Restaurants have a duty to provide a safe environment for their customers. If someone slips over on a wet floor in a restaurant and is injured, he or she may have good grounds for claiming compensation from the restaurant management or owners. For example, if you are in a fast food restaurant and slip over on a greasy or wet surface and hit your head, you should claim compensation for the damage the accident does to your head and face.
A successful claim can help pay all medical bills that you should not have to pay yourself. Other important components of a personal injury claim are compensation for lost wages or other earnings, pain and suffering experienced, as well as punitive damages in some cases where it can be shown that extreme negligence has led to your injury.
How a Slip and Fall Accident Could Occur
Most slip and fall accidents occur because the floor is exceptionally slippery. Normally, fast food restaurants have floor surfaces that are easy to clean, with no carpets, but smooth linoleum or other similar surfaces. These smooth surfaces are certainly easy to maintain but can become dangerously slippery if even a small amount of water or other liquids fall on to the floor.
It’s not always easy to keep an eye on the floor all the time because you may be balancing a tray of food or avoiding other customers. One step on a recently cleaned patch of floor or a pool of spilled coffee or tomato sauce and over you go. Unexpected slip and fall accidents can be potentially dangerous as they usually happen by surprise, catching the accident victim off guard.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
Successful claims depend on submitting quite a lot of documentation at the same time as the demand letter to the restaurant's insurer. Important items to include are proof of how the accident happened and why you think it was the fault of the restaurant.
This is where any eye witnesses can be crucial evidence in support of your claim. Insurers will not touch a claim unless there is evidence of negligence on behalf of their clients.
Also, you will need to justify the amount you are claiming. Supply bills and invoices for all medical treatment, alternative transport if you are too injured to drive safely, as well as a letter from your employer confirming how much you will have lost in earnings.
It’s Advisable to Use a Personal Injury Lawyer
It can be harder than you think making a claim for compensation against a major corporation. It is not advisable to try and negotiate a settlement all by yourself as insurers are used to dealing with claims and know how to challenge them.
It is best to talk to an experienced personal injury attorney before you file a claim to make sure you are doing the right thing. Complete the Free Case Evaluation today!
Additional Resources
- Do I Need a Lawyer to Settle My Slip and Fall Personal Injury Claim?
- Filing a Slip and Fall Personal Injury Claim after an Accident at KFC*
*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 KFC, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
