I Slipped and Fell at Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, Now What?

Slip and fall accidents are more common than you might think. This is especially true at restaurants, ice cream parlors, and similar food establishments. While most such accidents do not cause any injury or are not the fault of anyone, there are accidents such as the one which caused the famous Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream lawsuit to occur.

If you have suffered a restaurant slip and fall injury, do not sign anything that the restaurant or their insurance company has offered. Instead, call The Injury Firm in Fort Lauderdale. We are the personal injury lawyers that can represent you when filing a claim against the restaurant or their insurance team. Call us today for a free consultation.

Common Reasons for Restaurant Slip and Fall Accidents

Although a slip and fall accident can happen anywhere, restaurants and similar food establishments are subject to more of these types of accidents than most others. The reasons for such accidents are rather simple.

• Wet Floors
• Poor Lighting
• Dropped Food or Water
• Torn Carpet
• Cracks in Flooring and more

If any of these reasons are the cause of a slip and fall accident that causes injury, you may be entitled to compensation from the establishment or their insurance company. This will depend of course on the cause of the injury or who is at fault if there is fault to be found. Admittedly, there are many cases of slip and fall injuries in which the person who was injured was the cause. But quite often such injuries occur because of a negligent owner.

Negligent Owner

For the owner to be negligent, they have to be aware of a hazardous condition on their property and have not taken action to resolve it. A good example is a torn carpet that may cause a foot to catch which results in a fall. A carpet that has been torn for days, weeks, or even months is not all that uncommon when the owner fails to repair it.

The owner of a restaurant or ice cream parlor as in the case of the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream lawsuit is responsible for the upkeep of their property. This means that they address issues as they arise and conduct regular inspections to ensure that they are providing a safe environment. This is why most restaurant owners, along with all types of businesses, make it a point to train their employees to report potential dangers and address issues quickly, such as spilled water on the floor for example.

When the owner is negligent, they become responsible if an injury takes place that is a result of their negligence. This not only includes customers, but employees who may be injured because of a torn carpet, crack in the floor, or another hazard that is not addressed.

Types of Slip and Fall Injuries

There are several different ways you can injure yourself in a slip and fall. While most injuries are quite minor and often do not cause any damage, there are some common injuries that you should be aware.

• Sprains
• Bruising
• Cuts Requiring Stitches
• Broken Bones

In rare cases, a simple slip and fall may cause a traumatic injury, such as brain trauma or serious injuries to the neck or back. One of the worst types of injuries is one that does not reveal themselves right away or does not seem as serious as they turn out to be. This is common with injuries that have internal bleeding which may seem minor at first, but the loss of blood may put you in serious danger.

Do Not Sign Anything Before Seeing a Lawyer

When an injury occurs in a restaurant, ice cream parlor, or other establishments, the owner or their insurance company is going to do what they can to minimize the financial damage. This means that they may try to have you sign papers that limit your ability to collect all the money that is due.

Quite often, insurance companies will refuse to cover even basic medical services all in the name of protecting their financial interests. It’s important to remember that when an accident occurs, those who are responsible are going to look out for themselves.

When an owner is negligent, they are subjecting everyone in their establishment to a danger that could’ve easily been avoided. With the rising cost of medical bills and post-traumatic care, which may include additional surgeries, treatment, and physical therapy, settling for a small amount of money with the owner or insurance company may put you in deep financial straits. 

What to Do?

The first thing you should do is seek medical attention if you are injured in a slip and fall accident. Even if your injuries seem minor at first, it pays to get them checked out by medical professions to ensure that nothing more serious has occurred. Keep in mind that you may feel embarrassed when the accident happens, but that should not stop you from getting medical help if needed.

The Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream lawsuit has helped many people become aware of their rights when they suffer from a slip and fall injury. It was all-too-common for those who slipped, fell, and were injured all due to owner negligence to pay for medical bills that were caused from their own pocket. Now, people are turning to personal injury lawyers to help them get what is due when they suffer an injury from the negligence of others.

If you have suffered a restaurant slip and fall injury, you need the best personal injury lawyers to handle your case. The Injury Firm in Fort Lauderdale offers the best in legal services to ensure that you receive what is due. From providing sound consultation to representing you in court, The Injury Firm is here to protect your rights. Call today for a free consultation and let us help if you have suffered a slip and fall injury in a restaurant or other establishment: 954-951-0000.