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Slip and Falls at McDonald's: What You Need to Know

When you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident at McDonald’s, you may be entitled to recover significant compensation for your pain and suffering and money damages to pay for your medical care as well as to reimburse you for past and future wages and earnings that you were denied because of your injuries. 

With the famous golden arches of McDonald’s in nearly every city and in every state, slips and falls that occur in this popular fast-food chain are not only inevitable, they are predictable. Our attorneys have litigated these cases and whether they occur in the parking lot that was never properly cleared and salted after a snow, in the bathroom on slippery tiles, or on carpet or wood that is sticking up in the main dining room, McDonald’s can be just as negligent in failing to protect its customers as any other restaurant that invites the public to dine in. No matter the exact cause of your  accident, our experienced slip and fall lawyers can help you recover the full compensation you deserve.

No matter what state you were in when you were injured in a slip and fall accident at McDonald’s, our team of nationally recognized slip and fall attorneys who specialize exclusively in these types of premises liability cases can help. We fight for clients in Michigan and all over the country. If the McDonald’s where you were injured is located outside Michigan, our attorneys can still represent you, joining with co-counsel in your state or we can connect you with a top premises liability lawyer to help you. Our goal is always to get you the maximum possible settlement if you’ve been hurt. 

Common McDonald’s Slip and Fall Hazards and Injuries

Like most restaurants, common slip and fall hazards at McDonald’s include slippery floors or pavement, unstable or broken tiles, defective steps or missing handrails, loose carpeting, exterior potholes or asphalt cracks, foreign objects on the floor, and poor lighting. 

Injuries after a slip and fall at McDonald’s can include:

  • Death
  • Traumatic brain injury or brain damage
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Paralysis
  • Internal organ damage
  • Fractured bones 
  • Bruises, scrapes, sprains, or cuts

Determining Liability in McDonald's Slip and Fall Cases

Determining McDonald’s liability for your slip and fall injuries depends on: (1) showing that the restaurant had possession and control over the property where the dangerous condition that caused your fall is located, and (2) McDonald’s breached its duty to protect customers like you by making their premises safe.

Michigan law imposes a “duty” on property owners such as McDonald’s “to exercise reasonable care to protect” their customers “from an unreasonable risk of harm caused by a dangerous condition” on the hotel’s property. (M  Civ JI 19.03)

To protect its customers, McDonald’s must “make the premises safe”  – as required by the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision in Stitt v. Holland  – by taking the following actions:

  • Inspecting the premises
  • Making necessary repairs
  • Warning restaurant customers  about known dangers and discovered hazards

Establishing Negligence and Proving Fault

When it comes to establishing negligence and proving fault against McDonald’s for your slip and fall, it may not always be clear who is to blame because McDonald’s may not be in exclusive possession and control the property where the dangerous condition is located and, thus, McDonald’s may not be the only responsible party who has a duty to protect customers and make the premises safe. 

In slip and fall and premises liability cases, Michigan law recognizes the concept of “joint control and possession” whereby more multiple persons or businesses or entities share possession and control over a piece of property. 

This could be the situation in a McDonald’s slip and fall accident case. For instance, if the McDonald’s corporation owned the land while a franchise holder owned the establishment, the corporation might be liable for a fall in the parking lot, while the franchise holder might be liable for a fall inside the establishment. However, depending on the control and power that the corporation actually exercises over the operation of the franchise, the corporation may be deemed to have or share possession and control over the premises – even if a franchise or lease agreement says otherwise.  

Gathering Evidence to Support Your Claim

You’ll need to gather: (1)  photos of the scene and conditions that caused your fall, (2) video footage of your fall including the events leading up to and after the accident, (3) a copy of the incident report you filed with McDonalds, (4) names and contact information from witnesses (including statements if possible). 

You will also need to keep copies of all of your medical records as well as your medical bills. This will help you prove that your fall caused your injuries. It will also help you prove your claim for economic damages by showing how much you have had to pay and will have to pay for your medical care and treatment in the future.

Damages and Compensation for McDonald's Slip and Fall Injuries

You may be able to recover noneconomic damages such as compensation for the pain and suffering you’re experiencing because of your injuries. You may also be able to recover economic damages that will help you pay for your medical care and past and future lost wages. 

The amount you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries, your medical needs, your medical bills, the amount of wages and earnings that you have lost as a result of your injuries, the coverage limits of McDonald’s liability insurance, and the reputation and track record of your attorney. 

Statute of Limitations and Time Limits for Filing a Claim

You have three years from the accident date to take legal action against McDonald’s for your slip and fall injuries. This 3-year period is the statute of limitations for premises liability claims in Michigan. 

If you fail to file your lawsuit before the 3-year statute of limitations expires, you will lose the right to sue and your claim will be time-barred. You will not be able to legally hold McDonald’s accountable for causing your injuries.

Injured in a slip and fall at a McDonald’s in Michigan? Call now!

At Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyers, we never take a fee unless you win. No matter where your McDonald’s slip and fall occurs, we can help. Our nationally recognized attorneys specialize exclusively in slip and fall litigation. For cases that occur outside of Michigan, we will co-counsel with the best slip and fall lawyers throughout the country. We can also help connect you with a true, experienced slip and fall lawyer who shares the same high professional and ethical standards that we do. Call us now (855) 905-0332 for a free, no-cost, no-obligation, consultation with one of our experienced slip and fall lawyers to discuss your legal rights to pain and suffering compensation and to money damages to help you and your family pay your medical bills and make up for the wages you’ve lost because your injuries have disabled you from working. There is no cost or obligation for this free consultation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.

Frequently Asked Questions About McDonald’s Slip and Fall Cases

Here we address the questions that people most frequently ask. We hope our answers are helpful to you and your family. However, if you still have additional questions or questions we have not answered, we hope you will reach out to us. You can call us anytime for a free consultation.

Do I need to hire a lawyer for a slip and fall case against a McDonald's restaurant?

If you were injured in a slip and fall accident at a McDonald’s restaurant, you need to hire an experienced slip and fall lawyer. There is no legal requirement that you get a lawyer. But you will not be able to recover the full compensation you are legally entitled to without the assistance of a lawyer who has the specialized knowledge and skill to take on and win against a corporation like McDonald’s. McDonald’s fights all slip and fall cases – even the ones in which they are clearly negligent – very aggressively. They dispute liability and deny and minimize victims’ injuries in every case. They overwhelm inexperienced lawyers who do not specialize in handling these types of cases and force the lawyers to pressure their clients into accepting low-ball settlement offers that are well below what their cases are actually worth. 

Can I sue McDonald's?

You may be able to sue McDonald’s for your slip and fall injuries if: (1)  McDonald’s had possession and control over the property where the dangerous condition that caused your accident is located, and (2) McDonald’s breached its duty to protect customers like you by making their premises safe for customers.

How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim against a McDonald's restaurant in Michigan?

You have three years from the time of the injury to file a claim.

Get a Free Consultation With A Metro Detroit Farmington Hills Slip and Fall Lawyer Now

To speak with an experienced attorney about your case, call us now or fill out our contact form for a free consultation. There is absolutely no cost or obligation. We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can answer all your legal questions about Michigan’s slip and fall law and explain how we can make the law work for you.

What Is Your Slip and Fall Case Worth?

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