Slip and Fall Injury Attorney in Decatur, Georgia
If you are interested in pursuing a slip and fall accident lawsuit to recover damages for your injuries, contact our Decatur, GA Slip and Fall Attorneys today. We can help you recover monetary assistance you are entitled to after sustaining injuries in a slip and fall accident.
We understand many victims are forced to pay out-of-pocket for medical costs and other expenses after an injury. That is why our Georgia Injury Litigation Law Firm works off a contingency basis meaning you pay nothing unless we win. If we do not feel you have a valid lawsuit, we will not take your case on.
Our legal staff will gather evidence, calculate damages, and identify who is at fault for your loss. We can get you monetary compensation medical bills, wage loss, and more. Don't let responsible parties get away with the heavy burden caused on you or your loved one's lives. If unsafe conditions were foreseen and no action was taken let our attorneys protect your rights!
What is a slip and fall injury?
Every slip and fall case is different; there are common legal terms you should consider every case.
Slip and Fall responsibility: Majority of instances the property owner is responsible for your injuries if that person was aware of the unsafe conditions or should have been aware of the unsafe conditions. Property owners have a responsibility to keep their property safe, but will not be held accountable for slip and fall accidents that they could not honestly prevent.
Slip and fall accident claims: If you are seeking compensation for your injuries, you will need to file a slip and fall accident claim or lawsuit. When presenting a slip and fall lawsuit or claim you need to be prepped to present evidence from the accident scene that shows the owner of the property had knowledge of or should have known about the condition that caused your injury.
Slip and fall attorneys: An experienced slip and fall attorney can be critical to gaining compensation that is rightfully yours. Filing a slip and fall claim or lawsuit can be a challenging and menacing process that can be less stressful with the assistance of an attorney.
Preventing slip and fall responsibility: If you are a home or small business owner, obtaining insurance can protect you from financial loss due to slip and fall accidents that take place on your property. Although stopping slip and fall accidents before they happen is ideal, a good home or insurance business plan can be a lifesaver if an invited guest slips and injuries themselves.
Who is at fault for a slip and fall accident:
The owner of the property you were injured could be held liable for your injuries. It must be proved first, however, that the owner was negligent before they can be responsible. A slip and fall accident can happen on any property-private, commercial, or government-owned. There are four general types of “fall” accidents which could lead to the filing of a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
- Trip- and -fall accidents, where there is a foreign object in the walking path
- Stump-and-fall accidents, where there is an impediment in the walking path
- Step-and-fall accidents, where there is an unexpected failure or hole in the walking surface
- Slip-and-fall accidents, in which the interface of the shoe and the floor fails, usually because of a slick surface.
What is the property owner's duty of care?
While many states hold the property owner responsible for exercising reasonable care in ownership and maintenance of the property with respects to any person who may enter the property, other states still apply an old rule that can limit the landlord's duties depending on the circumstances of the visitor. In those states, all visitors to the property are divided into three separate groups:
- invitees
- licensees, and
- trespassers
To be considered an injured party, you must first be categorized as one of the following three visitors:
- Invitees-Someone who enters a property to conduct business at the request of the owner is considered an invitee. This includes contractors, salespeople, customers, maintenance specialists, and the like. In other words, they have the direct or implied permission from the owner to be on the property.
- Licensees-Someone invited onto the property by the owner for social purposes is considered a licensee. Their presence is tolerated or permitted and therefore is not a trespasser, but does not qualify as an invitee. This typically includes neighbors, friends, and family.
- Trespasser-A trespasser enters a property without an invitation from the owner. He is neither an invitee nor licensee even if the trespasser is there because of a mistake. A trespasser knows (or should know) he was not invited. Thus, they have no legal basis to file a claim if injured on the property.
Examples of unsafe conditions:
- Accumulation of snow or ice
- Wet and slippery floors
- A severely damaged sidewalk
- Potholes, or
- Debris
Time is crucial in a slip a fall injury claim
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A slip and fall lawsuit must be filed within a specific amount of time. This specific time frame is known as a Statute of Limitations (SOL) and differs from state to state. Even if you have a valid cause of action to sue, missing the SOL will cause you your case. Generally, for a slip and fall matter, the SOL would be around one to two years. The deadlines usually increase when there is a minor involved, typically for the reason of slowing time waiting until the child becomes of age,
get contact information and statements from witnesses, if any. Act efficiently and quickly. Witnesses move, evidence disappears, and memories fade. Don't rely on opposing parties, insurance adjusters, or their attorneys to help you with your slip and fall claim. You must take charge, gather your evidence, pursue your compensation, and hire our Decatur attorneys to assist with all legal knowledge. Don't be mistaken, just because there is such a long period before a lawsuit must be filed, doesn't mean you can sit back and do nothing. Be proactive with your claim, don't wait for a large settlement to magically fall into your lap. Gather all helpful information right away. Medical care and treatment, including all expenses. Take photos right away if possible, this way you have factual proof of your injuries.
Should I file a report after I fall?
If you fell in a store or a common place where the normal protocol for the business is to construct a report, then yes, make sure an accident report is completed at the time of the accident. You do not need to sign anything or give any lengthy statements (in fact, you should not), just have the business take note of what happened, who witnessed it, and any other relevant information. Be sure to obtain a copy of the report.
Call our Decatur Law Offices for Free Legal Guidance
Time would not be on your side if you suffered from a slip and fall injury in Decatur, Georgia. While each slip and fall case is different, the attorneys in our Decatur office will use legal experience and expertise to protect your rights aggressively.
We have been helping the injured for many years, let our team represent your case and legally file your claim properly contact our Decatur Slip and Fall Injury Attorneys today by clicking on the button below.
