Bars are places where people go to relax and socialize. However, due to dim lighting, frequent spills, and the resulting slippery floors, these locations can also pose hazards that increase the risk of slip and fall accidents. Importantly, a bar must take measures to ensure the premises are safe for patrons. If you were hurt in a slip and fall accident caused by a bar’s negligence, you may be entitled to hold the establishment accountable for your damages by filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents at Bars
Bars have a legal duty to ensure their premises are free from hazards and kept in a reasonably safe condition for patrons. If a bar owner, manager, or employee knew — or should have known — about a slip and fall hazard and failed to take timely action to repair it, the bar may be liable for any injuries that arose as a result. A bar can also be held accountable if they failed to warn about a known danger, such as by placing a warning sign on a wet floor.
Some common causes of slip and fall accidents at bars can include the following:
- Spilled beverages
- Obstructed walkways
- Overcrowding
- Worn carpeting
- Broken tiles
- Defective floorboards
- Inadequate lighting
- Precipitation
- Leaks
Liability for a slip and fall at a bar can be highly nuanced. In some cases, the property may be owned by another individual or company, and the bar may lease the premises. If a known defect on the property was the cause of the accident, the property owner may also be a defendant in a personal injury action. While a bar will often try to place fault on the patron and argue their behavior contributed to the accident, the patron might still be able to recover compensation for their damages under New York’s comparative negligence law, minus their percentage of the blame.
Compensation for a Slip and Fall at a Bar
A slip and fall at a bar can cause a patron to suffer a wide range of injuries, including broken bones, nerve damage, hip fractures, soft tissue injuries, sprains and strains, traumatic brain injury, paralysis, and permanent disability. These types of injuries can require considerable medical treatment, physical rehabilitation, and even surgical intervention. A victim could also incur substantial out-of-pocket costs and lose time from work while they recover.
By filing a personal injury action against a bar or property owner for their negligence, a slip and fall victim may be able to recover for both the economic and non-economic losses they suffered. Compensation in a lawsuit for a slip and fall accident at a bar can include the following:
- Unreimbursed medical expenses
- Future medical treatment costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Pain and suffering damages
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
It’s essential to seek medical attention immediately after a slip and fall accident at a bar. Not only is this vital for your health, but medical records are the foundation of every personal injury matter. Other evidence in a bar slip and fall case can include photographs of the dangerous condition, security surveillance footage, maintenance logs, witness testimony, and incident reports. While every accident involving a slip and fall has a unique set of facts and circumstances, a personal injury attorney will know how to properly evaluate a case and obtain the necessary evidence to support a specific claim.
Contact an Experienced New York Personal Injury Attorney
If you were hurt in a slip and fall accident at a bar caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses in a personal injury lawsuit. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can best advise you regarding your legal rights and remedies. The Dearie Law Firm, P.C., has represented victims of negligence for over three decades and provides dedicated counsel to obtain the best possible results in every case. Contact us today for a consultation.