Friendly’s Restaurants offer everything from pancakes to ice cream sundaes. But no matter how tasty and diverse their fare, each Friendly’s store has a legal responsibility to make sure customers are safe on their premises. When a store employee is negligent and it leads to an injury, the victim has a right to compensation. If you were injured at one of these restaurants, you’ll want to speak with a slip and fall accident lawyer in Georgia as soon as you can.
At John Foy & Associates, we have seen how painful, costly, and frustrating slip and fall accidents can be. We are dedicated to getting injury victims the money they deserve to recover their costs from their accident. For more than 20 years, we have been helping our clients build strong cases and fight for the compensation they deserve.
Contact us today to speak with one of our experienced attorneys for FREE. We’ll look at the details of your case and discuss how we can help you. To schedule your FREE consultation today, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
What to Know About Friendly’s in Georgia
Friendly’s was founded in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1935 by two brothers, and the company has since expanded to a chain of restaurants mostly throughout the East Coast of the U.S.
Menu fare at Friendly’s includes:
- Breakfast items like eggs, pancakes, bacon, Belgian waffles, and omelets
- Lunch and dinner items like burgers, mac and cheese, sandwiches, and salads
- Ice cream options like sundaes, cones, floats, and ice cream scoops
The first Friendly’s shop began as an ice cream shop under the name “Friendly.” The second store was opened with a large menu that included other types of food. The restaurants emphasize a diner-style.
Friendly’s managers and employees should be careful to maintain safe premises and approaches for all customers. That means they should be regularly checking for, recognizing, and cleaning up hazards on the property that could lead to accidents. If the staff fails in that duty and someone gets injured, the restaurant may be liable.
If you were injured at a Friendly’s in Georgia, don’t wait to know your legal options. Contact a slip and fall lawyer in the area to help determine whether or not you have a case and what you should do. You may be entitled to financial recovery for your costs.
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Types of Slip and Fall Accidents that Can Happen at Friendly’s
The variety of menu items and busy restaurant atmosphere at Friendly’s can easily lead to a slip and fall accident if employees are not careful. The most common types of accidents that could happen include those caused by wet and/or slippery floors.
Slippery floors can result from situations like:
- Dropped or spilled beverages, ice cream products, or other liquids on the floors
- Employees mopping floors without leaving out a “wet floor” sign to warn customers or
- Wet bathroom floors
Other ways slip and fall accidents can occur include:
- Uneven flooring
- Curled up or torn carpeting or rugs
- Merchandise that has been dropped or left on the floors
- Broken stairs or missing railings
- Unmarked steps
- And more
The possibilities for a slip and fall accident are virtually limitless, so if you were injured in a different way, it doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have a case.
How to Prove the Restaurant Was at Fault for Your Injuries
What matters most in a slip and fall case is negligence. Under Georgia Code section 51-1-2, ordinary negligence is defined as the absence of ordinary diligence, which is a degree of care exercised by “ordinarily prudent persons under the same or similar circumstances.”
You cannot have a valid slip and fall case without the presence of negligence. So, you will need to show that:
- The Friendly’s restaurant owed you a duty of care (which they do, as outlined under Georgia Code section 51-3-1).
- The restaurant breached that duty of care.
- The breached duty led to your slip and fall accident.
- You suffered damages as a result of the accident.
In other words, the restaurant has a legal duty to maintain safe premises, and they failed to keep the area safe. As a result, you slipped, fell, and suffered injuries and other damages. You are now seeking compensation for your costs from an accident you didn’t cause.
Building Your Slip and Fall Case in Georgia
When a Friendly’s restaurant is at fault for your accident, you can seek compensation through a personal injury insurance claim. To prove negligence and your damages, you will need to:
- Report the accident to the restaurant’s management.
- Take pictures at the scene of the accident.
- See a doctor as soon as possible after the accident.
- Keep track of all medical bills and other expenses you have because of the accident.
- Talk to a slip and fall lawyer who can help you build your case and deal with the insurance company.
After you file a claim, the insurance company will look for ways to reduce what they have to pay you. It’s best to have a lawyer on your side from the beginning so they can help communicate and negotiate with the insurer for you.
Get Help from a Friendly’s Slip and Fall Lawyer in Georgia
Slip and fall cases, also known as premises liability cases, are especially difficult to win. You will usually need strong evidence of the accident, the restaurant’s liability, and your damages to have a chance at getting the recovery you deserve.
A Friendly’s slip and fall lawyer in Georgia will give you the best chance possible of winning your case. They will help you gather the right evidence, prepare a strong case, and make sure the insurance company and the restaurant don’t take advantage of you.
Talk to a Friendly’s Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer in Georgia for Free Today
Don’t get left paying for the costs of a slip and fall accident you didn’t cause. John Foy & Associates can help—starting with a FREE consultation. We put our 20 plus years of experience to work, and we are not afraid to stand up to the insurance companies.
To schedule a FREE consultation and case evaluation today, call us at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
