If you’ve incurred injuries from a slip and fall accident at a Starbucks or any store, you may be entitled to a settlement from the corporation’s insurance company. That settlement may cover medical expenses and other losses, including things like pain and suffering. In cases where a fair settlement is not offered though, a personal injury lawsuit can be filed.
If you have suffered injuries in a slip and fall or some other kind of accident at a coffee shop, you may be able to recover compensation through a personal injury claim. To have a successful claim, you will need to prove that the shop is liable. When you pursue a personal injury claim, you will need to prove that it was negligent, and that will show that they are liable for the damages you suffered.
To show liability, you will need to supply supporting evidence and documentation. Photos of the accident scene, any surveillance videos of the accident if applicable, statements from witnesses, copies of any accident reports, copies of medical bills, copies of medical records, proof of missed work and lost wages, and any other supporting evidence. Maintain thorough documentation that indicates your losses and that helps to show your damages and injuries were the direct result of the slip and fall.
Stores have a duty or a responsibility to maintain safe premises for customers – so that is the first element of negligence. If they failed to address a problem with a rug on the floor, and this problem has existed for several days, then thy have breached that duty. If you trip and fall over that specific rug, then the breach of duty caused an accident. If you broke your arm when you fell, that accident caused by the breach of duty led to damages.
Potential Hazards
Potential slip and fall hazards include:
- Cramped quarters indoors may cause you to trip
- Spilled beverages and food that are not properly cleaned up create slick floors
- Water from sinks and toilets on bathroom floors can cause you to slip
- Many locations feature gravel patches and other uneven ground in outdoor areas which can cause you to lose your footing
Ice and snow can present outdoor hazards, causing slick conditions and uneven walking paths. Water or puddles may form indoors from snow and ice tracked in by patrons, creating slip and fall conditions if not cleaned or clearly marked with “wet floor” signs. Heavy rain may cause similar indoor and outdoor conditions.
What Happens if you Slip and Fall at a Coffee Shop?
If you slipped a cafe or coffee shop, the first and most important thing to do is to make sure you seek medical attention. It's very important to seek treatment from a doctor, so that your injuries can be properly documented. You should then report this accident to the manager to the manager of the store.
Documentation is the key to any claim. Make sure to get any witness statements, take pictures of the exact location of where you slipped, and make sure you remember the events surrounding the fall. Throughout all of this, make sure to have a calm demeanor.
Who is Liable for Your Slip-and-Fall Accident?
Accidents happen for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is how busy each shop is every day. When accidents happen due to the negligence of an employee or manager however, you have a claim for damages.
How To File An Incident Report After A Slip And Fall
If you were injured in a slip and fall at Starbucks, you may want to pursue a personal injury claim against the store. You will need to file an incident report with the Starbucks manager.
When you notify the manager of Starbucks of your fall, they should complete the incident report. You will tell the manager what happened when you slipped fell. You will need to provide specific details about your slip and fall, and, also, about how you were injured and the details of those injuries.
You should provide the store manager with copies of any photos or other evidence and documentation that you have regarding your slip and fall at Starbucks.
This may include witness statements, medical records, medical bills, physician notes, and proof of missed work and lost wages. You will need to show that your injuries were directly related to the slip and fall at Starbucks, and you will also need to show that you suffered losses as a direct result of the slip and fall.
You will need to show your medical expenses and other financial losses for your claim to succeed. Be sure to maintain thorough documentation. Consult with a personal injury lawyer to determine the value of your personal injury claim after a slip and fall at Starbucks.
An attorney can help you gather the evidence that your claim needs to succeed with an accident injury claim against Starbucks. You do have a limited time to pursue a personal injury claim after a slip and fall at Starbucks.
Did They React Quick Enough?
You will need to prove that the staff had time to correct the issue, and that they were negligent because they didn’t take care of the issue in a timely manner. When there is a maintenance issue, or if there is mess that causes hazards, the cafe must either repair or clean up the risk or indicate the problem to warn others, so they don’t suffer an accident.
For example, a wet floor sign must be posted, or that area must be roped off. Like many restaurants, Many coffee shops have surveillance cameras, and that video could be used as evidence to support your personal injury claim.
How how long the hazard existed and if there was enough time for the problem to have been addressed by the team at the coffee shop. This video may be the specific evidence that your claim needs to succeed. Also, witness statements could be helpful with this aspect of your personal injury claim after a slip and fall injury.
You want to be able to prove that it was the negligence of the store and its employees, so you can recover compensation for your damages.
There are several questions that must be answered throughout the lawsuit process:
- Did the store know about the hazard and not act fast enough?
- Did the store knowingly create the hazard?
Getting Help With a Personal Injury Claim
Many claims however take negotiating and an attorney’s assistance can be invaluable. If your personal injury case is less clear or difficult to prove, you may need to proceed to court, in which case a personal injury attorney’s expertise becomes even more important.
Further Reading
If you've been injured, you may want to get started with the process of filing a claim against them.
While it's always a good idea to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer regarding filing a claim, we do have more resources about the process, which you can find here:
*The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Starbucks, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
