Injured in a Florida Restaurant: Who is Liable?

In general, property owners can be held liable for accidents and injuries that occur on their premises. This is especially true of restaurant owners, who have a duty to keep their customers safe from foreseeable harm. If you’ve been injured in a Florida restaurant, the first step is to determine who is at fault.

There are many potential sources of liability in a restaurant injury case. However, due to the sometimes complicated nature of businesses, determining who is ultimately responsible for your injuries can be difficult. Baker Legal Team can help you with any questions you may have if you were injured in a Florida restaurant.

Common Injuries Sustained in Restaurants

Restaurants and businesses in general are subject to a unique scope of liability simply for the fact that having employees, as well as vendors and strangers coming and going, creates an environment ripe for potential accidents and injuries. Some of the most common personal injuries that occur in restaurants include:

• Burns from hot food or drinks
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Allergic reactions or food poisoning

Additionally, due to the equipment in restaurants, some owners may find themselves in the middle of a lawsuit surrounding a defective product. For example, if a customer is injured by a defective chair or table, the restaurant owner may be held liable if it can be proven that they were aware of the defect and did nothing to correct it.

However, the product manufacturer could be held liable as well, especially if they did not inform their customers of the defect. There are many possible sources of liability in a restaurant injury case, which can make it difficult to determine who is ultimately responsible for your injuries.

What to Do if You’ve Been Injured in a Restaurant

If you or someone you love has been injured in a restaurant, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. Once you have been seen by a doctor and your injuries have been treated, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your case.

Immediately following the accident, you may be pressured by the insurance company or business owner to submit a recorded statement or sign a release of liability. You should never do this without first consulting with an attorney, as these statements can be used against you later and could jeopardize your case.

Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind that you have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit in the state of Florida. This is known as the statute of limitations, and if you fail to file your case within this time frame, you will be barred from doing so and will not be able to recover compensation for your injuries. In most cases, the statute of limitations for a personal injury case in Florida is four years.

How Liability is Determined

An experienced personal injury lawyer will know how to investigate your claim, interview witnesses, review surveillance footage (if available), and gather all of the evidence necessary to prove that the responsible party is held liable for your injuries. In order to do this, they will need to prove that the party either caused your accident or knew about a dangerous condition on their property and did nothing to fix it.

Proving liability in a restaurant injury case can be complicated, but an experienced personal injury lawyer will know how to build a strong case and help you prove that the restaurant owner is liable for your injuries.

What Damages Can You Recover in a Restaurant Injury Case?

If you’ve been injured in a restaurant, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. Sometimes, though quite rare, you may be able to recover a form of compensation known as punitive damages. Punitive damages were developed to punish defendants who acted with gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

Recovering non-economic damages is also a possibility. Non-economic damages in personal injury lawsuits can be more difficult to quantify than economic damages, but may still be recoverable. These types of damages might include pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of quality of life.

The amount of compensation that you’re entitled to will depend on the severity of your injuries as well as the facts of your case. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to evaluate your case and give you a better idea of what kind of compensation you may be entitled to.

Speak to a Restaurant Injury Liability Lawyer in Florida Today

While it is never a good idea to try to handle a personal injury claim with a business’ insurance company on your own, it is especially important to avoid doing so in a personal injury case. The reason for this is that these cases can be quite complex, and the insurance company will likely try to take advantage of you if you’re not represented by an experienced lawyer.

At Baker Legal Team, our personal injury lawyers have years of experience handling restaurant injury cases and know how to build a strong case on your behalf. We offer a free initial consultation, so you can have your case evaluated by an experienced lawyer without any obligation. To schedule a free consultation, call us at (561) 320-0000 or contact us online today.