Suffering from a slip and fall accident can be painful, embarrassing and leave you shaken up. In some circumstances, your fall may be serious enough to warrant a trip to the hospital. You may also suffer from scrapes and bruises, broken bones, or even a head injury after this type of fall—and you may not be able to return to work immediately.
Don’t write off your situation as being clumsy or careless. You may have a legal right to get money after your fall. A Norcross slip and fall attorney can help you figure out your options.
John Foy & Associates has over 20 years of experience dealing with slip and fall cases like yours. We will be able to take a close look at your situation and determine if you can get money for your case. We can even give you an estimate of what your case may be worth to an insurance company or a trial in the Norcross area.
Call us at 404-400-4000 and get your free consultation today.
What Are Some Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Norcross?
Slip and fall accidents are common. Over 8 million Americans will go to the emergency room because of an accidental fall each year. Nearly 33,000 of those falls will be fatal.
Falls in Norcross often result from some of the same circumstances over and over again. In fact, the National Floor Safety Institute reports that over half of all trips, slips, and falls are due to hazardous walkways. But, what is a “hazardous walkway”? It could be:
- Uneven flooring, including loose floorboards
- Inadequate lighting
- Slippery surfaces
- Poorly designed walkway surfaces
- Bad housekeeping or maintenance
- Substances on the floor
- Defective sidewalks
- Potholes
- Unsafe staircases
- Recently mopped or waxed floors
- Torn carpeting or rugs that move easily
- Cluttered floors
Generally speaking, anything that is in a walkway could be considered a hazard.
Weather conditions can also cause slip and fall incidents. For example, water that get tracked in from the outside can create slippery conditions and potentially lead to a fall.
Although ice and snow in Georgia are rare, property owners are supposed to deal with those conditions immediately. That way, customers and other people walking by do not have to walk on slippery sidewalks or parking lots.
Get the strong arm
How do I Prove a Slip and Fall Claim in Norcross?
Slip and fall claims, like other personal injury cases, focus on whether “negligence” occurred. Negligence is a legal term. It refers to whether the property owner acted carelessly or recklessly. The property owner is not automatically responsible for your losses after a fall—but in many cases they will be. You must prove that the owner was negligent in some way to get money for your claim.
A property owner may be accountable for your slip and fall in court in three situations:
- A property owner, an employee, or other representative caused the unsafe surface.
- Employees or the property owner knew about the hazard and did nothing to correct it.
- The property owner did not know about the condition, but they should have.
It’s easy for a property owner to claim that they didn’t know about a hazardous condition. Property owners must perform reasonable maintenance on their property. If they don’t, then they can be liable for your slip and fall claim. This is where the “should have known” argument comes in.
You can argue that a reasonable property owner should’ve known about the hazard that caused your fall. You can do this by showing that employees had seen the danger or that they were nearby at the time of the accident. Evidence that indicates that the hazard caused other falls or was there for a long time can also be beneficial for your case.
What Should I Do After a Slip and Fall Accident in Norcross?
The first thing you should do after any type of accident is get medical care. Your health and safety are vital, and you shouldn’t wait to get the medical attention you need.
It’s a good idea to go to the doctor even if you don’t think you’re seriously injured. Injuries after a fall may not be clear to you immediately. A medical professional can spot internal injuries like strains, bleeding, and back problems.
You should also always report your fall to the property owner. If you fall in a store, for example, speak with an employee to let them know about your fall. In many situations, employees may already have this information.
But if you have to rush out of the store to the hospital, make a phone call afterward to let the property owner know about the fall. You don’t need to share specific details yet. It’s better to let them know that a fall occurred and that your attorney will be in touch.
The next step, then, is to reach out to a Norcross slip and fall attorney to get the claim process started. Refer any phone calls or letters about the incident to your lawyer. This is especially important if those communications come from the insurance company.
It may not always be possible to involve a lawyer right away, especially if you are in the hospital. Nonetheless, it’s a good idea to talk to an attorney as soon as practical after your accident—and before you speak to an insurance company.
Talk to a Norcross Slip and Fall Lawyer for Free
Slip and fall cases are very fact-specific. You should have a professional perform a close review of the facts of your case to determine what your claim may be worth. The team at John Foy & Associates is ready to walk you through your legal options.
Remember that every case carries deadlines, and you need to act as soon as possible after your fall. Let us give you a FREE consultation.
Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your free consultation today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
