Do You Need an Atlanta Slip & Fall Attorney?
Although no law in Georgia requires you to hire an attorney to represent you during a slip and fall injury case, doing so can benefit you in many ways. You can fully concentrate on getting better while your slip and fall accident lawyer handles complicated legal issues for you.
With a lawyer fighting for you, you can rest assured that the settlement or jury verdict you receive is fair. Your Atlanta personal injury lawyer will take care of complex tasks such as investigating your slip and fall accident, gathering evidence, and hiring experts.
What Is Premises Liability Law?
Slip, trip and fall cases fall under the umbrella of premises liability law. In Georgia, premises liability refers to a property owner’s legal responsibility for accidents and injuries that take place on a premises. All property owners in Georgia have an obligation to prevent foreseeable injuries (called the duty of care). This means property owners must take certain steps to maintain safe premises:
- Regularly inspect a building or property for new, unknown or hidden health hazards.
- Remedy any known or discovered property defects before welcoming guests.
- Warn visitors of any nonobvious safety hazards that exist on the property.
Note that a property owner’s duties of care vary according to the status of the visitor. For example, an invited guest (invitee) is owed a greater level of care than someone who does not have permission to be on a property (trespasser). An Atlanta slip and fall lawyer can help you understand your visitor status at the time of your accident.
Common Causes of Slip & Fall Accidents
Almost every slip and fall accident is preventable. They stem most often from hazards that can be remedied with a proper degree of care and property maintenance by the landowner. A premises liability lawyer can investigate your slip and fall to determine its cause.
Common causes of slip and fall accidents in Atlanta are:
- Wet and slick floor surfaces
- Spilled food and drinks
- Ice and snow
- Uneven flooring
- Cracked sidewalks
- Broken stairway railings
- Loose rugs
- Cluttered walkways
- Inadequate lighting
- Lack of warning signs
Many different property defects can cause a slip or trip and fall accident. If a property owner reasonably could have prevented your accident by remedying the defect or hazard, he or she may be financially responsible for your injuries.
Proving a Slip & Fall Injury Claim
You will have grounds to file a slip and fall injury claim in Atlanta, Georgia if there is evidence that a property owner owed you a duty of care, breached or violated this duty, and that this is what caused your slip and fall. A duty of care is an obligation by law to act in a way that does not cause harm to others. A breach of duty can refer to any act or omission that falls below the required level of care.
Your slip and fall attorney in Atlanta can help you gather any available evidence proving that the cause of your slip and fall injury is connected to the property owner’s failure to uphold the accepted duties of care. In other words, proof that your slip and fall accident would not have occurred had the defendant acted as a reasonable and prudent property owner would have in the same circumstances.
Consult With Our Atlanta Slip & Fall Lawyers
At BMW Law Group, our Atlanta premises liability lawyers can provide high-quality legal assistance throughout your claim. We will fight to prove fault, bring the accountable party to justice and recover the financial compensation you deserve. Start with a free, confidential consultation with one of our compassionate slip and fall attorneys in Atlanta, Georgia. Contact us today.