Going through a drive-thru at a fast-food restaurant is supposed to offer convenience and quick service. The last thing you expect at a fast food restaurant is to suffer a personal injury. Unfortunately, these injuries may occur, and you could suffer because of them.
At a fast food restaurant, you may suffer from personal injuries in a wide assortment of ways. Learn about some of the more common injuries at fast food restaurants and ways a lawyer might represent your case.
1. Drive-Thru Lane Crashes
Drive-thru lanes are supposed to be simple paths to follow, but car accidents can still occur. Even at low speeds, you could suffer from serious injuries if you get hit in a drive-thru. Another car that rear-ends you could cause a whiplash effect that turns into a painful neck injury. The sudden jolt of your vehicle could cause chest injuries due to the seat belt.
Newer fast food restaurants have implemented multi-lane drive-thru designs to try and limit traffic while speeding up orders. The merging between those two lanes could end up creating different accidents where your vehicle gets hit by the side.
Even in low-speed crashes, you still have the potential for a personal injury case. Chances are, if the crash occurred in the drive-thru, then the fast food restaurant will likely have video evidence as well. The video evidence can showcase exactly what happened.
2. Hot Food & Spills
When you get handed food from a fast food window, the last thing you expect is to deal with possible burns. Unfortunately, accidents may occur through this process and result in injuries to your body. For example, a fast food worker may accidentally drop a hot drink into your vehicle.
The hot beverage could cause burns on multiple parts of your body. An infamous case occurred at McDonald's years ago involving a similar situation. These lawsuits are not frivolous as burns can cause long-lasting damage and the need for multiple treatments.
Spilled food could also cause a chain reaction that results in more injuries. For example, if a worker accidentally spills food into your vehicle, then you may jolt the car forward or let go of the brake and suddenly crash into something. The compounded impact could cause multiple injuries that all stem from the original incident.
A lawyer will look into all the details of a case to determine the cause and help you seek compensation for your injuries and harm.
3. Pedestrian Incidents
Even if you choose not to use the drive-thru, you could suffer from injuries when you cross the drive-thru area to enter a fast-food restaurant. Despite the inclusion of crosswalks and signs at many fast-food restaurants, accidents can still occur. You may get hit by a car exiting the fast food lane at the same time you're crossing.
With a pedestrian crosswalk area, you have the right of way in a drive-thru, and cars are supposed to let you go by first. If you are hit, then a lawyer can prove that the driver is at fault and help you seek a settlement for your injuries.
Pedestrian incidents can also occur near fast food crosswalks due to slip and fall injuries. Without the proper upkeep of a fast food lane, a person walking might encounter spilled food, spilled drinks, or other potential slip hazards. These elements may not seem like a lot, but they can cause injuries and create unsafe walking areas for fast-food customers.
4. Poor Weather Care
Poor weather could have a big impact on the flow of a drive-thru restaurant. Without properly managed areas, you could run into issues as you try to navigate your way around a drive-thru. For example, poor drainage systems could lead to flooding issues in the drive-thru. Your vehicle may hydroplane or slide through high waters.
Without proper gutter drainage systems, heavy rains and water from a roof could splash down onto your windshield and make it hard to see ahead of you. An incident like this could easily lead to a fender bender as you hit someone else's car or their vehicle hits yours.
A personal injury attorney can help break down the different weather elements and how they impact your case and help shine a light on some of the parties who are at fault for your injuries. Along with footage from a fast food restaurant, eyewitnesses can help provide evidence that supports your case and your injury claims.
If you've suffered any type of injury at a fast food restaurant, then contact us at David A. Helfand, P.A. We have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims and can help build your case. Schedule a consultation with us and take the first step in moving your case forward. We are here to help you get the compensation you deserve.
