Free Consultation
Slip and fall injuries, foodborne illnesses, injuries caused by dram shop law violations, and burn injuries from hot food and drinks are common injuries sustained by restaurant customers. People who have been injured because of negligent restaurants have a right to pursue compensation.
Slip and falls at restaurants cause a considerable number of hospitalizations each year. Common culprits include:
Restaurants are required to keep their premises clean and safe for customers. A slip and fall lawyer can help victims hold restaurants liable for slip and fall injuries.
Food poisoning refers to foodborne illnesses caused by a variety of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It results in about 128,000 hospitalizations each year. Food poisoning cases commonly arise from improper food handling procedures, contaminated food, and transmission by ill restaurant workers. Customers who have been injured because of food poisoning can take legal action against a restaurant.
The dram shop law in Illinois lets victims hold a restaurant liable for their injuries if the establishment sold alcohol to the person who caused their injuries. Therefore, if an intoxicated patron beats another customer up or crashes into the customer’s car because of intoxication, the restaurant may be held responsible for the vehicle repairs or medical bills.
Restaurant food is mostly served hot, sometimes over 130 degrees. Hot food or beverages at 140 degrees can rapidly cause third-degree burns. Restaurant servers may also spill hot drinks or food on customers.
A restaurant can be held liable if a customer chokes on food containing a foreign object or food not prepared properly. Restaurants may also be considered to have violated their duty of care if they do not help during a choking emergency, for example, by not calling for medical assistance right away.
Customers can break their teeth while eating at restaurants because of foreign objects like equipment pieces, metal objects, and bones in their meals. Broken teeth can cause disfigurement and the need for costly tooth replacement, veneers, and other restorative dentistry.
Puncture wounds usually increase in the summer when customers tend to wear thin-soled shoes, sandals, or even walk barefoot in restaurants. Shards of broken glass, splintered wood, and exposed screws are common causes of puncture wounds. The wounds can result in scarring, bacterial infections, and tetanus.
Ill or injured restaurant customers may be entitled to monetary compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses. Call the attorneys at Jeffrey M. Goldberg Law Offices at (312) 236-4146 for a free consultation.
