Slip and fall accidents are serious. They are one of the leading causes of unexpected injuries and even deaths. If you or someone you love has been injured by falling in Columbus, GA, you may experience pain or missing time at work—and you’re probably facing steep medical bills.
You need medical treatment, and you need an excellent lawyer. With the right slip and fall injury attorney in Columbus, you can pursue compensation from the negligent party. These cases can be tricky, but a Columbus personal injury lawyer can investigate liability and represent you in your claim.
What Counts As a Slip and Fall Case?
We speak to many clients who don’t really think they have a case. Often, they’re surprised when we tell them they have a strong case and could receive a large financial recovery. We routinely see settlements in the tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for clients who originally thought, “there’s nothing I can do.”
Often, the injury may look like a simple accident where you slipped and fell on your own. But if it was caused by the negligence of others, then it counts as a strong claim. Examples of slip and fall conditions include:
- A freshly mopped floor at a store with no “wet floor” sign
- A small step up or down that is not clearly marked
- Unlit walkways or staircases
- A spilled drink in a grocery store
If you fall in these conditions, you have a case. You didn’t trip over your own shoelaces. You tripped because the property owner allowed a situation that put you and others in risk.
Get the strong arm
What Is Negligence in a Slip and Fall Case?
The legal definition of a slip and fall injury is based on the concept of “negligence.” Negligence, in this context, means the property owner allowed some dangerous conditions on their premises, and you ended up getting hurt. It doesn’t mean they set out to harm you.
Property owners have a “duty of care” to keep a safe property if they allow someone on it. Wholesale and retail trade establishments even have materials available for employees to help prevent accidents. But when property owners leave a dangerous condition, they violate that duty of care. This is the definition of negligence.
If a reasonable person would have fixed the problem or warned someone on the property about a dangerous situation, and the property owner did not do those things, then they are negligent and can be sued.
If I Slipped and Fell, Who Is at Fault?
You are not to blame for a slip and fall injury. The fault rests with the person or company who maintains the premises. But a slip and fall case is not really about blame. It’s about getting a fair settlement from the insurance company.
That settlement should be enough to cover your immediate medical bills, future treatment, and time lost from work, among other costs. If it doesn’t, then you need a slip and fall injury lawyer in Columbus that will prove they’re paying too little to make you whole again.
What Steps Should I Take After a Slip and Fall Accident?
If you fall in a public place, there are basic steps you can take to be your own best advocate. These include:
- Taking pictures of what happened, showing the area, where you fell and what caused you to fall.
- Reporting what happened to a manager. Get their name and contact information.
- Asking for the names and numbers of any witnesses.
- Getting medical attention right away.
When you contact our Columbus slip and fall injury attorneys, we will send our investigators to the scene, contact the witnesses, and take the case forward for you. These first steps in taking care of yourself and gathering evidence will make it much easier to build a strong case against the insurers.
What If the Slip and Fall Accident Happened at a Friend’s or Loved One’s Property?
Your slip and fall claim is between you and the insurance company. It does not directly involve your friend or loved one. They did the responsible thing by carrying insurance. Accidents happen; that’s what insurance is for.
We will never put your friends or loved ones on trial, put them in front of a jury, or sue them directly—ever. In fact, they won’t even hear the details of your case from their insurer. It is strictly private, and we will not take steps that could jeopardize your relationship with the property owner.
How Can a Columbus Slip and Fall Lawyer Help Me?
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall, speaking to an experienced attorney may be the single best thing you can do. Slip and fall claims are hard to pursue on your own, because the insurance company will claim the accident was your own fault. If an insurance company calls you after your accident, don’t speak to them.
The insurer has no interest in helping you get better and only wants to protect their bottom line.
We have 20 years of experience dealing with these companies. We know what evidence gets them to change their tune, we know how to collect that evidence, and we know how to drive a hard bargain with them.
Most times, our slip and fall injury lawyers in Columbus can get the full amount you need without ever going to court. In fact, we resolve the majority of our cases without going to trial in the Columbus court system. We know how to get fair settlements fast so you can move on with your life.
How Much does It Cost to Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer?
You should not pay anything up front for the services of a slip and fall accident attorney. Different law firms structure their fees differently, but we believe you should not face financial risk to resolve your slip and fall claim. We guarantee that you pay nothing unless we win you a financial recovery.
When you first call us, we will give you a free consultation. This consultation is your chance to sit down with legal professionals and discuss your injury and how it happened. We will go through everything you remember and help you determine whether you have a valid claim.
If we do take on your case, our fee is taken out of the settlement we win for you. That means you pay nothing out of pocket and nothing at all if we don’t win you money. You have suffered enough from the accident itself, and you should not face financial worries on top of it.
How Long do I Have to File?
All cases have a statute of limitations, or deadline for filing a case. In personal injury cases in Georgia, that deadline is two years in most cases.
Where it can get shortened is if you were hurt on government property, like at a public park or on a municipal bus or train. If you are in this situation, you must speak with us ASAP so we can file in time to beat the deadline.
If you take too much time to file your claim or pursue a case, then you can lose your opportunity to pursue compensation. The courts will say you violated the statute of limitations and will deny your case. Don’t let this happen!
Talk to a Columbus Slip and Fall Lawyer for Free
John Foy & Associates is one of the biggest Columbus area slip and fall law firms. And we’re here to help accident victims. Our Columbus slip and fall lawyers have over 20 years of experience, and we know how to get you the biggest financial recovery possible. Call us at or fill out the online contact form and get your FREE consultation today.
706-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form