We have all come across a standalone ice machine or one that is part of a self-serving soda fountain. You can also find ice machines in hotels if you want to cool down a drink or keep it cold. These machines are easy enough to use: just push a cup or other container against a lever, and out comes the ice.
People don’t usually think of an accident while they are using an ice machine, but unfortunately, a defective unit that leaks water can put people at risk of a slip and fall. People can also slip on ice if there is a problem with the machine that causes it to dump out too much ice, which inevitably ends up on the floor. But even if there isn’t anything wrong with the ice machine, customers often overfill their cup and simply let the ice fall on to the floor. As a result, someone can slip on water due to melting ice or on the pieces of ice.
Slip and fall accidents are extremely common, and wet floors is the leading cause of why people fall down at a commercial property and end up with catastrophic injuries. This is why it’s essential to maintain and repair an ice machine on the premises, or post warning signs and safety barriers to keep people away from the machine. Slip and falls from a broken ice machine can happen in many places, including:
- Restaurants
- Cafes
- Convenience stores
- Supermarkets / grocery stores
- Hotels / motels
As an injury victim, you should obtain legal advice from a lawyer with experience in fall accident injury cases. Contact Normandie Law Firm and receive a free consultation if you would like to learn more about your rights and legal options.
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Common Slip and Fall Injuries
Millions of people end up in emergency rooms every year because they fell down from slipping on something. Hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and need surgery and other expensive treatments to recover from the harm they suffered. Here are some examples of common injuries resulting from a slip and fall:
- Bone fractures
- Broken hip
- Knee dislocation
- Shoulder or collarbone fracture
- Concussion and other forms of traumatic brain injury
- Tearing of muscles, ligaments, and tendons
- Tailbone fracture
- Spinal cord damage
- Neck and back injury
- Broken teeth and other dental damage
Suing for a Broken Ice Machine Slip and Fall Accident
Considering the injuries we stated in the previous section, it’s clear that a slip and fall can devastate your health, as well as your finances. However, you have the right to demand monetary compensation from the owner of the property where you were injured.
The law of premises liability dictates that owners of residential or commercial properties take care of issues that can cause injury to others. Normally, this is done through cleaning and maintenance, like arranging for a broken ice machine to be repaired. In the meantime, Out of Order signs and safety barrier around any spills are sensible ways to prevent someone from hurting themselves.
In order to sue the property owner for a slip and fall, you must prove:
- You had a legitimate reason to be on the property, so you were owed a duty of care by the owner.
- The owner (defendant) neglected their duty to maintain the premises, i.e., failure to fix a broken ice machine or failed to put warning signs that are clearly visible to guests and visitors.
- The defendant’s negligence caused an accident where you were injured.
- Your injuries resulted in monetary losses, and therefore, you have the right to seek compensation from the defendant.
By filing a slip and fall claim, you can seek payment for damages, like medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and property damage. For more information on how you can sue a business for a slip and fall accident, contact our office as soon as possible.
Average Settlement Value of a Slip and Fall Lawsuit
Slip and fall lawsuit values can fluctuate significantly from one case to another, so it’s possible for one victim to end up with $15,000 while someone else received over $2,000,000. Due to the severity of injuries associated with trip and fall and slip and fall accidents, settlement values are often in the neighborhood of $125,000 to $1,000,000, but ultimately, there is no such thing as an average slip and fall injury case value.
How Long Does a Slip and Fall Case Take to Settle?
Defective or broken ice machine accidents are common occurrences in commercial settings, and these cases usually take between 8 and 12 months to settle. If you have particularly serious injuries that will permanently compromise your personal and professional life, it can take up to 2 years before a settlement is negotiated. If there is no way to reach a fair settlement with the other side, we will ask for a trial date and prepare to present your case in court. However, there is still a chance that your case will be settled, even if a trial date is arranged. In fact, only around of 5% of lawsuits for a slip and fall actually end up in court.
What is the Time Limit to File a Broken Ice Machine Slip and Fall Claim?
A liability claim for negligence that leads to a slip and fall must be filed within 2 years. So, starting from the date of your accident, you have 2 years to sue the business / property owner for monetary damages, like pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages. Once you are past the 2-year mark, it will be extremely difficult to file a lawsuit, as you will need to obtain an extension from the court. Most people do not meet the eligibility requirements for an extension, so it’s in your best interest to initiate a water due to melting ice slip and fall claim as soon as possible.
The Slip and Fall Lawyers of Normandie
Over the last several decades, we have built a solid reputation of going after negligent property owners and recovering compensation on behalf of fall accident injury victims. You can depend on us to fight for your interests and bring you the highest possible settlement from a slip and fall lawsuit.
Our Zero Fee Guarantee ensures you pay $0 to hire us and pursue a compensation claim against the party that injured you. We add the cost of attorney’s fees to the settlement you are owed, and as a result, we only get paid by winning your case.
Please take a moment to contact our law firm and schedule a time to speak with a melting ice slip and fall injury lawyer.
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