The average restaurant hides dozens of slip and fall risks

Before you’re hurt, you probably didn’t think of restaurants as potentially dangerous places. However, there are many risks that can create significant slip and fall hazards.

If you’ve been hurt in a restaurant slip and fall accident, then your time to file a claim is limited. Therefore, it is important to learn what may have caused your accident, when the restaurant owner may be responsible for paying your damages, and what you can do to protect your rights.

Common Causes of Restaurant Slip and Falls

A slip and fall can happen in many different ways, including when there are:

  • Spilled food or drinks.
  • Wet bathroom floors.
  • Poorly maintained entranceways and parking lots.
  • Uneven sidewalks.
  • Ice on sidewalks or entryways.
  • Poorly placed floor displays.
  • Electrical cords in walking areas.
  • Poorly placed furniture.
  • Damaged or uneven flooring.
  • Torn carpet.
  • Poor lighting.

Any of these things can result in a fall and serious injuries.

But Is the Restaurant Liable?

A restaurant has a duty to ensure the safety of its customers. Premises should be kept well maintained, and any needed repairs should be done in a timely manner. If a repair can’t be made quickly, then warning signs should be put up to notify people of a potential hazard.

Restaurant owners who knew or should have known about potential slip and fall hazards may be responsible for paying the damages of a restaurant customer who is hurt in a fall. Ultimately, financial responsibility and legal liability will depend on:

  • What caused the fall.
  • Where the fall occurred.
  • Whether the restaurant knew or should have known about the danger.
  • What you were doing when you fell.

If the restaurant owner is liable for your injuries, then you may be able to recover compensation for your past and future medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other damages.

First You Will Have to Prove Liability

Not all slip and falls are caused by negligence. It is up to you to prove that the property owner or manager knew about or should have known about the dangerous condition and that he didn’t take the appropriate precautions to protect your safety. You and your attorney will need to provide the documents necessary to support your Wisconsin slip and fall injury claim.

Information that will help support your claim includes:

  • The time and day of the accident.
  • Names and contact information for any witnesses.
  • Photographs of the scene.
  • The name and address of the ambulance company that took you to the hospital.
  • The name of the hospital where you were treated and the name of the doctor who treated you.
  • Contact information for all doctors who treated your injury.
  • Photographs of your injury.
  • Medical records.
  • Copies of medical bills.
  • Receipts for medication or medical devices.
  • A calendar marked with the days you missed work because of your injury.
  • Your health insurance information.
  • Any letters or emails from the business.
  • Any letters or emails from the insurance company.
  • The name and contact information for any insurance adjusters that you have spoken to about your injury.

If your slip and fall accident and injury were caused by the negligence of another, you should not have to pay for your damages. It can be hard to gather all the information needed to protect your claim, but a lawyer can help. Contact the Wisconsin slip and fall attorneys at Hupy & Abraham at 800-800-5678 and ask to schedule a free consultation to learn more about protecting your rights and possible recovery.

Jason F. Abraham
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Helping car accident and personal injury victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa since 1993.