Common Injuries at Knoxville Bars and Nightclubs

Knoxville injury lawyers helping bar fight victims in Tennessee

There are a lot if bars and nightclubs in the greater Knoxville area, and they’re popular with locals and tourists alike. Sometimes, things can get a little rowdy – and sometimes, that translates into people sustaining pretty serious injuries. At Banks & Jones, we help folks who have been injured in bar fights, or who were victims of assault. Our background in criminal defense makes us uniquely qualified to help injury victims with these claims. Don’t wait; call our Knoxville injury lawyers today.

How can we help?

Which injuries are the most common in Knoxville nightclubs and bars?

Patrons, workers, and passers-by can all sustain injuries if a nightclub or bar is unsafe. The cases we take tend to involve catastrophic injuries such as:

What causes injuries at Knoxville bars and nightclubs?

Bars, nightclubs, and taverns can be dangerous places even without alcohol. They’re often dark (at least, they are at night) and crowded, and when the liquor is flowin’ the chances are good that the floors are wet and the tables are sticky. As such most injuries are the result of:

  • A slip and fall. Many patrons of bars and nightclubs may fall because the facility failed to protect their patrons. Anyone at the facility can slip, stumble, trip, or fall while walking or dancing under any of the following conditions:
    • Bars and nightclubs in Knoxville need to comply with crowd safety regulations and standards to ensure the people in the facility are protected from harm. Facilities should never be filled beyond their capacity.
    • Failure to inspect the bar and nightclub areas. Falls may happen due to objects or liquids on the floor, chairs that are too close to each other, torn carpets, broken tiles, merchandise, cables, wires, and many other dangers and obstructions.
    • Poor lighting. Many bars and nightclubs are dark so people in the facility can focus on a game on TV, the entertainment, or just to create a mood.
    • Furniture that is too tightly packed. There should be enough room between chairs and tables for people to walk without bumping into a piece of furniture or tripping and falling.
    • Failure to warn of known dangers. Property owners need to use signs and other strategies to warn anyone in the vicinity of the bar or nightclub of a known danger, such as wet floors or parts of the facility that require repairs.
  • Broken glass. Beer bottles, wine glasses, and other fragile items are regularly served at both bars and nightclubs. Property owners need to take steps to ensure that patrons don’t suffer cuts, lacerations, or puncture wounds from any type of broken glass.
  • Assaults/fights. Alcohol messes with your brain. Sometimes that’s a nice feeling, but sometimes it makes folks aggressive and quick to anger. When fights occur, the participants in the fight and anyone nearby can be harmed due to a punch, a kick, a fall, a gunshot, or other reasons.
  • Inadequate security measures. That big fella at the front, checking IDs? He’s not nearly enough security, in some cases. Some people can be injured in accidents, and others can be victims of violence, when bars, nightclubs, and other establishments fail to:
  • Install adequate lighting
  • Install security systems/ hire a security company
  • Train their employees how to identify and cut off people who are visibly intoxicated
  • Have clearly stated rules about whether they allow firearms in the building
  • Remove patrons who are causing trouble or behaving aggressively, even if they haven’t been in a fight
  • At Banks & Jones, our Knoxville bar and nightclub injury lawyers understand the unique reasons why a customer or a bystander may be injured while enjoying a drink or entertainment at a tavern or nightspot.

Who is responsible for bar or nightclub injuries in Knoxville?

At Banks & Jones, we file personal injury and wrongful death claims against everyone responsible for bar and nightclub injuries or fatalities. Grounds for liability vary, depending on the reason the injuries occurred.

In addition to the owner (and depending on how your injuries happened), we may file a claim against:

  • The person who struck or assaulted you
  • A bouncer or security guard who used excessive force
  • Another patron who engaged in dangerous behavior
  • A third-party manufacturer or retailer (if a defective product led to your injuries)

We also file workers’ compensation claims if a bartender or any other employee is injured during their employment.

Suing a bar owner/operator

In Tennessee, property owners have a duty to their customers and anyone who has a right to be on the property to take reasonable steps to protect the customers and visitors. The duty of care is higher if you are an invitee (a customer or someone the bar or nightclub invited onto the facility, such as a performer) than a licensee (someone who has the right to be on the property but isn’t there for the benefit of the owner). Generally, employers are liable for the negligence of any of their employees under the theory of vicarious liability, which means you can file a lawsuit if an employee hurts you, too.

Dram shop liability in Tennessee

Remember that vicarious liability we just talked about? It applies to drunk drivers, too. In Tennessee, you can file a claim against the bar or tavern owner if the owner (or one of its employees, like a server or a bartender) knowingly serves a minor OR serves someone who was visibly intoxicated, and the alcohol consumption is the direct cause of your accident and injuries.

When bar fights, slip and fall accidents, and accidents due to negligent security happen, we assert that the owner of the bar or nightclub is responsible due to one of the following reasons:

How does my role in a fight affect my Knoxville personal injury claim?

Generally, if you didn’t start the fight and didn’t use excessive force to respond to any attacks, you should be able to file a personal injury claim in Knoxville. If you and another patron agree to fight each other, then you generally cannot file a claim. We recommend that you contact us. We’ll review what happened and advise you about whether you have a viable claim against the other patron and/or against the owner of the bar or nightclub.

In some cases, such as when someone assaults you, the police and prosecutors may file criminal charges – especially if someone dies or is severely injured. The likelihood of criminal charges increases dramatically if a weapon was used. Our Knoxville personal injury lawyers will coordinate your civil claim with any criminal charges.

What damages can victims of bar and nightclub injuries in Knoxville claim?

Our Knoxville personal injury lawyers demand full compensation for all your injuries, including all your current and future:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost income, including if you are permanently disabled
  • Physical pain and emotional suffering
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Loss of life’s pleasures
  • Loss of consortium (enjoyment of marital relations)
  • Punitive damages for unconscionable conduct
  • Wrongful death damages if a loved one died

Do you have a Knoxville injury lawyer near me?

At Banks & Jones, we meet clients at our Knoxville office located at 2125 Middlebrook Pike. If you’re not mobile, we can make alternate arrangements. Our lawyers also conduct phone and video consultations.

We understand how anxious you are. We’ll calmly guide you through each step of the claims process.

Call our Knoxville injury lawyers if you were hurt in a bar or nightclub

Bars and nightclubs are places where should be able to unwind and relax. They should not be places where you need to leave by ambulance or emergency transport. At Banks & Jones, we understand what types of injuries happen at these facilities, who is responsible, and what damages you deserve. We Fight 2 Win and obtain the maximum compensation possible. To assert your rights, please call us or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation.