Slip and falls are a common occurrence in movie theatres across the country. Every years hundreds of individuals suffer severe injuries dues to slip trip and fall accidents in movies theatres ranging from broken bones, internal organ damage, to brain injury and spinal cord damage resulting in paralysis of the limbs. Under civil personal injury laws victims of slip and fall accidents are entitled to compensation if their injuries were caused by the negligent or intentional actions of movie theatre employees, staff, and operators.
Theatre Owner Liability for Slip and Fall Accident Injuries on Property
The set of laws that govern injuries on another person’s property are the premises liability laws. Premises liability usually come into the foreground for cases involving personal injury where the injury involved was caused by some sort of unsafe or defective condition on the property in question. Personal liability cases are typically based on the negligence and that goes for cases wherein premise liability laws come into play. In order for you and our legal team to prove that you were injured on the property of the movie theater and get the compensation you deserve using the laws of premise liability, you must prove that the property owner was negligent with respect to ownership and/or maintenance of the property. I.e., negligence means that the property owner failed to use reasonable care to maintain the property safe for all goers. Something to know is that simply because you were injured on someone’s property does not make the owner automatically liable for your injury. Additionally, just because the property was not reasonably safe, does not mean the property owner acted with negligence. In order for your case to be considered within the bounds of premise liability, you have to show that the property owner knew, or should have reasonably known about the danger and, thus, that the premise was not safe, and still did not take action to prevent or remedy the situation. Under premises liability laws owners and operators of public establishments including movie theater owners owe patron moviegoers the highest level of care. Some of the Most Common Causes of Slip and Fall in Movies Theatres Include:- Broken unfixed lighting creating unclear pathways for people to walk and create trip and fall scenarios.
- Failure to properly clean off liquids from surfaces in walkways, staircases, and bathrooms, and creating slip and fall situations.
- Failure to properly train employees
- Loose unkempt carpeting which can cause people to trip and fall and sustain injuries.
Common Slip & Fall Injuries
Slip and fall injuries can have a variety of effects on the body. Depending on where the slip or trip occurred, how the person fell, and where on the body the impact happened, the injuries can vary in type and severity. Here is a list of possible slip/trip and fall injuries that can occur: Head Injuries: Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). A TBI can include minor concussions that can easily heal with rest or severe injuries that cause seizures, mood changes, cognitive impairment, and other symptoms that can lead to further injury. TBI from falls disproportionately affect the youngest and oldest age groups — one reason for that being that these age groups are more prone to fall due to various factors: risk, age, etc. Hip Fractures: According to the CDC, more than 95 percent of all broken hips are caused by falls. A hip fracture typically requires surgery, followed by extensive physical therapy. Surgery may include the implantation of an artificial hip. Shoulder Injuries: The shoulder is jam-packed with nerves connecting the spinal cord to the arm and the hand. When one falls in such a way that they land on their shoulder, it can damage the nerves, muscles, and bone that make up the shoulder. Treatment can vary from rest to surgery, followed by physical therapy. Spinal/Neck Injuries: When one falls, the impact can damage the vertebrae that make up the spine and neck. Herniated or ruptured discs can occur, damage to the nerves that run along the entire spine, and even a fracture of the bones. These injuries can result in pain or even paralysis. Proving Negligence – Personal Injury Lawsuit Information: There are several elements which need to be shown in the court of law to prove your case.- The movie theatre owed a duty to the injured party – Premises liability laws place the highest duty on property owners
- The movie theater breached its duty – can be shown by a failure to properly clean wet surfaces or fix broken lighting
- The beach was the cause of the accident – the injured party fell due to the wet surface
- The accident resulted in injury to the victim
Compensation Available for Victims of Slip and Fall Accidents in Movie Theatres
Individuals who sustained severe injuries due to the careless, wrongful or negligent conduct of movie theatres operators and managers are entitled to full and just compensation for all losses sustained including, (1) All medical and health-related costs including future rehabilitation care, (2) Lost wages and loss of future income, (3) Pain and suffering including PTSD and emotional distress, (4) Punitive damages – when a movie theater displays wanton or reckless disregard for the life and health of patrons.Most Popular Movie Theaters in the U.S.
- AMC Theaters
- Regal Entertainment Group
- Cinemark USA
- Cineplex Entertainment LP
- Marcus Theatres Corp.
- Harkins Theatres
- Southern Theatres LLC
- B&B Theatres
- National Amusements, Inc.
- Malco Theatres, Inc.