Columbus
Unsafe Premises Property Negligence Lawyer

Many premises, such as homes and businesses, contain unsafe conditions or outright hazards. In Columbus, GA, property owners are liable for any injuries these hazards cause. If you got injured in a case like this, you likely have a legal right to recover a substantial amount of money. Talk to an unsafe premises property negligence lawyer in Columbus, GA.

John Foy & Associates is one of the leading property negligence firms in the state of Georgia. For 20 years, we have built a top legal team dedicated to just one thing: helping those who get injured. Call us and get your free consultation today.

How Will Your Unsafe Premises Property Negligence Lawyers in Columbus Help Me? 

Our unsafe premises property negligence attorneys in Columbus, GA, can help you win a settlement for your injuries and damages in several ways: 

• Representing you and your best interest during negotiations or trial
• Helping you gather evidence and build a strong case for your claim 
• Consulting with experts and witnesses and obtaining their testimony
• Helping you get proper medical treatment for your injuries
• Handling all of your communications with other parties
• Ensuring that you get the best settlement possible and the maximum amount of compensation for your claim

Focus on your health and wellbeing after your accident above anything else. We want you to make a full recovery. Let us handle the legal grunt work against the insurance company. 

How Strong Is My Unsafe Premises Property Claim?

It’s often stronger than you think. In premises liability cases in Columbus, GA, any injury can be a substantial claim depending on how it happened. The bottom line is that owners or managers of property must exercise care to keep the property safe. 

If there’s reason to believe they didn’t, you may have a claim. However, for your claim to succeed, the person who was injured usually has to be able to prove four specific facts:

• There was some kind of dangerous condition or hazard on the property.
• The person who owns, occupies, or operates the building knew about the condition, or they should have known if they were taking proper care of the property,
• They didn’t fix or remove the dangerous condition, and they didn’t correctly warn you of its presence. 
• A dangerous condition is what caused your injury.

That may sound complicated, but it really just depends on gathering the proper evidence for your case. Property owners will often try to remove evidence or remove a hazard after someone has gotten injured. Our law firm can not only send out an investigator to gather clues at the scene, but we can also file documents with the local courts to make sure evidence gets preserved.

Who Is Liable for Property Negligence and Unsafe Premises?

Under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §51-3-1, whoever controls the property is usually liable. That can be:

• The property owner
• A property management company
• A business
• A tenant that is leasing the space, whether it’s a business or a person
• A third party contracted to operate the space as an event venue
• Contractors working in the space
• A local or state government office

While the liable party varies from case to case, the way the claim gets paid does not. An insurance policy pays most property negligence claims. As a result, it’s often the insurer, not the liable party themselves, that we bargain with to settle your case.

What Damages Can I Win Compensation for After My Accident? 

You can win compensation for several damages related to your premises liability accident: 

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Disability or disfigurement 
• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death 

The average premises liability settlement amount varies depending on several factors related to your case. Generally, you can receive several thousands of dollars for your settlement. Keep in mind. This is only a rough estimate. For a more detailed and accurate estimate, you’ll need to speak with our unsafe premises property negligence attorneys in Columbus. 

What If I Was in an Area I Wasn’t Supposed to Go Into?

This is a complicated issue in any premises injury case. Sometimes, people wander out of areas open to the public and into places they didn’t get invited into, especially at theme parks and other large venues. Even if you were not supposed to be in an area, the property owner may still be liable under certain circumstances:

• If the area was not closed off. Suppose any guest could just wander in by accident. That itself is a potential hazard.
• The area wasn’t signed. “Staff only beyond this point,” and similar signs are used to let visitors know where they can and cannot go. If these signs are absent, the property owner may still be liable.
• The person who was injured was a child. Children don’t understand the dangers of going over a fence or off the beaten path. Venues should use adequate safety measures to prevent children from wandering in, such as tall railings and fences or locked doors.
• There was an unmarked safety hazard. Presumably, at least staff or contractors may still need to access non-public areas. If those areas contain dangerous conditions without safety warnings, such as hazardous equipment, you may still have a claim.

When injuries happen in these spaces, the insurance company often claims that it’s the victim’s own fault, but that’s not necessarily true. However, if your claim involves an allegation of trespassing, talk to a Columbus unsafe premises property negligence attorney immediately. You may still have a case.

If My Child Got Hurt On Someone’s Property, What do I Do?

Many premises injuries happen to children mainly because children don’t understand the dangers that adults recognize instantly. If your child got hurt, it usually means the property owner did not properly secure their premises, and you likely have a claim. However, your ability to file a claim depends on whether your child was invited as a guest or was trespassing.

If your child was invited as a guest, it’s much easier to prove your claim. The rules are the same as they are for any other injury claim. For example, if your child was trespassing or wandered in without permission, Georgia’s law of “attractive nuisance” comes into play. 

This is the legal idea that children tend to be attracted to certain things, and property owners should secure their property against them. Under attractive nuisance, we can often make a successful claim for you even if your child did not have permission to enter the property.

The Statute of Limitations for Premises Liability and Property Negligence Cases in Georgia

The general statute of limitations under OCGA §9-3-33 is two years for premises liability and property negligence cases. So even though it isn’t wise to rush recklessly into filing your claim, neither is waiting too long. Take action after receiving medical treatment with us as soon as possible to ensure you have the best chances of winning a fair settlement. 

Talk to Our Unsafe Premises Property Negligence Lawyers in Columbus for Free

At John Foy & Associates, we never charge a client a penny unless we win them money. So let us give you a free consultation to help you determine whether you have a claim. Call us or fill out the form to your right and schedule an appointment today with one of our Columbus premises property negligence attorneys.