Who could have thought that finding your seat in a movie theater before the movie, making a trip to the restroom during the movie, or finding your car after the credits roll on the big screen will lead to an injury?
No moviegoer expects any harm when buying movie tickets, which is why getting injured in a movie theater accident can catch any moviegoer off guard. Luckily, Pennsylvania premises liability law allows injured moviegoers to sue movie theaters and multiplexes for their failure to maintain the movie theater, walkways, restrooms, and the main lobby in a safe condition and free of any hazards.
And our Pittsburgh movie theater accident attorney from Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman is going to explain in which situations you may be able to seek monetary compensation for your injury that occurred before, during, or after a movie.
However, you cannot recover damages for all types of movie theater accidents out there. You may be entitled to seek compensation only if you can prove that the owner of the movie theater or its employees failed to ensure safe premises or failed to eliminate a dangerous condition within a reasonable amount of time.
CAUSES OF MOVIE THEATER ACCIDENTS IN PENNSYLVANIA
- Slip and fall accidents: Unclean, slippery and wet floors, as well as obstacles on the floor, are responsible for the vast majority of movie theater accidents in Pennsylvania. Movie theaters have the legal duty to keep their premises safe, regularly clean floors, and warn visitors and moviegoers about slippery floors by putting the “Caution! Wet floor” sign. Also, movie theater employees have a duty to inspect and maintain the premises to address and fix any hazardous conditions on the property.
- Inadequate security: You may be surprised how many people get injured in movie theaters due to inadequate security measures. A movie theater’s failure to take reasonable security steps to protect its customers may result in assaults, rape, and robberies on the premises.
- Improper sanitation: Unclean environments cause bacteria, viruses, and infection to spread in bathrooms, soda fountains, and popcorn containers.
- Choking on popcorn: If the movie theater served you popcorn that was unchewable and large or otherwise made you choke on it, you may be able to hold the movie theater liable for your injury.
- Falling objects: As you can imagine, many things can fall on your head when you sit in the movie theater for one and a half hours in a row. These objects include but are not limited to lightbulbs, movie posters, tiles, wires, speakers, and many more.
- Food poisoning: Whenever you go to a movie theater, it may be difficult to resist the temptation to order popcorn and drinks to keep your mouth and hands busy for one and a half hours or longer. However, studies have shown that popcorn contains harmful chemicals, but that’s half of the problem. On the other end of the spectrum, you can be hospitalized with food poisoning because the movie theater sold you contaminated, spoiled, or otherwise unsafe or other food or liquid.
- Assault and battery: Think about all the situations in movie theaters where you were annoyed by people talking on the phone during a dramatic scene in the movie, or shouting out nasty things during a passionate kiss, or putting their feet on your seat, or even simply being loud. Yes, many things can go wrong in a movie theater, which can lead to assault and battery.
Regardless of how you were injured in a movie theater, it is advised that you speak to an experienced movie theater attorney in Pittsburgh or elsewhere in Pennsylvania. Let our lawyers at Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman discuss your particular case. Call our offices at (412) 391-7610 for a free case evaluation.
