Slip and fall accidents in Peachtree City are no laughing matter. When a slip and fall happens on someone else’s property, the property owner or business is often negligent in some way. That means, if you were injured in a slip and fall, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. To find out your legal options, speak with a dog bite and animal attack lawyer in Peachtree City today.
At John Foy & Associates, we know what it takes to win slip and fall accident cases. We have been helping our clients do just that for the past 20 plus years—and we can help you, too. Contact us today at (404) 400-4000 or online to schedule a FREE consultation and discuss the details.
What to Know About a Premises Liability Case
Premises liability is a legal concept in personal injury cases where someone gets injured because of an unsafe or hazardous condition on someone else’s property.
Georgia Code § 51-3-1 outlines how an owner or occupier of property is liable for damages when someone is injured on their property as a result of “failure to exercise ordinary care.” Property owners and businesses must be careful to maintain safe premises and approaches for those who are invited onto their property.
A slip and fall accident can happen as a result of a slippery surface, uneven surface, or some other dangerous condition. A lot of slip and fall accidents happen in places like retail stores, shopping centers, supermarkets, and restaurants, but they can occur just about anywhere.
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Proving Fault in a Peachtree City Premises Liability Case
Just because you fell on someone’s property doesn’t automatically mean they are liable for your damages. To have a valid case, there must be evidence of negligence. You will need to show that:
- The property owner or business owed you a duty of care. In the case of premises liability, that duty would be to maintain safe premises.
- That duty of care was breached. The owner or business failed to prevent, recognized, clean up, or warn you about a dangerous or hazardous condition within a reasonable amount of time.
- You were injured as a result of the breached duty. Your slip and fall accident happened because of a hazard that could have been avoided.
- You suffered damages because of your accident. You had losses resulting from the owner’s or store’s negligence and your slip and fall accident.
You will need to prove each of these points with a premises liability claim. This claim is filed with the at-fault party’s insurance company. It’s best to hire an experienced slip and fall and premises liability lawyer to help you with this, as they will know exactly what needs to be included in your claim.
To begin building your case, you can start gathering information right at the scene. If you can, take pictures of your injuries and the hazard that caused your fall, get the names and contact information of any witnesses, report the accident to the property owner or business, and see a doctor as soon as possible after leaving the scene.
Common Slip and Fall Accident Hazards in Peachtree City
The most common premises liability cases involve slip and fall accidents. Those can result from:
- Wet floors from spilled liquids, food or drink products, floor treatments, mopping, waxing, or splashed oil or grease
- Uneven, bulging, or broken flooring
- Worn, torn, or curled up carpeting
- Rainy surfaces that haven’t been dried or icy surfaces that haven’t been salted
- Potholes in parking lots
- Unmarked steps
- Broken or uneven steps
- Stairs without railings
- Fallen merchandise or items left in aisles
Although slip and fall accidents happen most commonly, premises liability cases can result from any type of dangerous condition on someone’s property. Those conditions may include:
- Chemical or mold exposure
- Defective or poor lighting
- Equipment that has not been properly maintained
- Lead poisoning
- Dog bites or animal attacks
- Objects that have fallen from shelves
No matter how you are injured on someone else’s property, you should not have to pay for the costs of another person’s negligence. Filing a premises liability claim can help you seek compensation for your damages. However, be warned that the property owner’s or business’s insurance company will likely fight you on your claim.
Insurance companies do not like to pay out much on injury claims. They care most about their bottom line and will look for ways to deny or reduce the value of your claim. This is just another reason to get a Peachtree City slip and fall accident lawyer on your side from the beginning.
Your lawyer can communicate and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf so you don’t have to worry about it. You can focus on healing from your injuries and adjusting to your life after the accident. To schedule a FREE consultation with one of our premises liability lawyers today, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
You Have Two Years to File Your Claim
Keep in mind that there is a statute of limitations for slip and fall and premises liability cases in Peachtree City. In most cases, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a claim for damages (Georgia Code § 9-3-33). If you try to bring a case outside of this timeframe, you will miss your chance to seek compensation for this accident.
To make sure you are staying on track, contact a slip and fall and premises liability lawyer as soon as possible. There are rare cases where the statute of limitations is shorter, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Talk to a Slip and Fall and Premises Liability Lawyer in Peachtree City for Free Today
Don’t get left footing the bill for someone else’s mistakes. If you were hurt during a slip and fall or some other accident on someone’s property, contact John Foy & Associates today to discuss your options. We have been helping injury victims win their cases for more than 20 years.
Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to schedule a FREE consultation and case evaluation. We’ll go over the details of your case and how we can help you. If you choose to work with us, there is no fee unless we win you money. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get started for FREE today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form