Lawrenceville Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer
Have you experienced a slip and fall accident injury in Lawrenceville, Ga due to the negligence of someone else? You might need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney.
Many personal injury cases derive from slip and fall incidents. It seems incidental, but occasionally people slip and fall and suffer severe injuries. The law states that if you slip and trip due to another person's carelessness, that party is responsible for any injuries sustained.
The legal concept in play for these type of cases is premises liability which goes hand in hand with other personal injury cases.
Filing a claim or knowing who should be held liable for you injuries isn't an easy task. Our personal injury team in Lawrenceville, Georgia will help you understand your rights and gain you compensation for your losses. Click below to get your questions answered.
What does premise liability fall under?
Premises liability is a legal concept that typically goes along with personal injury cases where the injury was caused by some unsafe or defective condition on someone's property. Most personal injury cases are based on negligence, and premises liability cases are no different.
There are two main elements for determining fault in a premises liability claim:
- Whether or not the property owner acted reasonably to prevent a dangerous condition,
- Whether or not the injured party was exceedingly careless
During the initial investigation, it will be determined if the cause of the accident was due to a pre-existing dangerous condition, and if it could be prevented by owner action. Further, whether or not the injured person could have anticipated the hazards of the area from prior conditions is also important this is the "avoidance of obvious danger" element.
For the injured person to have a solid case, the owner of the property must have been aware of the hazardous condition and acted negligently in resolving it. In other words, the hazard must have been present long enough for the owner to have sufficient time to resolve the problem before the incident occurred.
Categories of the injured parties:
To be considered an injured party, you must first be categorized as one of the following three visitors:
- Invitees-Someone who enters onto a property to conduct business at the request of the owner is considered an invitee. This includes customers, contractors, salespeople, repairmen, and the like.
- Licensees-Someone invited onto the property by the owner for social purposes is considered a licensee. 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.
If I slip and fall who is responsible for my injury?
Just because a person falls on someone else’s property doesn’t make the property owner automatically responsible for any resulting injuries. However; in some instances, owners of both private and commercial property can be held liable. For the property owner to be liable, an unsafe condition must have caused the fall. It is not enough to solely slip, or stumble, while on someone else’s property.
Examples of unsafe conditions:
- Accumulation of snow or ice
- Wet and slippery floors
- A badly damaged sidewalk
- Potholes, or debris
When filing a claim Time is Important
A slip and fall lawsuit must be filed within a specific amount of time. This specific time frame is known as a Statue 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 own evidence, pursue your compensation, and hire our Lawrenceville Hills 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.
When should I hire an attorney after being injured?
Ordinarily, anytime you are dealing with the legal system, contacting legal representation is never a bad idea. Most injury lawyers work off of a contingency basis, meaning no fee is taken from the client unless you win your settlement. Then if your case is won, a certain percentage is taken-"contingency" as a payment to your attorney. Here are a few instances when calling a lawyer is a must:
- Bills are piling up: If your accident has caused you a serious injury and resulted in expensive bills
that nearly caused you to go bankrupt. For claims that only total in the hundreds of dollars, hiring an attorney may not be as demanding; however, for claims that total in the thousands of dollars, consulting a lawyer is highly advised. Another point, medical bills may not be the only expenses to consider. Any injury victim may also suffer from lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering, and other financial burdens. - There is a dispute who is at fault: If the insurance company handling your claim will not offer you a settlement or a fair settlement because there is a dispute over who is at fault, that is a red flag to call a lawyer. Our Lawrenceville attorneys can help you resolve the dispute, prove that the other party involved acted negligently, and work to recover you your full settlement as an ending result.
- Injuries are serious: If you sustained injuries that have a lasting effect on your life and your abilities, you should call our attorneys right away. Serious catastrophic injuries that require an attorney include death, serious impairment of bodily function, chronic pain, brain injuries and permanent disfigurement. A serious injury may also qualify as an injury that disrupts your normal functions and abilities and is expected to last for a significant amount of time.
- Your accident is unique: In unusual instances such as traumatic brain injury due to an accident or falling on public property who is liable then? Against whom do you file a claim? If your accident type is specific and unique, and if you are unsure what steps to take to recover damages, you should consult with a Lawrenceville lawyer for a free case consultation immediately.
What compensation might I be eligible for?
The categories of compensation that you are entitled to are the same that play into any personal injury claim. That means you could be awarded monetary value for:
- Medical bills
- Wage loss
- Pain and suffering, anxiety, and sleeplessness related to the accident and your injuries
- Temporary and permanent disability
- Loss of earning capacity
- Future medical expenses
After a slip and fall injury keep your conversations brief
Be very cautious about what you say and do after a slip and fall accident. Anything that you say can be used to downplay your injury or shift the blame to you. Conversations with property owners, one of their employees, an insurance adjuster, or any legal counsel other than your own can hurt your case.
Even simple phrases like "I'm okay," or "I didn't see that there,"could be used against you.If you have been injured in a slip and fall injury, seek medical attention immediately. Gaps in time from when the injury occurred from when you sought out medical treatment will weaken your claim.
Contact Our Lawrenceville Attorneys
When you have sustained injuries, dealing with insurance companies and staying on top of the legal system can be demanding and burdensome. Contact our expert lawyers our expert lawyers to handle your claim and prioritize your time on getting your health back to normal.
Our slip and fall injury attorneys in Lawrenceville, Ga will file your claim efficiently and answer any questions or concerns regarding your case.
