Slips and falls are a serious injury risk in the Roswell, GA, area and can result in head trauma, spinal cord damage, broken bones, and other serious harm. These injuries can have a negative impact on your life. If you were badly injured in a slip-and-fall accident, you might be facing a lengthy recovery, expensive medical bills, reduced quality of life, and lost wages. But if your injury happened on someone else’s property and because of their failure to keep their premises safe, you could be entitled to compensation for these and other losses, which the Butler Kahn can help you demand. We take a compassionate and dedicated approach to each case. We’ll apply our combined decades of personal injury experience to pursue the full compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free case review with a Roswell, GA, slip-and-fall lawyer and learn more about your legal options.
How Do You Prove a Roswell, GA Slip-and-Fall Accident?
In Georgia, successfully pursuing compensation following a slip and fall is more complicated than simply demanding money for your injuries. The state’s premises liability laws outline a few conditions that must be met for the court to award you compensation. The first condition is that the property owner (or another party) owed you a duty of care. According to Georgia’s premises liability laws, property owners are responsible for warning guests of known hazards on the premises, removing hazards in a timely manner, and taking reasonable steps to prevent accidents. This includes business owners, who must find and address potential hazards to potential customers. As long as you were on the property legally, the property owner likely owed you this duty of care. Second, you must show that the property owner or other party failed in this duty of care and that their failure directly led to your injuries. For example, if the property owner knew that a leak was causing a wet patch on an aisle and you then slipped on that wet patch and hurt yourself, you might be able to hold them liable for your injury and related expenses. Establishing that the property owner is at fault for your injury requires evidence, which may include:
- Eyewitness accounts
- Photos from the scene of the accident
- Surveillance footage
- Property records
- Accident reports
- Medical records
- Expert testimony
What Are Some Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents?
Some of the most common causes of slip-and-fall accidents in Roswell, GA, include:
- Spilled liquids
- Loose objects on the floor
- Stray electrical cords or cables
- Broken or uneven pathways around a building
- Wet sidewalks, entryways, or parking lots
- Poor interior lighting
- Poorly maintained stairways
- Wet areas around swimming pools
- Sloped walkways without proper handrails
- Construction site hazards (spilled chemicals, open pits, gravel or sand on the pathways, etc.)
What Are the Most Common Places Slip-and-Fall Accidents Occur?
While any wet, slippery, or uneven surface is inherently dangerous, certain places present a particular risk for slip-and-fall accidents, including:
- Stores and other businesses, especially big box stores with lots of square footage
- Restaurants
- Movie theaters
- Public playgrounds and parks
- Swimming pools
- Sports stadiums
- Rental properties (apartment complexes, townhomes, condos, etc.)
- Theme parks/amusement parks
- Parking lots and garages
- Nursing homes and assisted living facilities
- Elevators and escalators
What Should I Do If I Have Been Hurt in a Slip-and-Fall Accident in Roswell, GA?
A slip-and-fall accident can leave you in physical agony and financial distress. To give yourself the best chance of recovering compensation, you should:
- Report the accident – You need a written record of the accident to build a strong case for compensation. You should immediately tell the store owner or manager of the incident and insist that they take a report and give you a copy of it. If your injuries are serious, you may need to call 911.
- Document the accident scene – Use your phone to take pictures of the spot where you fell and any nearby hazards that might have contributed to it. If you are in too much pain to take pictures yourself, ask someone nearby to take them for you.
- Seek medical attention – If medical staff did not take you to the hospital after the accident, see a doctor as soon as possible. They will examine you to see if you’ve suffered any injuries that are not immediately apparent. They can also help with your personal injury case by documenting all the injuries you suffered in the accident.
- Do not talk to insurance companies– Any compensation you receive for your injuries will likely be paid out by the property owner or manager’s insurance company. The insurance company is a for-profit business that is motivated to avoid paying out claims. Be extremely careful with the information you give to the insurance company. An attorney can help protect your rights as you seek compensation for your injuries.
- Stay off social media – Until your case has been resolved, it is best to avoid posting anything to your social media accounts. The insurance company will likely be monitoring your feeds and looking for any discrepancies in your account of your injuries. Do not give insurers anything to use against you.
- Consult an attorney – While you could try to recover compensation on your own, you likely lack the skill and experience of a career personal injury lawyer, who knows how to investigate an accident, determine liability and avenues for recovering compensation, negotiate with insurers, and litigate a case in court. Personal injury lawyers also offer a free consultation, so there’s no risk to contacting them to find out about your legal rights and options.
What Sort of Compensation is Available for a Roswell Slip-and-Fall Accident?
You could be entitled to compensation for slip-and-fall-related losses, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earnings
- Diminished quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Damaged personal property
Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Slip-and-Fall Injury Lawsuit in Roswell?
According to Georgia’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims, you have two years from the date of the slip-and-fall accident to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. If you file after two years have passed, the court will likely dismiss your case, and you may lose your right to seek compensation for your injuries.
Contact a Roswell, GA Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured on someone else’s unsafe premises, you could be entitled to compensation. Let the Butler Kahn help you demand it. Contact us today to speak with an experienced Roswell, GA personal injury lawyer at no cost to you.
