Questions arose about the nature of an accident involving a bird that injured Christie Brinkley, supermodel and former spouse of singer Billy Joel. Ms. Brinkley was rushed to a Miami hospital from the Turks and Caicos Islands for medical treatment after a bird apparently caused an injury to her face. Her Instagram photos showed a swollen right eye and stitches.
“We interrupt this holiday to take a little unplanned excursion to Miami for cat scans and stitches following an accident trying to save a bird,” she wrote. It was unclear exactly what happened to cause the injury, but the incident occurred at Parrot Cay, a resort on the islands. Brinkley says that she banged her head while trying to save the bird’s life. She was treated at the University of Miami hospital.
Strange Accidents May Still Allow Recovery of Damages
If there is a unique and strange way in which a person can be injured, it is likely that someone has already experienced that type of injury before. Ultimately, the method of an injury is not important in a personal injury lawsuit. What is important is showing that someone was responsible for the damage that was caused. If the victim can show that someone else should have prevented the accident, it is very likely that the at-fault party can be held liable for damages.
This is true even with strange or unusual accidents. There have been lawsuits filed for every type of injury imaginable, from the person who was injured while using a blow dryer to the person bitten by a pet ferret. Whether or not the victims can collect damages depends on the nature of the injury and who was negligent in allowing it to happen.
The courts have continually upheld the right of visitors to a property to expect safety. This does not mean that a visitor can do anything he or she likes and expect to sue if harmed. However, it does mean that visitors have the right to expect what a reasonable person would expect in the area of safety: unbroken walkways, clearly lighted passageways, well-anchored heavy objects and other simple safety features. If a property owner is found to have neglected to keep property safe, he or she may be liable when someone is injured.
If you have been injured on someone’s property or if you have been the victim of a defective product, contact the attorneys at Bernstein & Maryanoff today for help.