Slip and Falls in Restaurants

There are thousands of restaurants throughout South Florida, offering everything from fine dining to fast food. Regardless of the type of food that a dining establishment offers, diners expect to enjoy their meals in a safe environment. Unfortunately, though, many people are injured in slip and falls in restaurants each year. People hurt in accidents on property can often recover damages, and it is prudent for them to seek legal counsel regarding their rights. The skilled Boca Raton slip and fall attorneys at The Grife Law Firm are proficient at helping people hurt in falls seek damages for their harm, and if you were injured in a slip and fall accident, we can gather the evidence needed to provide you with a strong chance of a good result. We regularly assist people in slip and fall cases throughout South Florida.

Since restaurants serve food and beverages, they are more likely than many other businesses to have slippery substances on the floor. Customers or servers may spill drinks, and if they are not cleaned up before a customer encounters them, they can lead to an accident. Similarly, food on the ground can make it slick and cause a person to lose his or her footing and fall. In some instances, the process of cleaning a floor may make it slippery. If restaurant workers do not place signs warning customers of the potentially dangerous condition, they may subsequently slip and fall and suffer injuries. If rain is brought into a restaurant by customers or leaks through a doorway, it can cause unsafe conditions as well.

When people slip, their feet usually go out from under them, and when they subsequently fall, their bodies may strike the ground. Thus, many people involved in slip and fall accidents suffer fractures, concussions, lacerations, muscle and joint sprains and strains, and other significant harm. In many cases, slip and fall accidents are preventable, and restaurant owners that fail to maintain their premises in a safe condition can be held accountable for harm suffered due to their carelessness.

Typically, a person injured in an accident at a restaurant will assert a negligence claim against the owner of the business. In general terms, a plaintiff in a Florida lawsuit must prove that the defendant had a duty to act in a certain manner, a breach of the duty occurred, and harm directly resulted from the breach. In the specific context of a premises liability claim, a plaintiff usually must prove his or her legal status on the property at the time of the harm suffered to establish the duty owed. A business owner has an obligation to prevent people who are lawfully on their property from suffering foreseeable injuries. In other words, they must remove any harmful conditions and must warn people entering the property of known dangers.

In cases involving slip and fall accidents caused by temporary hazards, such as food or liquid, plaintiffs face an additional burden of proof. Specifically, pursuant to Florida Statute 768.0755, if a transient substance caused a fall, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant either knew or should have known of its presence. To prove that a defendant had constructive knowledge of food or liquid on the floor, the plaintiff must show either that the condition regularly occurred at the defendant’s business and was therefore foreseeable, or that it existed for so long that if the defendant had exercised ordinary care, it would have learned of the hazard.

Restaurant owners have a duty to protect their customers from known risks, including falls caused by spilled drinks or other hazards. People who were injured in slip and falls in restaurants should meet with a lawyer to understand their rights. At The Grife Law Firm, our seasoned Boca Raton attorneys are adept at proving that negligent business owners should be held accountable for harm suffered on their property. We have an office in Boca Raton, and we also assist injured people in lawsuits in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and West Palm Beach. You can reach us through our online form or at 855-998-0770 to set up a consultation.