October 11, 2024 | Columbia Personal Injury Blog
A day at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden should be filled with fun and wonder, not pain and suffering. Yet accidents happen, even in ordinarily safe environments. From slippery walking surfaces to dangerous animal encounters, our personal injury lawyers share that it’s essential to understand your rights if you’re injured while visiting the most popular zoo in South Carolina.
Types of Accidents That Happen at Zoos
Injuries that occur in zoos are sometimes typical of injuries that occur in other environments. In other cases, they are atypical accidents that are specifically related to the zoo environment. Premises liability arises from the zoo’s responsibility to keep zoo property safe for its guests by remedying known dangerous conditions, warning of unavoidable dangers (a “No Climbing” sign, for example), and inspecting the zoo periodically for latent dangers.
Common zoo accidents relating to premises liability include:
- Animal injuries: Zoos normally take precautions to prevent animals from injuring guests. Nevertheless, animal injuries are more common than you might expect. Most are relatively minor—minor bites and scratches from small animals. Once in a while, however, an animal will seriously injure a guest.
- Slip and fall accidents: Zoos in general feature uneven terrain, water hazards, and potentially dangerous exhibits. These hazards can lead to slip and fall accidents that result in serious injuries.
- Falling objects: Tree branches, display structures, or poorly secured equipment can fall and injure a visitor.
- Malfunctioning equipment can cause injuries.
- Animal-borne illnesses are sometimes spread through animals or their waste.
- Food poisoning: Since the zoo sells food, food poisoning is always a risk.
- Criminality: Unruly guests or pickpockets can present dangers to zoo guests. Violence or other crimes could lead to zoo liability for inadequate security.
- Overcrowding, especially during peak season, can increase the risk of slip and fall accidents.
- Wrongful death: Once in a while, tragedy strikes. Occasional wrongful deaths occurred at zoos. In 2012, for example, a two-year-old boy was killed in an African Wild Dog exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo after he fell into the exhibit. The zoo consequently instituted safety reforms to prevent further deaths and injuries.
Understanding these risks highlights the importance of a zoo’s duty to maintain a safe environment for all guests. When zoos fall short of this duty, injured visitors may be entitled to compensation for their losses, helping to ensure accountability and safer experiences for future guests.
Measures That Zoos Use to Enhance Safety
Here are three of the most effective safety features that a zoo can provide:
- Strong barriers and fences: These safety features, more than anything else, protect visitors from animal attacks. They should be sturdy enough to prevent a determined child from slipping through them.
- Well-trained zoo staff: Zookeepers and other staff should be trained to handle animals safely and to respond quickly to any emergencies.
- Warning signs: Signs can provide guests with information about the animals, yielding both educational and safety benefits. Remember, though, that small children are often unable to read the signs or unwilling to heed their advice.
Zoo staff should do everything within their power to assure the safety of visitors. Nevertheless, it is crucial for visitors to be aware of potential dangers and to follow all safety guidelines at all times.
Settlement Negotiations
There are two realities you need to be aware of. First, assuming that your personal injury claim is strong, you will probably end up negotiating a settlement with an insurance company rather than going to trial in a courtroom. Second, you’ll probably be negotiating with an insurance adjuster who negotiates claims for a living. That makes it even more important than ever for you to hire an experienced lawyer to handle negotiations for you.
Remember that since Riverbanks Zoo & Garden is a government entity, special restrictions apply to filing a lawsuit against it. These restrictions include much stricter deadlines for filing a claim and can weaken your bargaining power at the negotiating table.
Employee Injuries and Workers’ Compensation Claims
Zoo employees often face far greater dangers than the public does. After all, they must sometimes be in close proximity to dangerous animals in order to feed and care for them. This can lead to an employee injury that generates a workers’ compensation claim. It is the employer who pays the premiums for workers’ compensation insurance. Since workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, it is difficult for workers’ compensation to avoid liability when a zoo employee suffers a work-related injury.
Do You Qualify for Personal Injury Compensation?
If you were injured on zoo property as a guest, you may be eligible for personal injury compensation—even if you’re unsure about your eligibility or the potential value of your claim. A Columbia, SC, personal injury lawyer can assess your case, helping you understand your rights and options. By working on a contingency fee basis, a lawyer shows their confidence in your case, as they only get paid if you win. With an experienced attorney by your side, you’ll have the guidance and advocacy needed to pursue the compensation you deserve. If you were injured as a worker, you’d benefit from an attorney, too.
If you have been injured at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia, SC, Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers can help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation at (803) 573-0869.
Contact a South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer at Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers Today
For more information, contact the personal injury law firm of Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation. We have five convenient locations in South Carolina: Columbia, Lexington, Orangeburg, and Blythewood.
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Columbia, SC
1333 Main St #510,
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 573-0869
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Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Lexington, SC
5465 Sunset Blvd Suite B,
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(803) 721-4241
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Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Orangeburg, SC
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Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Blythewood, SC
749-2 University Village Dr,
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Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers – Columbiana Dr
380 Columbiana Dr
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 866-5522
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