A growing number of people have been injured in auto accidents involving outdoor dining areas for restaurants that have moved into the streets due to COVID-19.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting outdoor dining auto accident induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured in a car accident involving a street dining area, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Accidents & Personal Injury Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Outdoor Dining During Coronavirus Pandemic
In the summer of 2020, cities across the U.S. allowed thousands of restaurants to temporarily expand their dining areas into streets, sidewalks, and parking lots.
What is the Problem?
The new rules let restaurants re-open and give patrons more social distancing to control the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Unfortunately, several people have been injured in auto accidents when drivers plowed into dining areas in the street.
Outdoor Dining Auto Accidents On the Rise
According to the Wall Street Journal, at least 8 people were injuered in 4 auto accidents that occurred in New York City in the first 12 weeks of the “Open Restaurants” program. The program approved more than 6,000 restaurants to set up tables and chairs in the street, sidewalk, or patio areas.
Traffic safety expert Beau Biller told the Wall Street Journal that drivers could be startled by newly constructed seating areas in roadways:
“It doesn’t surprise me that there have been accidents. All of a sudden, there’s something in the roadway with no warning. That’s going to be a problem.”
5 People Injured in Auto Accident At NYC Restaurant
On July 12, four patrons and a waitress were injured at the 12 Corazones Restaurant in New York City when a driver plowed into the restaurant’s street dining area.
SUV Plows Into Outdoor Dining Area in New Jersey
On July 10, another auto accident occurred in New Jersey when an SUV plowed into the outdoor dining area for Nellie’s Place in Waldwick.
Luckily, no one was injured because the dining area was closed due to rain. The driver, a 57 year-old woman, apparently fainted at the wheel after giving blood for a COVID-19 test at Rite Aid. Here is the video:
3 Patrons Injured at L’Wren Restaurant in Brooklyn
On July 21, 2020, three diners suffered minor injuries at L’Wren cocktail bar in Sunset Park, Brooklyn when an out-of-control Ford pickup truck slammed through the barriers and ran through several tables and chairs.
Do I have an Outdoor Dining Auto Accident Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting outdoor dining auto accident induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured in a car accident involving a street dining area, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Accidents & Personal Injury Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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