Whether you are on vacation or a full-time resident of the Outer Banks of North Carolina when going out to eat at a restaurant, you go out for different reasons. Sometimes it’s because no one wants to cook and it’s convenient. Sometimes you are going for social purposes. Sometimes you just go because you enjoy the food that the restaurant serves. For whatever reason you go to a restaurant, you don’t go with the expectation that you are at risk of injury. However, there are risks that you don’t consider when going out to eat.
There is always a risk of slip and fall injuries at a restaurant. There are beverages and foods being served constantly. At any point that a drink gets spilled onto the floor or a waiter drops a trey of food, there is a potential injury waiting to happen. It is the restaurant’s responsibility to clean up these messes and keep their floors dry to prevent slips and resulting injuries, but the restaurant cannot be aware of all spills at all times. This makes it critically important for those eating out at a restaurant to make their server aware of any spills that have reached the floor in walking areas. This simple action can prevent unnecessary injury.
Also, many of the dishes that are used at restaurants are made of glass or porcelain type materials. These materials can shatter if they hit the floor and create a mess that is difficult to clean up completely. Tiny shards of glass and porcelain can be hard to find and end up remaining on the floor long after the mishap. This creates the clear risk of someone stepping on these small, sharp pieces and cutting their foot. If you are wearing shoes, you are not likely to be at a high risk of injury but those wearing sandals or flip-flops, especially while on vacation on the beach, easily expose parts of the feet and should be careful.
It is true that injuries in restaurants don’t occur very often. In fact, usually our experience at a restaurant is pain free. However, risks do exist that can cause serious injury. Restaurants have the responsibility to keep their customers safe from these injury risks. This is referred to as premises liability. If you have been a victim of an injury at a restaurant, you might be able to seek compensation for your injuries. You should get information on your legal rights and fight for the money that you deserve
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, as well as the Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY, who handle car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more.
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