Chipotle Mexican Grill may be a great place to get a quick bite in the DC Metro area, but you may receive much more than a good taco. With many people coming to the popular fast food restaurant each day, it can be challenging to keep the premises clear of any hazards. And with this lack of attention, slip and fall accidents are bound to occur.

If you experience a slip and fall injury at a Chipotle in the DC area, you may not know what your next steps should be. Fortunately, the slip and fall accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC are here to help. Our attorneys have helped injury victims with their injury claims for almost 30 years. We understand how premises liability claims can work, and we can fight on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve following a slip and fall accident at Chipotle.

What Do I Need to Prove for a Successful Slip and Fall Claim Against Chipotle?

For a successful slip and fall claim against Chipotle, you will need to prove the following had occurred:

Chipotle had a duty of care to its customers. As a business owner, Chipotle is responsible for any visitor to its restaurant. Therefore, it has a duty to keep its property safe and warn any customers about hazards, such as spilled soda.
The restaurant breached its duty of care. If the restaurant fails to address the hazard, it breaches the duty of care. Using spilled soda as an example, if the employees don’t clean up the area or put down warning signs, they breached their duty of care.
An accident occurred, resulting in an injury. The slip and fall accident needs to result in an injury to file a personal injury claim. A customer walking to the counter to order food, for example, slips on the soda and falls, breaking their hip.
The slip and fall accident caused a loss. Not only do you need to show that the slip and fall caused the injury, but it caused a loss. This can be financial, such as unexpected medical bills or lost wages, physical or emotional.

What Steps Do I Need to Take After a Slip and Fall?

Your foot got caught in a hole in the carpet near the entryway. You fell forward, landing hard on your right shoulder. The injury requires surgery. What do you do now?

The steps you make next are essential to protecting your slip and fall accident claim:

Fill Out an Incident Report

You need to get the accident on record, so your first step is to speak with the manager and notify them of the accident. Make sure you file an incident report with the restaurant. Make sure you put down as much detail as possible such as what you were doing at the time of the accident, how you fell, and what injuries you sustained. The more information you provide, the harder it will be for the insurance company to dispute it.

Document the Scene

It can be challenging to get evidence after the accident, especially at a busy restaurant. So try to get as much proof as possible before going to the hospital. Get photos of the scene and the cause of the accident. Make sure to capture anything that contributed to the accident, such as spilled food or a wet floor. Make a note of any surveillance cameras that could have captured the accident. If there were any witnesses, get their contact information to follow up about what they saw.

Get Medical Attention

Even if you don’t think the injury was severe, you should always seek medical attention to learn about the extent of your injuries. At first, what may seem like a simple bump on the head could easily be a concussion. Even if you don’t want to go to the ER right away, make an appointment with your primary care doctor to get your head injury checked out.

Contact a Slip and Fall Attorney

Finally, contact a slip and fall attorney if you’re having trouble getting compensation from Chipotle for your injuries. A slip and fall injury lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company and make sure you get the maximum amount of compensation for your claim.

If you or a loved one were in a slip and fall accident at Chipotle, contact the slip and fall injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC to schedule a free consultation.