Restaurants are a popular venue for social gatherings and entertainment. But they are also a common place for accidents and injuries for patrons and employees alike. For instance, restaurant accidents and injuries can happen for the following reasons:
- Food poisoning
- Slip and fall accidents
- Burns due to hot food or drinks
- Car accidents in restaurant parking lots
- Sharp kitchen tools and utensils
If you were injured in a restaurant, you may be wondering what to do next. The first thing that you should do – whether you are an employee or a patron – is seek medical attention for your injuries. Make sure to obtain and retain all medical documentation and receipts. You should also promptly notify the restaurant owner or manager of the accident and injuries.
If you are a restaurant employee who was injured while on the job, you are generally entitled to workers’ compensation benefits regardless of who was at fault for the accident. If your employer or its insurance company does not promptly provide the appropriate workers’ compensation benefits, you may wish to file a claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.
If you were a patron who was injured in the restaurant, you may be entitled to money damages from the restaurant owner or operator in a personal injury lawsuit. In order to support the claim, however, it is important to have adequate supporting evidence. Accordingly, if possible, you should gather as much evidence as possible shortly after the accident. For instance, take photos of the accident scene and obtain the names and contact information of any witnesses.
Contact a Restaurant Injury Attorney
You should also contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Depending on the circumstances of your restaurant accident, injury, or illness, you may be able to recover money damages from the restaurant or other negligent parties. Although slip and fall accidents and other restaurant injuries may not seem like complicated matters, they can involve multiple layers of liability and other legal complexities. Moreover, in the past few years, big insurance companies – like the ones used by many restaurants – have been subjecting slip and fall claims to greater scrutiny and investigation.
Accordingly, it is highly recommended that you consult with a personal injury lawyer following a restaurant accident, injury, or illness. A personal injury lawyer who understands Illinois negligence and premises liability laws is instrumental to getting full and fair compensation after a restaurant injury.
The Chicago accident and injury attorneys at Cogan & Power, P.C. focus on representing clients who are injured in accidents that involve negligence, including restaurant accidents, slip and fall accidents, car accidents, and workplace accidents. Over the years, we have recovered more than $600 million in settlements and verdicts on behalf of people who have suffered injury or loss due to negligence or misconduct.
If you were injured in a restaurant, contact our office at (312) 477-2500 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Chicago accident and injury lawyers.