$150,000
Premises Liability — Stairway Fall, Fast Food Restaurant
What Happened
Our client was descending a stairway inside a fast food restaurant when she fell. The fall was not a result of her own inattention – the stairway itself presented a condition that made it unreasonably dangerous for customers using it.
The Injury
The fall caused a tear in our client’s knee that required surgery. A knee injury that requires surgical repair is not a minor sprain – it involves real recovery time, physical therapy, and lasting impact on mobility and daily activity.
Premises Liability Against a Commercial Property
Property owners and businesses that invite the public onto their premises have a legal obligation to maintain those premises in a reasonably safe condition. When a dangerous condition exists on those premises – whether it is a defective stair tread, inadequate lighting, a damaged handrail, or some other hazard – and a customer is injured as a result, the property owner can be held responsible.
Fast food restaurants and other commercial establishments are not exempt from this obligation. In fact, businesses with high foot traffic have an especially strong duty to inspect and maintain areas that customers use regularly.
The Result
The case resolved for $150,000 – fair compensation for the surgery, the recovery, and the impact the injury had on our client’s life and mobility.