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Of all premises liability accidents, slips, trips, and falls are the most common.
Slip and fall accidents can result from hazardous obstacles on a property, unsafe walking areas, slippery surfaces, or improper maintenance. At the heart of most slip and fall accident cases is property owner negligence. Trust The Dixon Firm, P.C. when you need a professional Atlanta slip and fall attorney to help prove a property owner’s negligence for your slip and fall injury.
Property Owner Responsibilities in Georgia
The law in Georgia obligates a property owner to provide reasonably safe premises for his or her visitors. A landowner’s duties include keeping the property clear of obstacles, repairing known slip and fall hazards, and warning visitors of dangers they may not see. If a property owner fails in these legal duties and someone slips and falls as a result, the injured party may be eligible to receive compensation. A plaintiff may prove property owner negligence in a premises liability case if any of the following are true:
- The property owner or an employee caused the hazardous obstacle to be underfoot. The defendant may have spilled a liquid, placed a dangerous obstacle in the path, or created a torn spot on the carpet.
- The property owner knew about the dangerous surface hazard but did nothing to repair it or prevent injury.
- The property owner should have known about the hazards since a reasonable person would have in the same or similar circumstances.
The third scenario is the most common and requires a judge or jury to use common sense to decide if the owner did or did not take reasonable steps to keep a property safe. A common defense in slip and fall cases is that the injured party could reasonably have avoided the hazardous condition had he or she been paying attention while walking.
In cases where both the property owner and the injured party may have been partially at fault, Georgia’s comparative negligence rules come into play. If an injured party can prove that he or she was less than half responsible for slip and fall injury, the courts will still award partial compensation. To maximize your chance of earning compensation, partner with a skilled Atlanta personal injury lawyer with experience in premises liability cases and who can prove the property owner is more at fault for the accident than you were.
Common Slip and Fall Accidents
A number of elements can cause a harmful slip and fall accident. In nearly any location, a person may become a victim of a painful slip and fall injury if the conditions aren’t fit for reasonably safe navigation. Some of the injury accidents our Atlanta slip and fall lawyers commonly represent at our personal injury firm at The Dixon Firm, P.C. stem from:
- Icy parking lots
- Parking lot potholes
- Un-mopped spills
- Recently mopped/waxed floors
- Greasy or oily floors
- Loose or torn carpeting
- Loose floorboards
- Exposed wires or cords
- Obstacles in the way
- Cluttered floors
- Uneven curbs
- Defective sidewalks
- Poor lighting
- Dangerous staircases
- Faulty railings
A slip and fall accident may result from an improperly trained employee, negligent spill cleanup practices, poor building maintenance, or badly installed staircases or walking surfaces. No matter what caused your slip and fall accident injury, find out if you have a case by speaking with an accomplished lawyer at The Dixon Firm, P.C. today.
Consult an Atlanta Slip and Fall Attorney If You Were Injured
If you or somebody you love was injured in a slip and fall accident, do not hesitate to contact the legal team at The Dixon Firm, P.C. Our experienced personal injury attorneys want to help you seek compensation if you suffered a broken bone, spinal cord injury, concussion, head injury, or other damage from a harmful slip and fall. We understand premises liability laws in Georgia and are happy to speak with you in a free consultation. Call our office at 404-733-1166 or contact us online.
