Restaurants should be a place where families and friends can gather to celebrate their companionship. On occasion, however, an angry customer will engage in an act of violence.
Victims of shootings in restaurants may be the target of that anger or innocent bystanders. In either case, they suffer injuries that could have been prevented if the restaurant had provided adequate security.
Adequate security begins in the parking lot. Lighting should be sufficient to deter robberies and other violent crimes. Restaurants can be held responsible for shootings in parking lots that would have been deterred by better lighting or security measures.
When owners should foresee the significant risk that a shooting might occur inside the restaurant, they have a duty to protect their patrons from harm. Hiring security staff to remove customers when they become threatening is often the best way to assure the safety of other customers.
When restaurants negligently fail to protect their patrons, they can be held liable. A security negligence lawyer can advise shooting victims about their right to seek compensation from the restaurant where the crime occurred.
Finding a Doctor for Emergency Treatment After a Shooting at a Restaurant
All shooting wounds require immediate medical attention. Serious injuries should be treated at an Emergency Room. Someone should call 911 immediately to report the shooting and to request an ambulance.
Paramedics can evaluate the wound and decide whether emergency treatment is required. If a paramedic recommends an ambulance ride to the emergency room, a crime victim should always agree to receive immediate treatment. Internal bleeding and organ damage can be fatal if prompt treatment is not rendered.
Emergency rooms have an obligation to treat uninsured patients if a wound is life-threatening or if it might seriously impair the function of any part of the body. That treatment must continue until the injury is stabilized.
Continuing Treatment After Emergency Care for a Shooting at a Restaurant
It is important for crime victims to follow treatment recommendations after emergency care ends. Wounds can become infected, causing a life-threatening condition known as sepsis, if they do not receive proper care. Muscles and other soft tissues can develop scar tissue that limits mobility and causes constant pain.
Treatment often includes physical therapy to exercise muscles and promote healing. Since physical therapy tends to be painful and time-consuming, however, patients often neglect to follow through on appointments. Healing stalls and conditions worsen when patients do not follow a healthcare professional’s advice.
It is also more difficult for the crime victim’s lawyer to settle a case for fair compensation when the victim ignores treatment recommendations. Insurance companies assume that the injuries must have healed when the victim stops treatment.
When treatment resumes, the insurance company argues that the treatment was for a new injury. Shooting victims take compensation out of their own pockets when their medical records indicate that the victim did not follow a doctor’s orders.
Finding a Doctor for Continuing Treatment After a Shooting at a Restaurant
Shooting victims who have health insurance can contact their insurer to learn how to find a doctor for continuing care. Many insurance companies assign a primary care physician who then recommends specialists within the patient’s network.
Victims who have the option to choose their own physician can ask for referrals from friends or relatives. Online reviews can also be helpful.
Uninsured victims may qualify for treatment under Medicare or Medicaid. Veterans might qualify for treatment at a VA Hospital, particularly if the shooting aggravated a service-related injury.
Some doctors will agree to treat a patient in exchange for a lien against settlement proceeds. The victim’s security negligence lawyer may be able to recommend a doctor who has agreed to treat uninsured patients in the past.
If you have questions about a wrongful death case, please contact a wrongful death attorney today.