Although slip and fall accidents aren’t reported as much as traffic collisions and other injury accidents, they can be incredibly serious and leave victims with a lot of costs, stress, and pain. Slip and fall accidents happen every day, especially in restaurant settings like Steak ‘n Shake. If you were hurt at one of these establishments, you may be entitled to compensation, and a good slip and fall accident and injury lawyer in Georgia can help you pursue it.
At John Foy & Associates, we are dedicated to helping slip and fall accident victims win the compensation they need and deserve. You should not have to pay for the store’s negligence in what happened. To learn more and get a FREE, no-risk consultation, call us today at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
What to Know About Slip and Fall Accidents at Steak ‘n Shake in Georgia
Steak ‘n Shake, officially known as Steak ‘n Shake Operations, Inc, is a chain of casual restaurants found throughout the United States. Their headquarters is found in Indianapolis, Indiana, and they have several locations in Georgia, including in the cities of Alpharetta, Atlanta, Snellville, Lithonia, and Newnan.
Steak ‘n Shake food includes burgers, hot dogs, melts, chicken fingers, fries, shakes, and salads. They offer a combination of drive-up fast food service and sit-down service, depending on each customer’s needs. A lot of Steak ‘n Shake locations are also open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Every Steak ‘n Shake in Georgia has a legal duty to keep their premises safe for customers. According to Georgia Code section 51-3-1, if someone is injured because a store does not exercise ordinary care to keep the location safe, the store may be liable for damages. If you were hurt at a Steak ‘n Shake location, it’s important to know your legal options.
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How to Know If You Can Seek Compensation from Steak ‘n Shake in Georgia
To seek compensation for the costs of a slip and fall accident at a Steak ‘n Shake, you must file a personal injury claim with the store’s insurance company. To be able to do this successfully, you must have a valid claim.
For your claim to be valid, you must be able to prove one of the following:
- A store owner or employee caused the hazard or dangerous condition that caused your slip and fall accident.
- A store owner or employee knew about the hazard or dangerous condition but did not fix it, remove it, or sufficiently warn you about it.
- A store owner or employee should have reasonably known about the hazard or dangerous condition but did not.
It can be difficult to prove that someone “should have known” about a dangerous condition, so we highly recommend working with an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer from the beginning. You and your lawyer will need to do a lot of investigation, and you’ll likely need help getting certain pieces of information—such as video surveillance footage—to help prove your claim.
Your Own Duty of Care in a Slip and Fall Accident
Insurance companies do not like to pay out much on personal injury claims like this, which is just another reason it helps so much to have a lawyer. One of the ways an insurance company might try to reduce their liability is by claiming you should have known about the hazard that caused your fall—and there’s something to this.
According to Georgia Code section 51-11-7, an injury victim may not be entitled to recover damages if they could have avoided an injury through “ordinary care.” This can be true even if the business was negligent. So, you will need to prove that your slip and fall accident could not have been fully avoided, even if you were being careful leading up to it.
Even if you are worried you were partially at fault, don’t assume you can’t recover. There are also comparative negligence laws in Georgia that allow you to recover compensation if you were less than 50% at fault for an injury accident. All of this can be confusing, so it’s best to talk to a lawyer who can discuss your options based on the specific details of your case.
Injuries that Steak ‘n Shake Customers May Suffer in Georgia
Many people don’t think of slip and fall injuries as being serious—but that’s a misconception. People are seriously, even fatally, injury daily after slipping and falling unexpectedly.
Since slip and fall accidents can happen so suddenly, there’s little time to respond or do anything to reduce the severity of the fall. If other conditions near the accident scene are also dangerous, it can increase the risk of serious injury. Plus, certain groups of people like children or the elderly are more likely to suffer severe consequences from slipping and falling.
Some common injuries that can happen when employees of businesses like Steak ‘n Shake are negligent include:
- Back injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Head injuries
- Brain damages
- Hip injuries
- Strains or sprains
- Broken wrists, ankles, hips, or other bones
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you can face huge medical bills, lost wages, and other costs. Don’t assume that you are automatically responsible for paying. Make sure your legal rights are upheld and that the store is held liable for any negligence. Contact a Steak ‘n Shake slip and fall accident and injury lawyer in Georgia to get started today.
What to Do (and Not Do) After a Slip and Fall Accident at Steak ‘n Shake in Georgia
After slipping and falling in a Steak ‘n Shake, you can gather evidence right away by:
- Taking pictures of the accident scene, the hazard that caused your fall, and your injuries
- Talking to any witnesses and getting their name(s) and contact information
- Reporting the accident to the store’s manager and getting their contact information
- Seeing a doctor as soon as possible for your injuries
- Contacting an experienced Georgia slip and fall lawyer
What you don’t do after a slip and fall accident matters too:
- Don’t admit any blame or accept any responsibility for the accident, even if the store or their insurance company is trying to blame you.
- Don’t sign anything, accept any money, or agree to any recorded statements if the insurance company contacts you after your fall.
- Don’t try to handle your case alone. Talk to a lawyer who can help.
Talk to a Steak ‘n Shake Slip and Fall Accident and Injury Lawyer in Georgia for Free Today
At John Foy & Associates, we work on a contingency basis, which means there are no upfront fees—and we don’t get paid unless we win you money. So, you can begin working with us risk-free. Plus, the consultation is always FREE too.
To schedule your FREE consultation today, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
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