Slip and Fall in a Restaurant or Bar
Slips and falls are some of the most common accidents that occur in Colorado Springs and across the state. Data from the Centers for Disease Control shows that there were more than 10.5 million emergency room visits nationwide because of fall-related injuries during a recent year. Many of these injuries were likely the result of a slip and fall at a restaurant or bar.
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident at a bar or restaurant, I can help you pursue fair compensation for your injuries. I am a Colorado Springs slip-and-fall lawyer with more than 18 years of experience helping victims get the money they need. I will work tirelessly to prove the owner of the restaurant or bar was negligent in their duties and owes you compensation for your injuries.
Don’t wait to speak to an experienced slip-and-fall accident attorney. Get a free initial consultation by calling my office in Colorado Springs or visiting my contact page.
Common Causes of Restaurant and Bar Slips and Falls
With high volume foot traffic and people carrying food and drinks through a crowded environment, restaurants and bars are prime locations for slip-and-fall accidents. Some of the most common causes of slips and falls in bars and restaurants include:
- Spilled food or drinks on the floor
- Wet floors in the bathroom
- Sidewalks outside the restaurant or bar that are uneven
- Entranceways or parking lots that are poorly maintained
- Rain or ice on the sidewalks or entryways
- Floor displays that are poorly placed
- Stray electrical cords in walking areas
- Damaged flooring
- Uneven carpeting
- Poor lighting
Any of these factors could cause a slip-and-fall accident in a bar or restaurant, but they’re not the only potential causes of an accident. If you slipped and fell due to negligence on the part of a bar employee, manager, owner, or another responsible party, you could be owed significant compensation.
What to Do After a Restaurant Slip and Fall
Here are the steps you should take after a slip-and-fall accident in a restaurant or bar:
Speak to a Manager
You’ll want a record of the accident if you want to recover any compensation for your injuries. So be sure to notify the manager of the restaurant or bar after a slip-and-fall accident. Make sure to file a written report about the accident and include as much detail as possible. Without a written report about a slip-and-fall accident, it can be much more difficult to prove the accident happened and who might be responsible.
Document the Scene and Your Injuries
Especially in a busy, crowded bar or restaurant, it can be challenging to obtain evidence of an accident after the initial fall. So, take some time before leaving the scene to document what happened and your injuries. Take pictures of the area where the accident occurred, the surrounding environment, and anything that might have contributed to the accident (spilled food or drinks, stray cords, wet bathroom floors, etc.). If any surveillance cameras recorded what happened, make a note of them for future reference.
Talk to Witnesses
One key piece of evidence in many slip-and-fall accident claims is testimony from third-party eyewitnesses. This makes sense, as an objective witness can provide additional details about an accident and may seem more credible because they do not have anything to gain. So, before you leave the scene of the accident, be sure to get the names and contact information from anyone who may have seen what happened.
Seek Medical Attention
A back injury, blow to the head, or another injury in a slip-and-fall case could be serious, especially if it’s not treated quickly. So be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible after a slip-and-fall accident to see if you have any serious injuries. If you’ve sustained an obvious injury in a slip and fall, you might be better off calling 911 and being taken to a hospital rather than waiting to visit a doctor on your own.
Contact a Slip and Fall Lawyer
To seek fair compensation for your injuries after a slip-and-fall accident, it is a good idea to contact a premises liability attorney in Colorado Springs as soon as possible. Colorado’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of your injury. Key evidence could be cleaned up, moved, or destroyed soon after your accident. Hiring a slip-and-fall attorney right away after you slipped in a restaurant or bar gives your attorney time to help you maximize the value of your claim for compensation.
Possible Compensation for Injuries
Premises liability law states that business owners have a responsibility to watch out for possible hazards on their property and either address these hazards quickly or make sure any guests are appropriately warned. If a business owner does not meet these standards and you’re injured as a result, you may be able to seek compensation against the negligent property owner.
Under Colorado’s restaurant premises liability laws, you could potentially recover compensation for things like:
- Reimbursement for medical bills you incurred due to the accident, including the cost of future care you might need
- Your missed wages as a result of the accident, as well as your reduced capacity to earn a living in the future
- The physical pain and suffering caused by your injuries
- The emotional pain and diminished quality of life you’ve experienced as a result of your injuries
Contact a Colorado Springs Attorney for Help After a Slip and Fall Accident in a Restaurant or Bar
Don’t wait until it is too late to get the justice you deserve. You can get a free case review today by calling my Colorado Springs office at (719) 635-1245 or filling out my online contact form. I’ll be ready to discuss your case and your legal options, so call now.