Slip & Fall on Wet Floor Verdict

Case Type: Slip and Fall
Verdict: $ 1,425,000
Location: Wayne County, MI

Facts of the Case

Our client was a nursing student and was with her family a major chain fast food restaurant in the City of Detroit. A restaurant employee had mopped the tiled floor and neglected to put out a “wet floor” sign. Our client got up from her table to walk to the restroom but slipped and fell due to the water on the floor. She struck her head and suffered a closed head injury.

Due to the head trauma, she suffered serious cognitive deficits which prevented her from returning to her normal life and from finishing her nursing education. The restaurant denied responsibility for the fall and refused to pay a settlement. As a result, the case went to a jury trial and the jury awarded all damages requested by the Plaintiff. The verdict was paid after the threat of an appeal.

Types of Injuries and Harm Suffered

• Traumatic brain injury
• Cognitive deficits
• Psychological damages
• Pain & Suffering
• Disability
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Medical expenses

Legal Issues in the Case

• Was the Defendant negligent for creating a dangerous condition?
• Was the Defendant negligent for failing to warn the Plaintiff?
• Was the Plaintiff comparatively negligent?
• Did the Plaintiff suffer serious injuries from the fall?
• Were the Plaintiff’s injuries permanent?
• How much compensation should be paid to the victim?

What We Did to Win at Trial

We filed a lawsuit in the Wayne County Circuit Court and took numerous depositions in the case, including those of the Plaintiff, her husband, restaurant employees, and treating doctors. We hired a vocational rehabilitation expert to interview our client and provide an opinion on her ability to become a nurse and to provide an estimate of the lifetime loss of earnings.

The Defendant refused to pay a reasonable settlement so the case proceeded to a jury trial. After lengthy deliberations, the jury awarded the Plaintiff the amount of $ 1,425,000.