If you suffered an injury from a broken chair in a restaurant in California, you may have a valid personal injury claim under premises liability or negligence law. Restaurants are legally responsible for maintaining their furniture in safe, usable condition, and failing to inspect or repair a defective chair can make them liable for injuries.
⚖️ Legal Basis: Premises Liability & Negligence
To bring a successful personal injury claim in California, you must prove:
- Duty of Care – The restaurant owed you a duty to keep its premises, including furniture, safe for customers.
- Breach of Duty – The restaurant failed to repair or remove a defective or unstable chair, or failed to inspect it.
- Causation – That breach directly caused your injury (e.g., you fell when the chair collapsed).
- Damages – You suffered actual harm (e.g., medical expenses, pain, lost income).
🔍 Common Causes of Liability
- Worn-out or unstable chairs that collapse or tip over
- Loose screws, broken legs, or cracked seats that aren’t repaired
- Poor-quality furniture not suited for commercial use
- Failure to conduct routine inspections
- Lack of warnings or failure to remove obviously broken furniture
📸 Evidence That Helps Support Your Claim
- Photos of the broken chair
- Photos of the injury and the scene
- Incident report filed with the restaurant
- Witness statements
- Medical records
- Surveillance footage, if available
- Proof the chair had been reported as broken or previously caused issues (can be uncovered through legal discovery)
🏥 Types of Injuries That May Result
- Back or neck injuries
- Hip or tailbone fractures
- Head injuries from hitting the floor or nearby objects
- Soft tissue injuries (sprains, bruises, herniated discs)
- Lacerations from broken parts
💰 Damages You May Be Entitled To
- Medical expenses (current and future)
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Costs related to physical therapy or assistive devices
⏱️ Statute of Limitations
- In California, you have 2 years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit.
- If the restaurant is owned by a government entity (e.g., on public property), you must file a government claim within 6 months.
✅ What to Do After the Incident
- Get medical care immediately.
- Report the incident to restaurant staff or management and ask for a copy of the report.
- Photograph the chair and surrounding area before it’s removed.
- Keep the clothes or shoes you were wearing (if they show damage or staining).
- Avoid signing documents or giving statements to the restaurant’s insurer before consulting an attorney.
- Contact a personal injury lawyer, especially if you sustained a serious injury.
📌 Summary
An injury caused by a broken chair in a restaurant can lead to a valid premises liability claim in California, especially if the chair was defective or the restaurant failed to inspect or maintain its furniture. Compensation may cover medical bills, lost income, and long-term suffering.
Law Offices of James R. Dickinson – 909-848-8448
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