With over 107 locations spread across a hundred cities in California, residents and travelers are never far from an Applebee’s restaurant. And with the company headquarters in Glendale, CA, the chain is a bit of a hometown or home-state favorite. So if you are craving the popular American cuisine that keeps Applebee’s a favorite across the country, you might want to get there early during the lunch or dinner rush.
And regardless of the time of day or evening you arrive for a meal, snack, or to catch up with friends during happy hour, be sure to watch for the many slip and fall safety hazards typically found in Applebee’s locations. Of course, the threats are far more pronounced during rush or heavy traffic periods. But sadly, they still exist even when guests are few and the staff appear bored with nothing to do.
From slips of food and water on the floor to trash or floor mats that need just a second of attention, the slip and fall safety concerns never seem to get the attention they need until it is too late. And by that time, a poor unsuspecting guest has suffered a nasty Applebee’s slip and fall incident and could be facing months of pain and slow healing.
If you were also one of the innocent victims of an Applebee’s slip and fall injury accident, the team at Normandie Law Firm is here to help. Our staff is available 24/7 to provide the answers and guidance you need as you decide how to move forward as a slip and fall injury victim. We even offer a free consultation with an Applebee’s slip and fall attorney to ensure you understand your rights and what is involved in undertaking an Applebee’s injury accident lawsuit. So please get in touch with our office today to begin to sort out this challenging and possibly costly experience.
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Slip And Fall Hazards In Applebee’s
When you head to Applebee’s for a meal, snack, or beverage, the last thing you are thinking about is a list of slip and fall hazards you might encounter. However, that is often why many victims are shocked after suffering such an unfortunate and often preventable incident. Maybe society places too much faith in the dedication of the staff at these restaurants, or perhaps most people are simply unaware of the typical slip and fall dangers that could be lurking at any Applebee’s location. The concerns often begin the moment you walk in the door and continue as you move through the restaurant, and can include:
- Missing or saturated floor mats at the door allow water to be tracked in and create a significant slip and fall hazard
- Damage or folded floor mats that create trip and fall and slip and fall hazards
- Damp floors that were recently mopped but did not have any caution signs warning guests of the need for more caution and care when walking on wet flooring
- Water spilled from a mop bucket that was ignored
- Food or drink spills that have not been correctly or quickly cleaned up
- Puddles of water or other liquid due to leaking coolers, refrigerators, water lines, or other equipment
- Water on the floor near the washroom due to clogged sink drains flooding the floor, toilets overflowing, or water splashed out of the sink and tracked into the often poorly lit hallway leading to the washroom area
- Trash, paper, or debris left on the floor
Water on the floor and other obstacles in walking areas are undoubtedly the most significant hazard to guest safety in an Applebee’s restaurant. But the more disturbing part of the scenario is that these hazards are typically very simple to eliminate or mark as a hazard to avoid a customer suffering a slip and fall. However, the essential factor in eliminating these slip and fall hazards is ensuring that the staff takes proper action when a risk is created or discovered.
Instead of stepping over trash on the floor or ignoring slipped water or drinks, team members must own the issue and ensure that it is quickly cleaned up or marked as a safety hazard. While many servers do not realize it, eliminating these dangers is a part of their job and the restaurant’s responsibility, under premises liability.
Understanding Premises Liability And Duty Of Care
You might not be aware of the sections of the law that dictate the responsibilities of business and property owners related to guest safety. But the Applebee’s slip and fall attorneys are very well versed in these laws because they are often used to determine if a restaurant like Applebee’s is liable for the injury suffered during a slip and fall on their property.
The basis of premises liability is that property and business owners have an obligation to maintain the property in a safe condition. The guideline for this condition includes maintaining the space to a level consistent with what the average person would deem safe. When the area is allowed to fall into disrepair, or there are known safety hazards that are not eliminated or corrected, the property or business owner is said to be in breach of duty of care. In short, they fail to meet their obligation to guests and the public.
When the result of that breach of duty of care is a guest being injured, there is a good possibility that the business or property owner could be liable for the victim’s injuries and losses. As you discuss your slip and fall incident with a Normandie Law Firm Applebee’s slip and fall attorney, they will work to determine if negligence by the Applebee’s staff was the cause of your injuries. This information will decide if your case has legal merit and if an Applebee’s injury accident lawsuit is justified.
How Much Is An Applebee’s Injury Accident Lawsuit Worth?
The value of each personal injury lawsuit will vary based on the actual expenses and losses of the victim. In an Applebee’s slip and fall lawsuit, there are several costs and losses that could be included in the claim. Your Normandie Law Firm team will help you gather the items that fall into these categories:
- Medical bills for injuries sustained in the slip and fall
- Lost wages if the injuries prevented you from working
- Legal fees for the lawsuit
- The replacement value for any personal property damaged or destroyed in your Applebee’s slip and fall
It is also common to add a dollar amount to represent the pain and suffering you endured due to the injuries you sustained. This amount is roughly based on the severity of your injuries and the time needed to recover. Your Normandie Law Firm Applebee’s slip and fall attorney has extensive experience in assigning a dollar amount appropriate for your injuries and ensures that you are fully and fairly compensated for all that you have dealt with due to the Applebee’s slip and fall incident.
Common Applebee’s Slip And Fall Injuries
There are no absolutes in life. So it is unfair to assume that all slip and fall injuries are severe. However, it is safe to say that many are far more serious than you might think. For every victim who suffers only bruises or minor abrasions, another is experiencing one or more of the following severe slip and fall injuries:
- Dislocated joints or damage to the connective tissue in the joint
- Broken or fractured bones
- Soft tissue damage, including nerve damage
- Puncture wounds or severe lacerations
- Injuries to the back, neck, or spinal cord
- Facial injuries to the eyes, ear, nose, mouth, teeth, or skin
- Head wounds, including a concussion, skull fracture, brain hemorrhage, or traumatic brain injury
These injuries could be life-altering and require months of costly medical treatment. In the worst cases, victims never fully recover and must manage disabilities or limitations for the rest of their lives. These victims are also likely to suffer financial hardships, increased stress levels, anxiety, and depression as they battle to regain their independence and restore their quality of life.
When To File An Applebee’s Injury Accident Lawsuit
As a personal injury victim, you have two years from the date of the Applebee’s slip and fall incident to file a lawsuit against Applebee’s. If you do not have the claim filed with the court in that time, you will often lose your right to seek compensation for your losses or injuries. However, you can file sooner if that is the best way to relieve the financial hardship your injuries have created. The staff at Normandie Law Firm will work diligently to ensure that your case is prepared and filed as quickly as you would like to best meet your needs.
Never Any Upfront Legal Fees
At Normandie Law Firm, we believe that charging upfront legal fees only limits a victim’s ability to get the legal services and expertise they need when they need them the most. So we are proud to provide our services with no upfront payment required. We only get paid after getting the settlement or verdict needed to pay your legal bill and other expenses. And you owe us nothing if we fail to win your case and secure the compensation you deserve.
So please get in touch with Normandie Law Firm today to discuss your incident and injuries with an Applebee’s slip and fall attorney.
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