Everyone loves going out to eat, but few things are worse than when a fun night out of the house ends in the emergency room. Unfortunately, restaurants are actually fairly dangerous due to hot moving food and beverages, crowded dining rooms, tripping hazards, possible food poisoning, raucous guests, and more. If you or a loved one have suffered an injury at an Atlanta restaurant, you may be wondering if you have any legal options available to you. The good news is, you may. If your injury was caused by the negligence or recklessness of the restaurant or staff, then the restaurant can be held liable for any harm that occurred as a result.
What is the Most Common Restaurant Injury in Georgia?
The type of accidents and injuries that can occur at restaurants is virtually limitless, however, the most common cause of injury at restaurants is undoubtedly slip-and-fall accidents. These slips and falls can be caused by spilled food or beverages on the floor, floors that are overly wet from mopping or cleaning, uneven sidewalks outside of the restaurant, uneven floors, carpeting, or tiles inside of the restaurant, and tripping over servers, patrons, or debris. These injuries can have serious consequences. Slip-and-fall accidents can result in traumatic brain injuries, broken and fractured bones, and even death. Depending on the severity of the accident, these injuries can also be very costly to recover from, as they may require ongoing physical therapy and rehabilitative care. The majority of slip-and-fall accidents at restaurants happen on uneven sidewalks or parking lots outside of the restaurant.
When is an Atlanta Restaurant Negligent for Injuries?
Determining whether a restaurant was negligent or reckless is a premises liability issue in Georgia. In Georgia, a restaurant has a legal duty to keep its premises safe or to warn customers of a specific danger if they are unable to remedy it. This means that if a patron slips and falls on a spilled drink at a restaurant, the restaurant is not automatically liable. Rather, in order to establish that the restaurant is liable, the patron must show that the restaurant caused the spill, knew about the spill and failed to clean it up, or should have known about the spill. If any one of these three conditions can be met, then the restaurant may be held liable for a slip that resulted due to the spill. Likewise, a restaurant does not have to have perfectly even sidewalks or floors, but if it cannot remedy the hazard, it must clearly warn of it. If there is a step down into a restaurant, there should be a sign clearly warning you to watch your step. In the absence of an attempt to remedy the hazard or warn of it, though, the restaurant will be liable for any harm that occurs.
Talk to an Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been injured in a restaurant, you do not have to navigate the process alone. The experienced Atlanta personal injury attorneys at Durham Law Group are ready to fight for you. Our lawyers will review the unique facts and circumstances of your case to determine the best path to recovery, and will fight to get you the highest compensation that you are entitled to. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
