A billiard hall, also known as a pool hall, is a type of establishment where people gather to play pool and other cue sports. Some places also have arcade games, slot machines, dart boards, and even bowling alleys. Pool halls are a great source of amusement, whether you’re alone or with friends. However, these places also have a reputation for accidents and serious injuries due to a variety of unsafe conditions. For example, people can trip on objects on the floor and injure themselves by falling down. People can also be assaulted, whether it’s inside the billiard room or out in the parking area.
Owners of residential and commercial properties in California are bound by the law of premises liability. This means they are generally responsible when someone is injured due to a hazard on their property. However, accidents victims must prove that negligence by the owner of the pool hall is the reason they were harmed. This is a challenging task, and it’s in your best interest to find a billiard and pool hall accident injury lawyer as soon as possible. If you’re interested in learning about your rights and legal options, contact Normandie Law Firm and schedule a free case evaluation.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$1.1 Million
$1.5 Million
$600,000
$525,000
$734,851
Billiard and Pool Hall Location Accidents
Pool halls are places where people go to unwind and socialize with others. Unfortunately, failure to take basic measures, like cleaning, making repairs, and having adequate security may cause you to be injured from one of these accidents:
- Trip and falls
– People can trip on billiard balls, raised carpeting, alcohol bottles on the floor, loose wires, and many other hazards at a pool hall. If there are repairs or renovations going on, people can also trip on tools and step ladders that are not put away. Tripping at a billiard hall is especially dangerous, as people can fall on a variety of objects, like darts, glass bottles, and pool tables. This is likely to cause additional injuries to the head, torso, and other parts of the body.
- Slip and falls
– Floors at pool halls are often slippery or sticky, whether it’s from spilled beer or lack of cleaning by the employees. Aside from the removal of conditions that can make people slip, failure to place Wet Floor signs around a freshly mopped area can also cause injuries from a slip and fall.
- Assault and battery
– Assault and batter in pool rooms can happen between customers, or customer and employees. Alcohol is a contributing factor in these incidents, as tempers can flare when people have had too much to drink. But lack of security measures, including failure to remove disruptive and overly intoxicated patrons, can also lead to incidents of physical and sexual assault.
Liability for an Accident at a Billiard Hall
Clearly, customers do have a degree of responsibility when it comes to preventing injuries to themselves. At a pool hall, for example, you have to make sure that no one is behind you when you are getting ready to strike a ball with your pool cue. It’s also up to you to control your drinking and ensure that you are not a potential threat to others.
On the other hand, business owners also have a duty to prevent accidents on their property. For example, a billiard hall requires constant cleaning and maintenance to ensure that someone doesn’t fall from slipping on the floor. Surveillance cameras, not overserving alcohol, and other forms of security should be in place as well to minimize the possibility of assault and battery.
The exact cause of injury is the most important factor in figuring out a pool hall’s liability for an accident. That’s why it’s essential to consult a trip and fall attorney or assault and battery lawyer as soon as possible if you were harmed at a billiard hall.
What if I was Injured While Working at a Pool Hall?
Pool halls generally hire managers, cashiers, janitors, bartenders, etc., and these employees can certainly be injured during the course of their job duties. If you got into an accident at work, you don’t need to worry about proving that anyone is liable for the accident. Of course, if there is liability by a third party (a customer, product manufacturer, etc.), you may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit. But most cases of workplace injury are covered by workers’ compensation.
To claim workers’ compensation benefits, notify your employer immediately, as they must take specific steps to initiate the claim with their insurance company. In the event your employer does not carry workers’ comp insurance, there are other ways to receive payment for a workplace accident. As workers’ compensation claims have tight deadlines, contact us right away if you have questions about your rights as an injured billiard room or pool hall employee.
How Much is the Average Settlement for These Cases?
Claims for accidents at a billiard hall involve circumstances that are unique to each victim. As a result, what someone else receives will not be the same as what you can recover from a slip and fall, trip and fall, or assault lawsuit against a business owner. On the lower end, settlements can range from $15,000 to $75,000. On the other hand, those with severe injuries may be awarded $2,500,000 and above. The majority of cases we handle are settled for around $125,000 to $2,000,000, but the amount you are entitled to is a topic we will need to discuss with you during a free, private consultation.
When can I Expect to Receive Payment from an Accident Claim?
Next to questions about case values, victims typically want to know how long it will take to settle a pool hall accident injury claim. When we represent a client, our goal is to reach a settlement with the insurance company, hopefully within 6 months. While this may seem like a long time to wait, we want you to receive adequate payment for your harm and suffering.
Generally, the initial offer from an insurance company is the lowest they are hoping to get away with. A personal injury lawyer will help you negotiate for the compensation you deserve, and this process normally takes at least a few months. For cases that are especially complex or high value, reaching a resolution that’s fair to the injury victim can take over two years.
Deadline to File a Pool Hall Injury Lawsuit
A monetary claim for billiard and pool hall injuries must be filed within 2 years from the incident date. The courts generally prohibit the filing of a personal injury lawsuit once you are beyond the statute of limitations. That means you can lose the right to sue simply by waiting too long on a legal case against the pool hall owner. Please don’t wait on giving us a call and getting started on a fall accident or assault and battery lawsuit with one of our attorneys.
We Provide Free Legal Services
Legal advice is essential when negligence by a business owner causes you to be injured on their property. Our legal experts are ready to help, whether you were attacked by someone or fell down from a dangerous condition at a billiard hall. All you have to do is contact us and schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced personal injury attorney. If you already filed a claim, we are happy to offer you a free second opinion.
Regardless of where you are in the legal process, you can be sure that your finances are never at risk here at Normandie Law Firm. The Zero Fee Guarantee is our way of providing you with free legal services for the entire duration of your case. We bill the business owner for all of our expenses, which we only receive by winning your case. That means if you don’t receive compensation from a pool hall injury claim, neither do we.
If you are ready for a free, no-obligation case review with a billiard and pool hall accident injury attorney, contact us right away.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Can I Sue a Shopping Mall if I Tripped over Raised Carpeting?
South Coast Plaza Mall Accident Injury Attorney
Northridge Fashion Center Mall Accident Injury Lawyer
