A slip and fall accident can happen at any time in Thomasville, whether you’re visiting a friend’s house, shopping at the grocery store, or eating out at a restaurant with your family. Nobody walks onto a property thinking they’re going to get injured that day—especially from a sudden and painful slip and fall. The law is on your side, but you’ll probably need help from a Thomasville slip and fall lawyer to get the compensation you deserve.
If you did not cause the slip and fall accident, you should not have to pay for the medical costs, lost wages, and other damages you face because of someone else’s negligence. At John Foy & Associates, we can help protect your legal rights and fight for the recovery you deserve. With more than 20 years of experience helping slip and fall victims win their cases, we know what it takes to see success for our clients.
Let us give you a FREE consultation to evaluate your case and discuss how we can help you. If you decide to work with us, there is no fee unless we win money in your case. Call us at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get started with your FREE consultation today.
What You Need to Have a Valid Slip and Fall Case in Thomasville
A common question we get when we consult with new clients is some version of, “Do I have a valid case?” It’s normal to question whether or not you can actually seek compensation. Slipping and falling might feel embarrassing, and you might even worry you somehow caused the accident.
Many slip and fall accidents happen because a property owner or business employee has been negligent. That means they have performed an action (or failed to act) in a way that caused your accident. A slip and fall lawyer can look at your case and get to the bottom of who was at fault.
Premises Liability Laws in Thomasville
In Georgia, anyone who owns or occupies some property and invites others onto it has a legal duty to maintain safe premises. If the owner or occupier breaches that duty and someone is injured as a result, the owner or occupier is liable for damages. This encompasses the state’s premises liability laws found under Georgia Code section 51-3-1.
You can a valid case if you can demonstrate that:
- There was a hazard or dangerous condition that the property owner or business failed to notice and/or remove within a reasonable amount of time
- Your slip and fall accident happened as a result of the property owner’s or business’s negligence and
- You suffered damages as a result of the slip and fall accident
To seek compensation for your damages, you’ll need to file an insurance claim with the property owner’s or business’s insurance company. Your claim will need to contain evidence to demonstrate the bullet points above. This is difficult to do alone, which is why it’s best to work with an experienced slip and fall lawyer in Thomasville.
Modified Comparative Negligence in Thomasville
Sometimes, more than one party is at fault for an injury accident. Although you should not blame yourself or admit blame for your slip and fall without speaking to a lawyer first, you might still have options if you are partially at fault.
Georgia has modified comparative negligence laws. Under Georgia Code section 51-12-33, you may still be entitled to compensation if you are less than 50% at fault for an injury accident. To learn more, reach out to your slip and fall lawyer today.
Get the strong arm
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents happen when a hazard or dangerous condition exists and is not removed or cleaned up within a reasonable amount of time. Examples of hazards that can lead to a slip and fall include:
- Wet and slippery floors
- Spilled food or beverage items
- Poorly-lit halls or walkways
- Merchandise left out in store aisles
- Uneven flooring
- Curled up or torn rugs or carpeting
It doesn’t necessarily matter what hazard led to your accident. The important part is how the accident happened and who caused it.
For example, slip and fall accidents can happen if a store employee is mopping and fails to put out a “wet floor” caution sign. Unsuspecting customers might not see the wet floor and slip and fall. In this situation, the employee has been negligent by not warning customers of the hazard.
What If You Personally Know the Property Owner?
Slip and fall accidents happen often at stores and other public buildings, but what about accidents that happen at someone’s house? If you fall and are injured because of someone’s negligence on their property, they are still responsible for your damages.
It can feel awkward to file a claim against a friend or loved one. You might worry that it will damage your relationship or make them resent you. However, we find that property owners are often happy that insurance exists to cover the costs of the victim’s damages—because the insurance company pays for the costs in a claim, not the property owner directly.
You should file a slip and fall claim even if the injury happened on a friend or loved one’s property. You deserve compensation for the damages you have suffered, and you shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s negligence. To get help in navigating this type of situation, contact a slip and fall lawyer today.
Georgia’s Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Claims
You only have a certain amount of time to bring a slip and fall case, so don’t wait to begin taking action. Georgia’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years from the date of the accident. That means you have two years to file a claim for your damages.
There’s a lot you’ll need to do before filing your slip and fall claim, so it’s best to contact a lawyer right away. They can help you build a strong case and make sure you are on track every step of the way.
Talk to a Slip and Fall and Premises Liability Lawyer in Thomasville, GA for Free Today
Don’t get stuck footing the bill for costs that you didn’t cause. Contact John Foy & Associates today to discuss your best legal options. We have been helping slip and fall victims win the recovery they deserve for over 20 years—and we’re here to help you, too.
To schedule a FREE consultation with us today, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online and we’ll get started.
229-232-8678 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form