Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer.
Slip and Fall Accident Attorney in Georgia.
A sudden slip, followed by a fall onto solid ground, isn’t something to be taken lightly. The over 180,000 emergency room visits in Georgia attributed to falls alone in the past year testify to the shattering impacts of slip and fall accidents. When property owners fail to maintain safe premises, they may be liable for any injuries caused by the dangerous conditions on their property.
These failures shouldn’t go unaddressed, especially if they were the cause of your injuries. Choose Valentine Injury Law for a dedicated slip and fall lawyer who can provide the legal assistance and support you need to demand complete justice and obtain a maximum recovery for your injuries.
Understanding Premises Liability in Georgia.
When a person slips and falls on someone else’s property, that property owner may be liable for the injuries and damages that result. This is what’s known as premises liability—the legal framework for holding negligent property owners liable for dangerous or unsafe conditions on their property that harm others. This applies to all kinds of property owners, including businesses, homeowners, municipalities, and landlords.
However, Georgia’s premises liability has shifting standards depending on the type of person who was injured while on the property. Georgia expects owners to exercise increasing levels of care for each category, starting with trespassers, then licensees, and then finally invitees.
Trespassers
One way a slip and fall lawyer can help is by rejecting the property owner’s claims that you were trespassing at the time the fall occurred. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-3-3, a property owner only has a duty to avoid causing a willful (intentional) or wanton injury to a trespasser. This means that in many cases, even if the property owner knew of a hazard on their property, they may not be responsible for the injuries a trespasser sustained.
Licensees
Similar to trespassers, property owners only owe licensees a duty to avoid willful or wanton injury under O.C.G.A. § 51-3-2. But who is categorized as a licensee can be a complex determination, which is why having a dedicated slip and fall attorney can help prove that your claim doesn’t fall into the lower standard applied to licensees.
Invitees
Property owners owe an invitee, however, a duty to exercise “ordinary” care to keep their premises and approaches safe. This is a higher standard of care compared to the duties that are owed to trespassers or licensees. Customers shopping in a store are textbook examples of invitees because they were brought into the store through an express or implied invitation to do business there.
Maximum settlements with personalized legal strategies.
Brad Valentine consistently secures substantial settlements for victims of slip and fall accidents, helping clients obtain justice and recover financially from injuries sustained on unsafe premises. He is dedicated to providing compassionate, results-driven representation for individuals affected by hazardous conditions and negligent property owners.
$225K Settlement for a premises liability case.
The case involved an incident that occurred at an apartment complex.
All other terms of the settlement are confidential.
$100K Settlement for neck injuries.
The case involved a defective swing in a front yard.
A settlement was secured in 4 months for the full policy limits as a result of the neck injuries suffered in the incident.
What is Ordinary Care?
If the law requires that property owners exercise ordinary care to keep invitees safe when on or approaching the property, then another common question is: “What counts as ordinary care?” As in many personal injury claims, this depends on the specific facts and circumstances of the claim.
However, there are some things that experienced slip and fall lawyers will look for to demonstrate that the standard of ordinary care was not met by the owner of the property:
Actual Knowledge
A slip and fall accident attorney will look to whether the property owner knew of a particular hazard or hazardous conditions on the property. Knowing a floor is slippery, an aisle has a spill on it, or a stairwell is poorly lit, then failing to remedy that hazardous condition could show that the owner failed to exercise ordinary care.
Constructive Knowledge
Even if the property owner did not have actual knowledge of a dangerous condition on the property, an experienced slip and fall attorney may be able to prove that the property owner should have known of the dangerous condition. For example, constructive knowledge could be proven by uncovering evidence of an employee working in the immediate vicinity of the hazard and not cleaning it. Another example could be a grocery store failing to follow its inspection procedures, which resulted in a hazard existing for too long. If the property owner failed to address that hazard and a fall later occurred, then this could be evidence that the owner should have known about the hazard and failed to exercise ordinary care in fixing the condition.
Failing to restrain animals
In some cases, an animal kept on the property may cause injury. If the owner knows the animal is dangerous but fails to adequately restrain the animal, then this could constitute a failure to exercise ordinary care.
Common causes and dangerous conditions according to a Slip and Fall Lawyer.
Every slip and fall claim is different, but there are some common causes and dangerous conditions that result in injuries to innocent victims.
These include:
- Wet or slippery floors: When spills or a persistent leak go unaddressed, they can lead to a slip and fall injury.
- Uneven flooring, broken tiles, or cracked pavement: Indoors or on a sidewalk, unsuspecting visitors can slip, trip, or fall as a result of these dangerous conditions.
- Poor lighting: Whether in parking lots, stairwells, or hallways, poor lighting can make it harder for people to see where their next step should be, leading to a slip and fall.
- Cluttered aisles in stores: When employees fail to make aisles safe for people to pass, the store may be held liable if this leads to a slip and fall injury.
- Building code violations: Defective construction or other building code violations can lead to slip and falls. When property owners know of these defects and fail to warn or mitigate them, then a slip and fall attorney can help injured victims secure justice.
What a slip and fall lawyer recommends after an accident.
When property owners fail to exercise ordinary care and leave unsuspecting visitors to suffer from a sudden fall, it can lead to quite a shock. Unfortunately, that initial shock often gives way to confusion that can compromise health and a claim.
Here’s what our expert slip and fall lawyers recommend after an accident:
Seek medical treatment immediately
Your health always comes first. Prompt medical treatment protects your well-being and also helps your case by creating a medical record linking the fall to your injuries. Delays in medical treatment are routinely used by insurance companies and defense attorneys to dispute that the fall was the true cause of your injuries.
Report the incident
If you are able, then notify the property owner, manager, or a supervisory employee as soon as you can. Request that an incident report be completed and provided to you so that you can verify its accuracy. Provide only the basic facts, and you are not required to provide a recorded statement.
Call 911
Contact emergency services as soon as you are able. Having police document the accident can help support a claim, and paramedics can start medical treatment immediately if needed.
Identify what caused you to fall
As soon as you are able, you should take note of what you slipped or tripped on, where it was located, whether it was hard to see, and any other relevant facts showing why you fell.
Take photos and videos
If you can safely do so, then you should photograph and video the hazard from various views, including the crowds, locations of signs or distractions, lighting, and the surrounding areas. Conditions can change quickly after a fall, so it is important to document the scene and the surrounding environment before they do.
Get witness information
If witnesses saw the fall or the dangerous condition, then you should obtain their names and contact information. Note whether the witnesses included supervisors, employees, and/or customers. Independent witnesses can be critical in disputed liability cases.
Preserve physical evidence
Do not discard your shoes that were worn at the time of the fall, relevant clothing, or other residues that may support how and why the fall occurred.
Don’t admit fault
The property owner or staff may directly or indirectly pressure you to admit that you saw the hazard or that the fall was otherwise your fault. Other times, injured victims accept blame just to avoid “making a scene.” Fault is a legal determination, not something that should be discussed casually or under duress.
Contact an experienced Slip and Fall Lawyer
As soon as your condition stabilizes, contact a trusted Slip and Fall Attorney. Calling sooner rather than later may give your attorney time to protect essential evidence before it is destroyed, whether intentionally or accidentally.
How do we prove your slip and fall case?
When injured victims call some Slip and Fall Attorneys, they become “just another client.” In other words, the firm takes their case, takes little to no investigatory action, leaves them in the dark, and only reaches out when there’s some pressing update.
On the other hand, a Slip and Fall Attorney become partners in our clients’ quest for justice. After all, it’s your injuries and your experience that demand remedying, so why shouldn’t you be involved?
That’s why we’ve developed this process, backed by clear, transparent communication every step of the way:
Initial consultation
In a free initial consultation, we listen to our clients’ story, answer questions, and begin strategizing on how to secure the maximum compensation possible.
Gather evidence
A Slip and Fall Attorney begins working on the claim, and we start gathering essential evidence immediately. Critical proof, like security footage, can be deleted or destroyed if you delay engaging an attorney.
Interview witnesses
A Slip and Fall Attorney also conducts interviews with witnesses who may have seen the hazardous conditions, the fall itself, or who had knowledge of how the premises were kept. This information helps show whether the property owner exercised ordinary care.
Insurance claim assistance
Whether under a homeowner’s policy, commercial and general liability business insurance policy, or another applicable policy, we work quickly to uncover all applicable insurance policies and to take the claims process off our clients’ plates, so they can focus on their medical treatment.
Medical treatment and documentation
We assist our clients in finding reputable, local medical providers if needed. Upon the conclusion of medical treatment, we also handle the collection of all relevant medical bills and records.
Demand letter
As part of your comprehensive settlement strategy, your expert attorney will draft a demand letter on your behalf to all relevant parties and insurance companies.
Negotiations
If the initial offer from the insurance company is unsatisfactory, or worse, they deny the claim, then we begin negotiating with the insurance company to get our clients every dollar they deserve.
Settlement or Litigation
If the insurance company offers a satisfactory settlement, then we help our clients receive their just compensation and navigate the complexities of medical bills and insurance liens. If the insurance company tries to lowball or delay a prompt settlement, then we may file a lawsuit on your behalf to ensure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
Areas of expertise.
Valentine Injury Law proudly represents clients across a wide range of personal injury and wrongful death cases, including but not limited to:
Rideshare collisions
Uber and Lyft accidents are becoming more common. We know how to pursue compensation and put money back in your pocket.
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Tractor trailer collisions
Tractor trailer accidents can come with complex liability issues. We navigate the nuances for you.
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Bicycle accidents
Cyclists face unique and often life-threatening dangers on Georgia roads.
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Pedestrian accidents
Hire an expert who knows how to navigate these special laws. We’ve won significant recoveries for injured pedestrians.
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Hit and run collisions
We don’t let hit and run drivers get away with fleeing the scene and their responsibility.
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Commercial vehicle collisions
You shouldn’t have to pay for harm that wasn’t your fault. We hold negligent companies responsible.
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DUI accidents
Drunk and impaired drivers can wreck lives. We hold them accountable for their actions.
Learn MoreOther areas of expertise
Discover how we can helpIf you or a loved one has experienced an injury due to any of the above cases, then you need to contact Valentine Injury Law immediately. Getting the ball rolling early on your legal case is essential to achieving the maximum result that you deserve. Call us today.
Protect your rights now! Contact us today to preserve critical evidence and start building your claim.
Security camera footage may be deleted in as little as 24 hours, and eyewitness memory starts to fade just as fast. If you were injured in a fall on another’s property, then call our slip and fall attorneys today. When clients choose Valentine Injury Law, we aggressively pursue justice on their behalf. Explore your options, get questions answered, and start demanding justice with a free consultation today. Call or email us to get started. Protect your rights now! Contact us today to preserve critical evidence and start building your claim!
We’re ready to fight for you.
If you’ve been injured, you’re not alone. Contact us for a free case evaluation. You only pay if we secure a settlement for you.
