If you were injured in a slip and fall accident at a fast food restaurant, you will need to reach out to our firm today to speak with our experienced Orlando slip and fall accident attorneys.
How do slip and fall accidents happen at fast food restaurants?
Fast food restaurants have more potential dangers than most businesses because of the messy nature of working with food and also its fast-paced environment. Some typical ways that people slip and fall in a fast food restaurant include:
- Fall over debris left on the floor or damaged surfaces in the parking lot
- Slip on a spill near the soda dispenser
- Slip on water or trip over a loose tile in the bathroom
- Trip over an upside-down rug or mat
- Slide on fallen food
It is important to recognize that the above-mentioned causes are not a comprehensive list, and not every indiviudal that slips and falls in a fast food restaurant may be eligible to receive financial compensation for their injuries.
Who can be held responsible for a slip and fall accident in Florida?
If you fall and sustain an injury, you may decide to file a lawsuit against the establishment for which the incident took place. Once you determine your decisions, it is then up to you, the injured party, to establish that the company or employees that are responsible for your injury. This will require proof of liability or negligence.
How do I establish negligence?
The best way to show liability or negligence is by demonstrating that the property owner or manager should have known about the dangerous condition because any reasonable person would know and warn customers in a comparable instance. You may also want to demonstrate that the property owner, manager, or employee caused the dangerous condition and should have reasonably assumed that someone would slip and fall.
The standard for reasonableness is established on how the average, prudent person would handle the situation. Some other aspects that you should think about when trying to figure out if the defendant was negligent include:
- Did the property owner, manager, or employees have a policy that required a routine check of the property for potential hazards? If they did, is there a log to indicate that these requirements were satisfied?
- How was the lighting and visibility in the area where you experienced the fall?
- Did the dangerous condition or obstacle exist long enough that the property owner had more than enough time to take action and remove it?
- Was any warning signage or barrier to prevent access present that could make the dangerous condition less serious?
- Did the property owner or manager have a reasonable excuse for creating the hazard? If they did, is there a reason for how long it was there?
Establishing liability in a slip-and-fall case is not easy. The first response of the property owner is usually to argue that you are either fully or partially responsible for the incident. The burden to prove otherwise is your responsibility.
Contact our experienced Orlando firm
If you or someone you know was injured in an accident and wishes to schedule a consultation, please do not hesitate to contact Attorney Schmitt of the Florida Personal Injury Law Team today.
