Dining out at restaurants is a common social activity—but slip-and-fall accidents can occur. Whether it’s a wet floor, a slippery surface or an obstruction in the walkway, a slip-and-fall incident can lead to injuries ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or head trauma. Who’s responsible for any injuries that result?

Restaurant owners and managers

Restaurant owners and managers generally have a duty to maintain a safe environment for patrons and employees. This duty includes regularly inspecting the premises for potential hazards, addressing any unsafe conditions as soon as possible and using preventive measures to minimize the risk of accidents.

Specifically, in the context of slip-and-fall accidents, restaurant owners and managers should:

• Maintain premises: This involves inspecting floors, walkways and common areas to identify and address hazards such as spills, leaks or damaged flooring that could cause slips or falls.
• Take safety precautions: Owners and managers should have safety protocols, such as placing warning signs near wet floors or recently cleaned areas, installing slip-resistant mats or flooring in high-traffic areas and maintaining adequate lighting to enhance visibility.
• Train staff: Restaurant staff should be trained on proper cleaning procedures and spill response and hazard identification to minimize the risk of accidents.
• Respond quickly: Responding quickly to reported hazards or unsafe conditions, including cleaning up spills, repairing damaged flooring, or removing obstructions from walkways can prevent accidents.

Who’s liable in a restaurant slip-and-fall?

When a slip-and-fall accident occurs in a restaurant, determining liability involves finding out whether the restaurant owner or manager met their duty to maintain a safe environment. For example:

• Breach of duty: If the restaurant owner or manager failed to exercise reasonable care in maintaining safe premises or addressing known hazards, they may be held liable for negligence. This can include situations where a spill was left unattended for an unreasonable amount of time, or where known hazards were not adequately addressed.
• Foreseeability: Liability may also hinge on whether the hazardous condition was foreseeable and could have been reasonably anticipated by the restaurant owner or manager. For example, if a restaurant is located in an area prone to inclement weather, the owner might generally be expected to take additional precautions.
• Comparative negligence: In some cases, the injured party’s own negligence may come into question. If a patron was partially responsible for their own injuries, their compensation may be reduced proportionally.

Slip-and-fall accidents in restaurants can lead to significant injuries. Restaurant owners and managers have a responsibility to maintain safe premises. If you’ve been injured in a restaurant slip-and-fall, call the Law Offices of Tim Misny today.

Talk to an Ohio personal injury attorney today

The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your slip-and-fall claim. If you or a loved one were injured due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (800) 556-4769 so that I can evaluate your case right away.