Slip and fall accidents in restaurants like Church’s Chicken can be serious and costly. If you were hurt in one of these establishments, you might have a lot of medical bills, lost wages, and more. Plus, there’s the frustration of dealing with painful injuries that you didn’t expect to suffer. Thankfully, a Church’s Chicken slip and fall accident and injury lawyer in Georgia can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
If you were not at fault for your accident, you should not have to bear the costs. At John Foy & Associates, we can take a look at your case and discuss your legal options. You may be able to recover money for all of the costs of your accident. Call us today at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get started with a FREE consultation.
An Overview of Church’s Chicken and Slip and Fall Accidents in Georgia
Church’s Chicken is a fast-food restaurant that sells fried chicken dishes with Southern sides. It was founded in 1952 in San Antonio, Texas, right across from The Alamo. According to the company website, “Down Home” cooking is the mentality behind everything Chuch’s Chicken does.
Church’s Chicken has expanded to over 1,000 locations worldwide. There are Church’s Chicken locations in 35 different Georgia cities, including Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Decatur, Macon, Savannah, and Warner Robbins.
Although there may be more of an emphasis on Southern hospitality at Church’s Chicken compared to other fast-food places, employees can still be negligent in slip and fall accidents. When the premises are not safely maintained and someone becomes injured as a result, the store may be liable for the damages.
Get the strong arm
Your Guide to Seeking Compensation After a Church’s Chicken Slip and Fall Accident
If you were hurt in a Church’s Chicken and it was not your fault, you have grounds to file a personal injury claim. This claim is filed with the company’s insurance company, and it will need to detail that:
- The Church’s Chicken restaurant owed you a duty of care
- Owners, managers, or employees breached their duty of care (or, in other words, they were negligent)
- Your slip and fall accident resulted from that negligence and
- You suffered damages because of the slip and fall accident
Most slip and fall accident victims have never had to file a personal injury claim before, so it can be confusing and complicated. It’s best to work with an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer in Georgia who can help. That being said, it helps to know what to expect during the process—even with legal representation.
Here are some of the main steps involved in filing a personal injury claim after a slip and fall accident at Church’s Chicken in Georgia.
Make Sure You Get Medical Treatment
After your slip and fall accident at Church’s Chicken, make sure you get medical treatment as soon as possible. If your injuries are serious or life-threatening, you should do this right away. Otherwise, see a doctor as soon as you can after leaving the scene (ideally, you should go on the same day as your accident).
You might wonder if it’s really necessary to see a doctor, especially if your injuries don’t feel “that bad” or you think you can handle them yourself. However, the answer to whether or not you should see a doctor is always “yes”—full stop. There are two main reasons for this:
- Slip and fall accident injuries do not always present themselves right away. Even if you feel okay now, you could have underlying issues that show up later.
- Plus, not seeing a doctor right after your accident works against your insurance claim. If the insurance company sees that you didn’t seek medical treatment soon after your accident, they try to say your injuries are not as serious as your claim portrays them to be.
To be safe, see a doctor as soon as possible to get your injuries checked out.
Consult with a Trusted Slip and Fall Lawyer
Some slip and fall accident victims try to handle their personal injury claims on their own. This is almost always a mistake. That’s because it usually takes a legal expert to know the full value of an injury claim.
A lawyer who has vast experience working on slip and fall claims will consider all of the ways the accident has affected you. There are typically ongoing or future costs from the accident you hadn’t considered. That being said, even if you choose to not hire a lawyer, speaking with one about your claim will give you an idea of your options and what you expect.
To schedule a FREE, no-risk consultation with one of our slip and fall injury lawyers at John Foy & Associates, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online now. If you hire us, we don’t take a fee unless we win you money.
Inform the Restaurant of Your Plan to File
Before you actually file your claim, your personal injury lawyer can let the restaurant and their insurance company know that you plan to file a claim. Sometimes, this can actually help your claim get settled sooner rather than later.
Gather Information for Your Claim
That last step before actually filing your claim is to compile evidence of your damages. This can take some time, as it’s best to wait until you have received full treatment for your injuries.
You only have two years to file your claim (Georgia Code section 9-3-33), so if your treatment will exceed that amount of time, you and your lawyer will need to estimate your future medical costs. You’ll also need to consider all damages from your accident like:
- Medical bills
- Prescription medications
- Doctor visits or hospital stays
- Surgeries or other procedures
- Future and ongoing medical care
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering damages like loss of enjoyment of life, fear, humiliation, or anxiety
Once you have all evidence need to show your damages, you can file your claim with Church’s Chicken’s insurance company.
You’ll Probably Need to Negotiate Your Settlement
Insurance companies do not like to pay out much on injury claims, so they might offer you a lowball settlement. Never take the first offer. Instead, your lawyer can help you negotiate for a settlement that is actually fair. This often involves a lot of back-and-forth between you and the insurance company.
Most personal injury claims end during the settlement phase, which would mean you get paid for your damages. In rare cases, you might need to file a lawsuit. Again, this is rare, but if it happens, your lawyer will support you every step of the way.
Get a Free Consultation with a Church’s Chicken Slip and Fall Accident and Injury Lawyer Today
To get help with your slip and fall injury claim against Church’s Chicken, contact John Foy & Associates today for a FREE consultation. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get started.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
