If someone else’s carelessness caused you to slip and fall at a movie theater, you can sue for your injuries. Slip and fall cases at the movies are not uncommon in the state of Georgia.
Factors That Cause Slip and Fall Accidents at Movie Theaters
Inside the movie viewing rooms, it is dark after the employees turn down the lights to show the film. You will not be able to see hazards in your path, so the company has a duty to keep the premises reasonably safe for people walking in the dark.
Also, the theater sells refreshments that can spill and create dangerously slick patches on the floor. The processes of food preparation and vending can lead to slip and fall hazards around the concession stands. The bathrooms can have wet areas that could cause a fall.
What Georgia Law Requires of Property Owners
You do not have to prove that the owner of the property or an employee spilled the liquid or created the dangerous condition to hold the property owner liable, but the law does not make the owner prevent every potential injury. Georgia law requires landowners to use ordinary care to keep the property in reasonably safe condition for people who enter the premises legally.
The owner of the movie theater is responsible for the injuries of legally-present people and you can sue a move theater for your slip and fall if all three of these elements are true:
- There was a dangerous condition on the property, and
- The owner knew or should have known about the hazard, and
- The owner failed to repair or post sufficient warnings about the situation.
A Slip and Fall Example at a Movie Theater
It can help to walk through a sample scenario to understand how landowner liability for a slip and fall at a movie theater works. Let’s say that the employees at the theater were supposed to clean up the movie viewing rooms after each showing. They were to remove trash, look for and clean up spills before the next film played.
The crew picked up large items of trash but did not look for or mop up spills after one showing of a movie. As soon as the previews for the next showing began, the theater dimmed the lights. Two people slipped on spilled soda as they walked to their seats. They reported the hazard to employees, who took no action to set up a barrier or mop up the liquid.
Another patron slipped and fell because of the puddle, breaking her hip. The movie theater owner is liable, because the facts satisfy all three elements of liability:
- There was a dangerous condition on the property – the puddle of soda, and
- The owner knew or should have known about the hazard – two people had reported the puddle, and
- The owner failed to repair or post sufficient warnings about the situation – the employees did not put up barriers or mop up the soda.
Now, to show how much that changing one fact can affect liability – a fourth person slipped and fell in the puddle, breaking his arm. He had snuck into the theater through a side door to avoid having to buy a ticket. He was, thereby, a trespasser. Because he was not on the premises legally, the owner does not have the same duty, so the owner is not responsible for his damages.
You do not have to figure out the legal issues of your injury. We will explain how the law will work in your case when we talk with you.
How Much Money Will You Get for Your Slip and Fall Injury at a Movie Theater
Every case is different, so we cannot come up with a reasonable figure for your damages without talking with you and investigating your claim. The amount that you recover will depend on the facts of your case.
Slip and fall accidents are a type of personal injury, so you can, depending on your facts, get the same kinds of damages as you could in any other personal injury case. We typically win damages like these for our slip and fall clients:
Medical costs to treat your injuries, for example, the ambulance, emergency room, hospital, doctors, surgery, diagnostic testing, prescription drugs, and physical therapy. You can also get compensation for equipment like crutches and wheelchairs.
Lost wages, if you missed getting wages, salary, self-employment or other income because of your injuries, treatment, and recuperation.
Long-term care, if you sustained devastating injuries that leave you in need of daily assistance with medical and personal care.
Diminished earning capacity, if you cannot make as much money as before because of your injuries.
Pain and suffering, for your physical discomfort and emotional distress.
Other “intangible” losses, like disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and your spouse’s loss of consortium.
Our slip and fall team can talk with you and investigate your claim. You can set up your free consultation by calling S. Burke Law at 404-842-7838. We do not charge for the initial consultation, and there is no obligation. We can take care of the legal matters so that you can focus on getting well.