Common Injuries at Nail Salons: Who is Liable?
A nail salon is supposed to be a place where you relax, enjoy, and rejuvenate, so you most likely have the assumption that it is a safe zone. Unfortunately, that assumption can often be wrong. Employees and guests are injured in nail salons around Georgia every year. Treatments can sometimes lead to health concerns and injuries if proper safety procedures are either not put into place or followed. If you are injured in a nail salon, are you entitled to be compensated for your injuries?
Most Common Nail Salon Injuries
According to statistics, people are injured in nail salons for various reasons, but the most common injuries are:
- Fungal, viral and bacterial infections stemming from unsanitized equipment, such as:
- Strep
- Flesh-eating bacteria
- HIV
- Staph
- Athlete’s Foot
- Warts (HPV)
- Hepatitis
- Wax Burns
- Chemical Burns
- Scarring resulting from infections, scrapes, cuts, and burns
- Bleeding Wounds
- Skin Ulcers and Boils
- Ingrown Finger and Toenails
- Allergic Reactions
- Trauma from slip and fall injuries
How to Recognize Unsanitary Conditions
Unfortunately, it is often hard to see when a nail salon isn’t following proper sanitary procedures because bacteria and viruses can’t be seen with the naked eye. There are some things that might indicate that they are not following proper practices, though, like:
Reusing non-metal tools, only metal tools can be reused after being sterilized
Not using proper disinfectants or sterilizers
Going from one client to the next without wiping things down
Recycling foot bathwater
Not rinsing foot baths well after use
Can I Sue if I Am Injured at a Nail Salon?
Whenever you have a service performed, if someone acts negligently and it results in an injury, you are entitled to compensation. Although they’re not as common, and are not always easy to prove, you can sue for your nail salon injuries. The key to receiving fair compensation is finding the right personal injury lawyer in Augusta to represent you.
Nail salons have an obligation to provide a certain “duty of care,” and when they don’t, that puts them at fault. You, however, have to prove that your injuries were directly related to the nail salon’s actions. You will need to prove the following to do that:
- The nail salon should have reasonably foreseen that either their lack of action or direct actions would lead to the potential of injury or harm
- The employee or employees did nothing to prevent an injury from happening
- It was their inaction or action that directly caused your injury
- You suffered due to the injuries you sustained
Steps Necessary When Visiting a Nail Salon
When you have a service performed at a nail salon, it is important to take proper precautions in the event that you are injured, such as:
- Always pay by credit card instead of cash so that you have proof of service
- If you have an adverse reaction to treatment, seek medical care immediately
- Keep all of your medical receipts and records
- Record a journal of what happened
- Take pictures, when possible
When it comes to proving your nail salon injury, the more documentation you have, the better. Keeping detailed records will help you prove that the injury was directly related to the service or treatment that you received.
Work with a Nail Salon Injury Attorney in Augusta
As stated above, the best way to ensure that you get all that you are entitled to for your nail salon injury is to have a professional in your corner. At Califf Law Firm, we are leaders in personal injury in Augusta, including nail salon injuries. We have the experience and expertise to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your suffering. Finding representation immediately is the best way to make sure that you have all that you need to prove your case. Contact us today to file your personal injury claim!
