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Slip and fall accidents can cause debilitating injuries and even death. Due to the potential severity of the injuries, you may incur high costs of treatment and miss work. If you suffered an injury in a slip and fall accident because a property owner failed to maintain a safe environment, you could be eligible for compensation.
Victims can file a slip and fall accident claim in Georgia when a property owner’s negligence contributed to the incident. A premises liability attorney from our firm can build and guide the case.
Legal Status Determines Your Eligibility to File a Slip and Fall Accident Claim in Georgia
To file a slip and fall accident claim, you must prove that the property owner had a duty to keep their property safe, and they failed in that duty. Depending on the purpose of your visit, the owner may owe you a certain level of care. Generally, there are three types of visitors: invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
Invitees
These are people invited onto the property for business reasons or the property owner’s benefit. Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees.
Property owners are liable for any damages caused by their failure to keep their premises reasonably safe. As such, they must take all the reasonable steps to ensure that the premises are safe for invitees, which includes:
- Inspecting the property
- Warning of any hazards
- Repairing damages
The legal duty applies to dangers that the owner knew about or reasonably should have known about. If the property owner fails to uphold their responsibilities, they may be held liable for injuries that result.
However, the property owners do not have an obligation to warn about obstacles in plain view of the invitees, because they have the same amount of knowledge about the obstacles as the property owner.
Licensees
Licensees are visitors who have permission to come to the property, but for their interests. Door-to-door salespersons are one example.
Property owners can be held liable for injuries if they expose licensees to an obstacle that poses an unreasonable risk of harm. For a slip and fall accident to be successful, the licensee must prove that the property owner knew about the hazard or there was an intent to cause harm.
Trespassers
These are visitors without permission to be on the premises. The property owner owes the least amount of duty of care to trespassers—the only duty that the property owner has is not to harm them willfully.
We Can Help You With Your Case
While it is possible to file a slip and fall accident claim all by yourself, our attorneys can help you in various ways:
Investigating the Accident
To succeed in a slip and fall accident claim, you must prove that the property owner was at fault, and thus is liable for your injuries. This can be difficult, especially when you are still recovering. Our lawyers can help you conduct a thorough investigation to prove that the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition.
Collecting Evidence
For a slip and fall accident claim to be successful, there must be compelling evidence putting the owner at fault and proving that you suffered injuries. Your attorney will know how to obtain evidence to file a strong case.
Evaluating Your Claim
You might be eligible for a variety of damages. Some damages, such as medical expenses, are easy to calculate. However, calculating damages like pain and suffering are not as straightforward. Your lawyer will know how to evaluate your claim and fight for the amount of compensation you deserve.
Dealing With the Insurance Company
Insurance companies may wrongfully deny or undervalue your claim by offering a low settlement amount. Our attorneys will:
- Communicate with the insurer on your behalf
- Protect your claim
- Negotiate for a settlement that addresses your damages
Hire a Georgia Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer Today
If you suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident while on someone’s property in Georgia, you have the right to seek compensation for the medical bills and other resulting expenses and damages. At George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers, our personal injury attorneys hold the property owners accountable for their negligence.
We don’t charge any legal fees until our attorneys recover fair compensation for you. Contact us today for a free no-obligation case evaluation: (888) 612-7001.