Slip and Fall
Slip and fall accidents make up a significant number of premises liability claims in Georgia. In many cases, victims suffer serious injuries that result in significant medical expenses as well as several weeks, months, or even years of physical therapy.
Property owners in Georgia are obligated to ensure that their property is safe for invitees, and licensees and is free from any hazardous conditions. When a person is injured on another person’s property, the property owner’s insurance company may assert that the victim was largely—or possibly even entirely—to blame for his or her injuries.
Lawyer for Slip and Fall Injuries in Atlanta, GA
If you suffered severe injuries or your loved one was killed in a slip and fall accident in Georgia, it is in your best interest to make sure that you have legal representation before discussing the incident with an insurance company. You should contact The Balams Firm as soon as possible.
ReShea Balams is an experienced personal injury attorney in Atlanta who represents clients with premises liability claims in communities all over Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Clayton County, Cobb County, and DeKalb County, such as Milton, East Point, Forest Park, Alpharetta, Dunwoody, Norcross, Smyrna, Sandy Springs, and many others.
You can have our lawyer provide a complete evaluation of your case when you call (404) 445-2005 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Georgia Slip and Fall Accident Information Center
- What obligations does a property owner have for his or her guests?
- What should a person do after a slip and fall accident?
- Where can I learn more about slip and fall accidents in Atlanta?
Property Owner Liability for Slip and Fall Accidents in Atlanta
Georgia Code § 51-3-1 establishes that an owner or occupier of land is liable in damages to persons visiting the property by express or implied invitation for injuries caused by the owner or occupier’s failure to exercise ordinary care in keeping the premises safe. The customers at most businesses in Georgia are considered invitees.
Under Georgia Code § 51-3-2(b), the owner of the premises is liable to a licensee only for willful or wanton injury. Georgia Code § 51-3-2(a) defines a licensee as a person who:
- Is neither a customer, a servant nor a trespasser;
- Does not stand in any contractual relation with the owner of the premises; and
- Is permitted, expressly or impliedly, to go on the premises merely for his or her own interests, convenience, or gratification.
Georgia Code § 51-3-3(b) establishes that a lawful possessor of land owes no duty of care to a trespasser except to refrain from causing a willful or wanton injury. Victims of slip and fall accidents can be entitled to various damages, including medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
What You Should Do After a Slip and Fall Accident in Fulton County, GA
Following a slip and fall accident, it is important for victims to take steps in order to preserve their ability to obtain compensation for their injuries. The first thing a victim should do is to make sure that he or she receives some medical attention. Some serious injuries involve delayed symptoms, and insurance companies have been known to use a person’s delays in treatment as evidence that the victim is exaggerating or falsifying the severity of their injury claims.
A victim should also be sure to try to photograph the scene of the accident. Pictures should include the particular hazard that caused the injury. If a victim is unable to take photographs because he or she is receiving medical care, then a friend or family member should take this measure for him or her.
It is also important to file a formal report with the manager or other person responsible for overseeing the business when a slip and fall accident occurs in a store. Regardless of whether a slip and fall injury occurs on public or private property, the insurance company for the property owner is very likely to contact the victim soon after the incident. Victims should refuse to make any statements during these calls.
Insurers often want victims to quickly accept settlements that are usually much less than what people injured in slip and fall accidents actually deserve. You will want to make sure that you retain legal counsel before speaking to any representative or agent for an insurance company.
Georgia Slip and Fall Resources
Slip, and Fall Quick Facts | National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) — The NFSI is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with the mission “to aid in the prevention of slips, trips, and falls through education, research, and standards development.” Visit this section of the NFSI website to view several different slip and fall statistics. You can also submit details of your own fall to the NFSI so the incident can be reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Slip and Fall Claims in Georgia | The Reading Room | Georgia State University — View the full text of a Georgia State University College of Law Research Guide discussing slip and fall claims. Learn more about related legislation and case law. You can also find information on interest groups, blogs, and computerized research.
Find a Slip and Fall Attorney in Atlanta, GA
Did you sustain catastrophic injuries or was your loved one killed in a slip and fall accident in Georgia? You will want to contact The Balams Firm as soon as possible.
Atlanta personal injury lawyer ReShea Balams helps residents and visitors in Norcross, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Forest Park, Milton, East Point, Alpharetta, Dunwoody, and several other nearby communities in Cobb County, Clayton County, Gwinnett County, Fulton County, and DeKalb County. Call (404) 445-2005 or fill out an online contact form to have our attorney review your case and help you understand all of your legal options during a free, no-obligation consultation.
