In Virginia, bar owners have a responsibility to keep their establishments reasonably safe for patrons. If someone slips, trips, or falls inside a bar and is injured, the bar owner may be held liable through a personal injury lawsuit.
Duty of Care Owed to Patrons
Business owners, including bar owners, have a duty to exercise reasonable care to keep their premises safe. This includes taking steps to prevent dangerous conditions that could cause slip and fall accidents. For bars, some hazardous conditions that could lead to falls include:
- Spilled drinks or food on the floor
- Broken glass or bottles
- Uneven flooring or tripping hazards
- Poor lighting
Bar owners must regularly inspect their premises and promptly fix any hazards discovered. Employees should also be trained on safe protocols for cleaning spills quickly. If a bar owner fails to address dangers that then lead to an injury, they can be accused of negligence.
Liability for Known and Unknown Hazards
In Virginia, bar owners can be held liable for known dangers they fail to remedy as well as any hidden hazards a reasonable inspection would have uncovered. For example, if there is a spill the bartender noticed but did not clean, liability could attach when a patron slips in it. Likewise, if uneven tiles create a tripping hazard that the owner should have noticed, they may be liable if someone trips and falls.
However, if an accident is caused by a hazard so temporary and unexpected that the bar owner could not reasonably have corrected it in time, they may avoid liability. For instance, if a patron knocks over a drink and another patron nearby immediately slips in the puddle before the bar can clean it up, the bar may not be found negligent.
Injuries and Damages That May Be Claimed
Common injuries suffered in bar slip and falls include fractures, sprains, strains, contusions, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other orthopedic injuries. Patrons who are injured may seek compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical expenses (ambulance, hospital bills, physical therapy, etc.)
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disabilities or disfigurement
If someone slips, the bar owner’s premises liability insurance usually provides coverage in case of a lawsuit. Injured patrons will often seek damages in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially if the accident resulted in permanent impairment.
What Bars Must Do to Protect Patrons
Bar owners can lower their risk of slip and fall claims by:
- Documenting routine inspections and promptly fixing identified hazards
- Having protocols for prompt spill clean-up and broken glass removal
- Using slip-resistant floors and mats in areas prone to spills
- Providing adequate lighting in all areas
- Posting wet floor signs if mopping
- Removing tripping hazards and uneven flooring
By making customer safety a priority and taking reasonable precautions, bars can reduce accidents as well as their liability exposure. However, if an injury does occur, you should contact a qualified attorney to assess the claim and verify who is responsible for the injury.
If you have slipped and fallen in a Virginia bar, contact a slip and fall attorney from Monge & Associates.
We have offices in 32 locations and 19 states, including Virginia, Florida, and Tennessee.
Call now for a free consultation on (888) 477-0597.