slip and fall accidents or trip and fall accidents are actually more common than any other type of accident except for traffic accidents.
What makes them so common is that they can literally happen anywhere. Even a visit to a restaurant can lead to a nasty fall and injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises right through to brain and spinal damage.
Serious injuries can hurt the bank account as much as the body and it is important to clarify with a lawyer if compensation can be arranged if the accident was due to negligence on the part of someone else. Accidents at places like restaurants may be covered by premises liability law and you may be able to make a claim if it can be proved who was liable.
How a Visit to a Steakhouse Could Result in an Accident
Any restaurant can be the scene of an unwanted and potentially serious accident, even a normally well run one. Accidents usually happen when a manager or staff member at the restaurant has not been prioritizing the safety and well-being of their patrons as well as they should.
Injuries From a Slip and Fall Accident
People can survive bad falls if they anticipate what is about to happen. Accidents in places like bars, sit-down restaurants and stores are often more severe than they should be because the accident is likely to be totally unexpected. The worst injuries happen when you fall awkwardly on to your back, or hit your head or another part of the body when falling over. Restaurants often also have hot equipment and people can get burned if they fall over onto something hot.
Most commonly, a slip and fall accident results in minor injuries like cuts and bruises, but it is quite possible to end up with one or more bones broken, joints damaged and even more seriously, spine or brain damage.
Lawsuits May be Necessary After a Serious Injury
If you have been injured in a restaurant slip and fall accident, you may be sure that negligence caused the accident; however, any claim you try and make may have no chance of success unless it can be proven that the injuries were the fault of the owner, manager or one or more of the employees. Typically, it must be shown that a possible dangerous situation was known about and nothing had been done to prevent it, or at least there had been sufficient time to remove the hazard before it caused a problem.
An example of where a successful PI claim could be made is when a plate of food has been dropped on the floor and left unattended for more than half an hour. If a patron slipped over on the food, this could lead to a lawsuit against the restaurant.
Don’t waste Time Negotiating Yourself
Premises liability law, which is the state legislation that covers whether claims against property owners after an accident can go ahead, is not easy for a lay person to fully grasp. Lawyers for the restaurant will make it difficult to prove that the restaurant was liable unless you are able to present clear evidence of who was to blame.
This is where an experienced personal injury lawyer can make all the difference between a claim that leads nowhere and one that is successful. You will need the compensation to get your life back on track, so don’t waste time trying to negotiate by yourself.
*The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Ponderosa Steakhouse, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
