Anyone who owns or occupies property in Sandy Springs has a legal responsibility to maintain safe premises for those who come onto the property. If they fail in that duty and someone gets injured, the property owner or business may be at fault. You might have a case for compensation if you were hurt on someone’s property, and talking to a Sandy Springs premises liability lawyer will give you the answers you need.
Our premises liability lawyers at John Foy & Associates know what it takes to win. We have more than two decades of experience helping injury victims recover money for their costs. Let us give you a FREE consultation to discuss the details of your accident, answer any questions you have, and talk about how we can help.
To schedule your FREE consultation as soon as possible, call us at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online today.
What a Valid Premises Liability Case Looks Like in Sandy Springs
Premises liability law in Georgia is covered under Georgia Code § 51-3-1. An owner or occupier of land can be liable for damages if someone is injured on their property because the owner or occupier failed to keep the premises safe. When that happens, the injury victim has a right to seek compensation for their damages.
Premises Liability and Negligence
When a property owner or business on the property does not uphold their legal duty, it’s a form of negligence—and negligence is key in a Georgia injury case. You may be able to file a personal injury claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. However, to be able to do that, you must show that the owner or business was negligent in your injuries.
Premises liability accidents can happen just about anywhere in Sandy Springs. We routinely see incidents at places like shopping malls, apartment complexes, grocery stores, hotels, fast food restaurants, and parking lots. Although an injury on someone’s property does not automatically make them at fault, they can be held responsible if they failed to exercise ordinary care that could have prevented the injury.
It’s not always easy to know whether or not you have a valid case, and actually building that case can be very complicated. That’s why it’s best to reach out to a Sandy Springs premises liability lawyer as soon as you can after you become injured, even if it’s just scheduling a consultation. An experienced lawyer can look at the details and let you know your options.
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Types of Premises Liability Accidents that Can Happen in Sandy Springs
Any situation that causes you to become injured on someone else’s property may be grounds for a premises liability concern. Here are some examples of accidents where the injured party may be able to seek compensation.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slips and falls are some of the most common types of premises liability issues. If a property owner or store employees are not careful to watch for potential hazards on the floors, someone can slip, fall, and become injured.
Slip and fall accidents can happen due to situations like:
- Spilled food or beverage items
- Merchandise dropped or left on the floors
- Recently mopped floors without a warning sign
- Potholes or other debris in the parking lot
- Uneven flooring
- Torn, frayed, or curled up rugs or carpeting
- Broken steps or
- Poor lighting
Slip and fall accidents can also happen if snow, ice, or rain gets tracked into the building. If the property contains a swimming pool, the owner or business could be held liable if someone slips and falls in the pool area.
There are so many ways slips and falls can happen, so if your situation isn’t mentioned here, that doesn’t mean you do not have a case. Consult a premises liability lawyer in the area to know for sure.
Negligent Security
Any building is at some risk of criminal activity. While someone robbing a store is not inherently the business owner’s fault, they can be held liable if they could have reasonably prevented the issue through better security measures. This is especially true in cities or towns where criminal activity is common and a property owner or business should have known they needed better security to protect their customers and visitors.
Employee Assaults
If an employee assaults another employee at work, the business could be held liable for not properly screening the first employee. A business owner might have seen that the employee had a criminal background of assaults but failed to address it.
Unfortunately, sexual assaults can also take place on properties in Sandy Springs. Business owners should be diligent to know the risks in their area and employ sufficient security measures to reasonably prevent any type of assault from happening on their property.
Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
If someone has a vicious or wild animal on their property, they are often responsible if the animal bites someone who is legally on their property.
How a Lawyer Can Help Your Premises Liability Case
Premises liability cases are often complex and time-consuming, which is why having an experienced lawyer on your side can make such a difference. As the victim, the legal burden is on you to show that the owner or business was negligent and is now responsible for your damages.
When you file a premises liability claim, you are typically dealing with the at-fault party’s insurance company more than anyone else. Insurance companies do not like to pay out much on injury claims, and it’s common for them to only offer a lowball settlement or look for ways to reduce the value of your claim. Thankfully, your Sandy Springs premises liability lawyer will be able to handle the insurance company for you and fight for the compensation you deserve.
To show that the business owner was negligent, your lawyer will look at factors like:
- Whether or not security measures were in place when the incident occurred
- Any prior crimes that have happened on the property
- Internal reports for the business that may have shown prior crimes on the property
- Former victims on the property who can show that other crimes happened previously
- And more
The goal is to get you full compensation for the damages you suffered. You usually have two years from the date of the accident to bring a case, so it’s best to get started today.
Talk to a Sandy Springs Premises Liability Lawyer for Free Today
At John Foy & Associates, we have been supporting premises liability accident victims for more than 20 years. We can help you build a strong case to show what happened and the damages you suffered.
Contact us today to discuss the details and how we can help during a FREE consultation. We do not charge a fee unless we win you money, so there is no risk. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get started for FREE today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form