Slip and Fall Liability: Holding a Restaurant Responsible for Your Injuries

According to the National Safety Council, slip and fall accidents are one of the leading causes of injuries every year in the United States and resulted in 8.9 million emergency room visits in 2009 alone. While the elderly are the most prone age group at risk of a slip and fall accident, a slip and fall can happen to anyone, and a lawyer can help victims assign slip and fall liability to negligent land owners.

While some slip and fall accidents don’t cause the victim any serious harm, others can be traumatic or even deadly. When a slip and fall occurs in a restaurant, the restaurant may be held liable for any injuries incurred. If you had a slip and fall accident, you need the help of a legal professional.

Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

A slip and fall accident is usually caused by an unsafe walking area or property hazard. Some common causes of slip and fall accidents include wet or slippery surfaces, lack of handrails on stairs, uneven surfaces, objects or other obstructions along the walking path, torn or damaged carpet, loose mats, and poor lighting.

In most cases, the hazards that cause slip and fall accidents are preventable. Unfortunately, a restaurant does not always take slip and fall responsibility seriously, and proper precautions are ignored.

Injuries from a Slip and Fall Accident

Those who experience a slip and fall accident are at risk of sustaining an injury, especially those who are elderly. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the most common complications arising from slip and falls include death, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, and bone breaks or fractures. Hip fractures are one of the most serious – as well as one of the most costly – fall-related fractures. Sprains and strains also can occur as a result as a slip and fall, and so can serious lacerations.

If you’ve sustained a serious injury as a result of a slip and fall accident, the person responsible for your injury needs to be held liable. This is most often accomplished by suing a restaurant.

Restaurant Liability in a Slip and Fall Accident

According to Colorado code C.R.S. section 12-21-115, a person can recover damages for an injury sustained on a property if the property owner’s “unreasonable failure to exercise reasonable care” was the cause of the accident. As such, if your injury was caused because the restaurant didn’t act responsibly by taking actions against a known hazard – such as a slippery surface – then the restaurant may be held liable for your injuries.

In order to prove that the restaurant acted irresponsibly or negligently in its fall responsibility for your accident, you’ll have to prove that the restaurant knew of the hazard and should have acted reasonably in order to prevent the hazard from causing a person harm. In order to do this, an attorney can help.

If the restaurant is found liable for your accident in a civil suit, you may be able to recover damages in the form of medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.

Speak with a Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Today!

When a slip and fall accident occurs in a restaurant that causes serious or permanent injuries, someone needs to be held responsible for the trip and fall liability. If the restaurant was to blame, then you may be able to recover compensation. To fight for your rights as an accident victim, make sure that your case is handled fairly.

At the Law Office of D.J. Banovitz, we know how frustrating and intimidating taking on a company – like a restaurant – can be. We’re here to guide you through the process and provide you with more information about the law. In fact, you can start learning more today with our free eBook Seven Costly Mistakes that Can Ruin Your Colorado Injury Case. To get started, call us at 303-300-5060.