Slip-And-Fall Injury Lawyers In Dalton, GA
Regardless of what type of establishment you visit, the owner or property manager has a duty to keep it safe and free of hazards. Property owners and managers owe a duty of care to all people who may visit their premises. If they fail to provide a safe environment and you are injured, they may be entitled to receive compensation for a slip-and-fall accident.
Our attorneys at Cowan Law Firm, LLC of Dalton, are passionately committed to obtaining justice for slip-and-fall injury victims in Georgia. Sadly in many cases, the only way to hold a party responsible for a victim’s injuries is to file a lawsuit. However, our slip-and-fall attorneys understand that after an individual has been injured, the last thing they want to do is deal with an insurance company and the various legal issues that often accompany a slip-and-fall lawsuit. Therefore, our team of attorneys can assist with filing a claim with the insurance company and any negotiations that may take place.
Contact our law offices and ask to schedule a free consultation with a legal team member to discuss your case.
Common Hazards Leading To Slip-And-Fall Accidents
Slip-and-fall accidents can be caused by any number of unsafe conditions. Some of the most commonly reported situations known to cause slip and fall accidents are:
- Poorly lit stairways or parking lots
- Uneven floors or stairs
- Loose floor tiles or stair treads
- Failure to alert visitors to the presence of wet floors
- Failure to remove ice or snow from the sidewalk or entryway of premises
- Failure to remove foreign objects or debris from walkways or floors
If a property owner or manager fails to maintain their premises and keep them free of potential hazards, you may have the grounds to file a slip and fall claim. A skilled slip-and-fall injury lawyer can also help clear up any questions you may have regarding unsafe conditions on another person’s premises.
Property Owner Obligations Depend On The Type Of Visitor
It is essential to understand what “duty of care” means in legal terms regarding slip and fall accidents. Under Georgia law, property owners are legally obligated to ensure the safety of individuals who come up on their premises. Nevertheless, the legal scope of this obligation is determined by whether the injured party was an invitee, licensee, or a trespasser.
- Invitee refers to an individual who has been invited onto the property for the purposes of dining, shopping, or being a resident of an apartment building. The property owner owes the highest duty of care to these individuals.
- A licensee is an individual who is on the premises for their own benefit and not that of the owner. Customers or other types of patrons do not fall under this category. In most cases, a licensee can refer to a house guest or a guest at a party.
- A trespasser is an individual who was not invited or welcomed onto a property and did not have permission to be there. Under the law, the property owner owes these individuals the lowest duty of care. However, there is an exception to this rule if the trespasser in question is a minor.
If you have suffered a slip and fall accident and been injured on another individual’s premises, you may have legal grounds to file a claim against the property owner. However, the laws that govern slip and fall accidents can be overly complex and difficult to navigate on your own. Therefore, if you have been injured, it is vital that you consult with an experienced attorney who can review the evidence and answer any legal questions that you may have about your case.
Proving Liability After A Slip-And-Fall Accident
Several elements must be present in your specific case to pursue a fall case. They are:
- Duty of care refers to a property owner’s legal responsibility to keep their premises safe from hazards and other potentially dangerous conditions.
- The knowledge that the property owner should have been aware of or knew about concerning a potential risk or hazard on their premises.
- Hazard the unsafe condition that must be present. Slipping on property alone lacks the legal grounds necessary to file a claim.
- Damages are the injuries you suffered due to the slip and fall accident. Even if you did sustain a fall but were uninjured, you most likely will not be able to file a claim to recover damages.
If the property owner fails to warn guests or visitors of potentially dangerous conditions adequately or fails to make repairs and a person is injured, they could be found negligent in their duty of care. As a result, a slip and fall victim could file a claim to recover damages.
Damages You Could Recover In A Legal Claim
Some of the most common damages that slip and fall accident victims are able to recover are:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of potential earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Our slip-and-fall accident lawyers have vast experience handling cases involving premises liability claims. In some slip and fall accidents, there may even be multiple liability claims depending on the circumstances of your situation. Therefore, you need a Georgia personal injury attorney who will present an aggressive case on your behalf to help you receive the compensation that you deserve.
We Will Help You Seek Justice – Reach Out Today
Cowan Law Firm, LLC, is dedicated to recovering the maximum amount of compensation for you when negotiating the terms of a settlement. We passionately believe that negligent parties should be held responsible for their actions. Our goal is to ensure that your health and well-being are appropriately accounted for after you have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident.
Contact our Dalton law office by calling 706-420-2949 to schedule an appointment to discuss your potential case.