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Columbus is one of the most thriving communities in the state – and just as in other high-population areas around the country, gun crimes and shootings do happen. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a shooting, you likely have numerous concerns and should speak with a local Columbus shooting victim attorney as soon as possible. You might wonder what Georgia laws say about who can be held accountable for your injuries and if you have legal standing for a claim.
What to Do in Case of a Shooting in Georgia
If you are injured in a shooting, you should find medical attention as quickly as possible. Make sure the medical team that treats you thoroughly documents your injuries. Even if you weren’t shot, but someone you know was, call the police immediately. They must know when there’s an active shooter. Whether the shooting was intentional or accidental will play a role in your legal options, as will key information about the shooter and the ownership of the gun.
Contact a qualified Columbus personal injury attorney experienced in shooting crimes as soon after the incident as possible. While doctors work to treat your injuries and police compile information and eyewitness accounts for their reports, keep in mind that they have obligations beyond you. Doctors are concerned with treating your injuries, not necessarily how they occurred, and the police work on behalf of the local and state government, not individual citizens and shooting victims. Only a knowledgeable attorney can serve as your advocate when it comes to pursuing compensation and damages for your injuries after a shooting.
What Georgia Law Says
In Georgia, a property or premises owner has the obligation to protect people lawfully on the property against foreseeable violent acts. This means, for example, that if you are shot at a hotel or apartment complex where there was a history of crime, the hotel or apartment owner may have neglected its responsibility to protect you from a known danger.
Similarly, if there is a drunk and disorderly patron at a bar or restaurant who is causing problems and the staff or management does not make this person leave, the establishment can be held liable if that same patron later attacks and shoots someone on the premises. The same may be found true for establishments that fail to provide adequate security cameras in parking lots or other areas or in places that fail to provide adequate supervision, such as schools or prisons. Witness accounts, as well as an investigation into the conditions at the facility where the stabbing occurred, often reveal less-than-adequate security precautions.
Gas station owners must also protect their customers from the known risk of violent attacks.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Columbus Shooting Victim Attorney
At The Dixon Firm, P.C., we work to help Columbus shooting victims understand their rights and protections under the law. In the event you or a loved one is shot on the property of a business, such as a hotel, gas station, store, or apartment complex, you may have grounds to sue the property owner for damages and prosecute the shooter for criminal charges. Please contact us. We will advocate for you and determine whether you have a strong enough case to win compensation. For a free consultation with a shooting victim lawyer in Columbus, call 404-733-1166 today.
