Helpful tips if you have been injured at a bar or restaurant.
Your health and safety are the number one priority. If you are seriously injured, seek medical attention right away. You may need to go to the hospital or have someone call an ambulance. Remember that alcohol and adrenaline might affect your ability to feel the full extent of your injuries. What you think could be a headache or mild concussion could be indicative of a much more serious internal injury. Whether or not you go to the hospital, it’s a good idea to get assessed by your family doctor as soon as possible after your accident. Don’t have one? Find one near you at
Alberta Find A Doctor. You’ll get the care you need for your injuries, and you’ll be supporting your claim; your doctor’s treatment notes or medical reports could prove to be valuable pieces of evidence down the road. The longer you wait to see your doctor, the more difficult it may be to prove the cause of your injuries.
Report the injury right away. Provided you are not seriously injured, and the incident took place on the premises of the restaurant or bar, ask to speak with the owner or manager of the establishment. Tell them about the accident and any injuries you might have sustained. If you were assaulted by another person, ask the owner or operator to call the police. Provide as many details as you can about what happened, possible eyewitnesses, where you were, and when the incident happened. Get the name and number of the establishment’s owner and the bar’s insurance information.
Talk to eyewitnesses. The good news is that most incidents at a restaurant or bar usually take place in front of several witnesses. Ask potential eyewitnesses for their names and contact information. If they are willing, ask the person to write down what they saw. If police have been called to the scene, they may also ask for witness statements. In either case, the most important thing you can do is get the names and numbers of eyewitnesses. Memories fade and people can be difficult to track down over time so the sooner you can get a statement, the better.
Timely gathering of evidence. If you are able and it is safe to do so, make the most of your smartphone. Take photos, videos, and record notes to gather as much evidence as possible. If you were in shock or seriously hurt from your injury you may not have been able to gather any evidence at the time of the incident. However, there’s still hope. Many establishments have cameras, and our Calgary Commercial Host Liability lawyers are experts at gathering evidence after the fact. Remember that Personal Injury lawyers are often in a race against time when it comes to tracking down the evidence needed to build a solid case.