Chair accidents are common in pubs, restaurants and cafes. Chair accidents can happen for a number of reasons like a broken or faulty chair leg, chair backs being damaged or loose, chairs collapsing or something sticking out of the chair which shouldn’t be there.
Under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957, it is the duty of the occupier to make sure that the chair is safe for use and is free of defects. An occupier is normally the owner of the premises, and as such it is their responsibility to take all reasonable steps to prevent injury to any visitors to their premises. If an owner fails to meet this duty they could be considered negligent, and you may be able to claim for compensation.
Those with a duty have a legal responsibility, and therefore any chairs must be regularly inspected and maintained in order to prevent an accident happening. An inspection must make sure that a chair is stable, and has no present breaks or defects. Records should be kept.
If an accident does occur in a cafe or restaurant, it would need to be reported in an accident report book. Such a report may be able to support your claim for compensation. Photographs of both the defective chair and the accident site would again be helpful in supporting your claim.
Do you have a potential claim? Call our free helpline now on 0800 634 75 75 for free advice on your chair accident claim.
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