At least two-dozen people were injured when a wooden deck collapsed into Biscayne Bay at Shuckers Waterfront Grill last night in North Bay Village, FL. Apparently, as the overflow crowd cheered their local Miami Heat team during the NBA Finals, the wooden patio deck abruptly collapsed, pitching as many as 100 patrons into Biscayne Bay and injuring dozens. As a result of the collapse, the lighting at the rear of the waterfront restaurant failed, resulting in darkness and chaos. The patrons that were suddenly plunged into the water struggled to safety amid the ruins of the wooden deck, tables, chairs, umbrellas, and other debris. Shortly after the incident it began to rain, creating even more difficult conditions for first responders and rescuers.

Premises Liability – The Landowner and Business Operator’s Duty to Patrons

A landowner or business operator owes a duty of care to its invitees to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. It is essential that property owners, especially commercial operators, maintain strict adherence to state and local building codes, fire safety codes, including occupancy limitations, and perform routine and regular maintenance and inspection of the property to insure it is safe and free from defects and hazards.

Questions remain about exact cause of premise deck failure and full extent of Shuckers Waterfront Grill’s liability

At this early stage, it is uncertain what caused the collapse of the patio deck at Shuckers. It will be necessary to conduct detailed inspections with engineers and other professionals in the fields of construction and building maintenance in order to determine the root cause of the deck failure. Also important will be an analysis of the occupancy of the restaurant at the time of the occurrence.

Have you sustained injuries as a result of a premise failure? Contact the law firm of Jeffrey R. Davis, P.A.

At Jeffrey R. Davis, P.A., we handle cases involving premises liability that result in injuries to guests, patrons, and invitees. If you have been injured while at a business, such as a restaurant, please contact the law firm of Jeffrey R. Davis, P.A. to determine what your rights are with regard to compensation for your injuries and damages. Jeffrey R. Davis, P.A. is a plantiff’s injury law firm that has represented thousands of people in South Florida since 1997. Please contact us for a free case analysis.