With more than 41,000 locations worldwide, there is little doubt that Subway is one of the market leaders among sub sandwich shops. In fact, Subway has more stores than any other restaurant in the world, according to Food and Wine.
Subway focuses on fast service and high volume. Entrepreneur reports that Subway serves about 5,300 sandwiches every 60 seconds—that is roughly 320,000 sandwiches every hour or 7.6 million subs every day. With all those sandwiches comes millions of customers and heavy foot traffic in and out of their stores, so it is inevitable that slip and fall accidents will happen.
If you or a loved one were injured in a slip and fall accident at Subway, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. An injury lawyer for slip and fall accidents at Subway can guide you through the claims process and help you fight for the compensation you deserve. To get started, call Ben Crump Law, PLLC today at (800) 647-3113 and schedule a free consultation.
Pursuing Legal Action Against Subway
Subway is a large, privately owned company, but most Subway restaurants are owned by franchisees. Because of the franchise arrangement, any personal injury lawsuits should be directed at the franchisee instead of the parent company. In other words, it is unlikely that your attorney will file a lawsuit directly against Subway itself.
Bringing a claim against the franchisee does not diminish your chances of financial recovery. Many franchisees have substantial assets, and most are covered by robust insurance policies. When the carelessness of a Subway franchisee results in your injury, an injury lawyer for slip and fall accidents at Subway can hold them accountable for their actions.
Common Slip and Fall Hazards at Subway
You could slip, fall, and suffer injuries within a Subway restaurant for a variety of reasons. The owner of a Subway franchise can be held liable for any slip and fall accidents that occur outside the restaurant as well.
Some common slip and fall hazards at a Subway location include:
- Spilled drinks – Most Subway locations offer self-serve beverage stations. While the convenience of these drink machines is obvious, they are also prone to spills. Most guests will not clean up spills on their own, and many fail to notify the workers. These spills can quickly lead to a potential slip and fall accident. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA) confirms that normally safe floors can become hazardous when anything—liquid or solid—is spilled on them.
- Wet floors – Not all slippery floors are due to spilled drinks or food. When employees mop up spills, they can leave soapy water behind. If they fail to notify customers of wet floors with cones or signs, accidents can happen.
- Accumulated snow or ice – Some slip and fall accidents occur outside of a Subway restaurant. It is the responsibility of the franchisee to take reasonable steps to address accumulated snow or ice and other natural hazards. Failure to do so could result in a successful claim for compensation.
During your consultation with an injury lawyer for slip and fall accidents at Subway, you can learn if your injuries may be covered by a claim for compensation and discuss your legal options. Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC today to speak with a member of our team.
The Duty That Subway Owes Its Customers
The specifics of premises liability law vary from one state to another, but every state requires businesses to take reasonable steps to protect their customers from harm.
Premises liability law typically does not even require the business owner to be aware of a hazard before they are potentially liable—it is enough that they should have known about the hazard. For instance, a Subway manager should be aware of a spilled drink that was on the floor of the restaurant for hours. Even if they were not aware of that specific spill, the manager and/or employees had a duty to inspect the dining room and address dangerous hazards like spilled drinks.
It is important to note that only the court can determine if the Subway operator’s actions were reasonable. The amount of time that elapses between a hazard occurring and the Subway employees cleaning it up is a critical factor. It may not be reasonable to expect Subway to clean up a spilled drink in a matter of seconds. However, failing to clean up the spill or notify customers of the hazard over the span of several hours is likely unreasonable.
Potential Compensation
You may be entitled to two types of compensation in a slip and fall accident claim: economic and non-economic. Economic damages cover the measurable losses that follow a slip and fall accident claim. These losses—which may include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and more—are typically proven through documentary evidence such as bills, receipts, invoices, or estimates.
Non-economic losses are not as easy to pin down. They exist to compensate subjective losses from a slip and fall accident like pain and suffering or mental anguish. Because there is no set value for things like physical pain, your testimony will likely play an important part in establishing the value of your non-economic damages.
Contact an Injury Lawyer Today
The steps you take after a slip and fall accident at Subway or any other establishment are important. Unless you aggressively pursue your right to compensation, you could lose out on damages for your injuries.
An injury lawyer for slip and fall accidents at Subway can review your case and help you fight for the compensation you deserve. To learn more, call Ben Crump Law, PLLC today at (800) 647-3113.
