When you get hurt on someone else’s property, you have a right to file a claim. You can receive financial compensation at their expense, so long as it was due to their negligence and lack of duty of care under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §51-3-1.
Filing and negotiating a claim for compensation can be challenging, especially if you don’t have a strong background in Georgia law. Instead of filing a claim on your own, consider getting the help of one of our Mableton premises liability attorneys. The attorneys at John Foy & Associates can provide you with the critical assistance you need to win your settlement.
What Is Premises Liability Law in Georgia?
In Georgia, premises liability is the idea that someone else is responsible for your safety when you are on their property. When you file a premises liability claim, you are pursuing compensation for injuries that you suffered because of a negligent property owner.
Negligence is key in any premises liability case. An owner is negligent when any of the following are true:
- They should be aware that their property is dangerous but are not
- They do know that their property is dangerous but are not doing anything about it
- They willfully make their property dangerous
Any time you are injured on someone else’s premises through no fault of your own, you should consider a premises liability claim. If you’re not sure whether you have a valid claim, you can always get a free consultation with a premises liability attorney in Mableton who can assess your case.
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What Damages Can You Claim After a Premises Liability Injury?
In any personal injury case, your compensation is decided on the basis of specific damages that you suffered. These damages can either be concrete financial losses (known as economic damages) or more abstract losses to your quality of life (known as non-economic damages).
When a personal injury lawyer works on your case, they will calculate all your damages. That way, they will know exactly how much the other party and their insurance company owe you. Damages in your premises liability case can include:
- Medical bills
- Accessibility modifications to your home or vehicle
- Ongoing treatment or therapy
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Wrongful death
Your attorney will take into account both damages you’ve already suffered, as well as expenses you’re likely to incur in the future. We want to make sure that you can pay for your treatment without worrying about where you’re going to get the money.
Why Should I Hire a Lawyer for My Premises Liability Accident?
Hiring a lawyer is important because you could end up with less than the optimal amount of compensation you need without one. This is because insurance companies have strong legal teams and lots of resources at their disposal to challenge the claim you file. If you don’t have any prior experience with personal injury law, you’re at a considerable disadvantage.
A lawyer is a great equalizer when it comes to negotiating with the insurance company for a settlement. The standard tactics they use against premises liability victims with no legal representation won’t work anymore. They’ll have no choice but to settle at agreeable terms to avoid a lengthy trial that could end up costing them more.
You gain many benefits from hiring a premises liability lawyer in Mableton that you wouldn’t have otherwise on your own. If you’re not sure whether you should hire a lawyer, our team can help you decide for free. It could be an investment you make to ensure that you get the best amount of compensation possible.
Do Your Premises Liability Lawyers Charge Fees Upfront?
There are no upfront fees when you retain one of our premises liability attorneys in Mableton to help you. You only pay for your legal costs at the very end of your case when you win your settlement. If we can’t win your settlement for you, you don’t have to pay us anything.
All our pricing is transparent, and there are never any hidden fees. We want you to feel comfortable with us by knowing that our main priority is to win your settlement and not obtaining payment.
How Long do I Have to File My Claim in Georgia?
You only have two years in Georgia to file a claim for your premises liability accident. Two years is deceptively long, as many people let time pass them by only to find out that the premises liability statute of limitations for the case has expired. Once two years are up, there is next to nothing you can do to file your claim.
Don’t end up losing out on your chance for a settlement because you forgot to file your claim. Our lawyers will make certain that you get all your paperwork done on time to avoid any potential issues.
What Is the Best Time to File a Premises Liability Claim?
The best time to file your claim is when after:
- You’ve finished all your medical treatment
- All the evidence pertinent to your case gets accounted for
- All your damages have gotten accurately calculated
- You have a strong case to back your claim during trial or negotiation
- You have solid legal representation helping you
This is why it is essential to be mindful of the statute of limitations. Building up a strong case and getting this checklist completed can take a long time, depending on how complex your case is. As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to get started as soon as possible while the accident is still fresh.
Don’t Trust the Insurance Company
After your premises liability accident, there’s a strong chance that an adjuster from the at-fault party’s insurance company will try to talk to you. They will most likely:
- Ask you various questions to get you to incriminate yourself or undermine your accident
- Tell you that hiring a lawyer is a waste of time
- Offer you an initial settlement to quickly end negotiations before they begin
Even though they may seem genuine, their intent is anything but. The insurance company is trying to get you to accept a low-ball settlement offer so they can wash their hands clean of any further settlement payments. Don’t let them manipulate you into doing this, and never speak with the insurance company until you’ve talked to one of our lawyers first.
Get in Touch with Our Premises Liability Lawyers Today
The sooner you get in touch with our team, the better. The Mableton premises liability lawyers at John Foy & Associates are here to help you get the compensation you need.
If you’re in Georgia and need legal assistance fast, please give our law office a call for a FREE consultation. There’s no risk or obligation when you contact us.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form