Gainesville Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer
Georgia attorney brings premises liability cases against negligent property owners
A property owner or manager who fails to keep premises safe can be responsible for causing slip and fall and trip and fall accidents. These mishaps may occur in retail stores, restaurants, rental houses and apartments, sidewalks, stairs, streets, public parks and recreation areas. The resulting injuries can include permanent harm or even death. At The Brownell Law Office in Gainesville, we seek justice for Georgia slip and fall victims. If you were hurt because someone did not take proper care of their property, experienced attorney William M. (Bill) Brownell, Jr. will assess the merits of your case on both a legal and a factual basis. From there, our firm will fight for a resolution that properly compensates you for the harm you’ve suffered.
Types of unsafe conditions that lead to serious slip and fall injuries
There are numerous hazards that could trigger a slip and fall injury requiring medical treatment, such as:
- Damaged floors
- Spills that are not cleaned up or marked off in a timely manner
- Poor lighting
- Lack of handrails on stairs
- Cracked sidewalks and parking lot surfaces
- Obstructions that are difficult to see
- Failure to address slick weather conditions
You have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit against the property owner or other negligent party. Delay in taking action could be very detrimental to your case, as defendants could try to remedy the property hazard in order to dispute that the accident occurred. We will immediately set to work at gathering the evidence required to prove your claim.
Liability for a slip and fall injury
To collect damages in a slip and fall injury case, you must show that the defendant violated their duty of care to you. The specific duty of care owed by an owner or someone else in control of a property depends on whether the injured party was an invitee, licensee or trespasser. When someone is invited onto the premises, such as a store customer or house guest, the owner or person in control is required to maintain safe conditions and to identify any potential hazards. Any failure to do so creates liability to the invitee. There is a lesser duty of care owed to licensees, who are visitors permitted to be on the property every if not invited, such as a utility repairperson. Licensees can collect damages only for falls caused by the defendant’s recklessness or wantonness. Most of the time, a property owner or manager does not owe any duty of care to trespassers, but putting something on the premises intended to injure trespassers can create liability.
What to do after a slip and fall accident
From the moment you’re hurt in a slip and fall accident, you should take steps to preserve your legal rights. If you’re able, photograph the scene of the accidents and the conditions that contributed to it. Get contact information from anyone who saw what occurred. Regardless of how seriously you believe you were injured, get a medical evaluation as soon as possible. Keep records detailing each doctor appointment. Don’t accept a settlement offer or negotiate with an attorney or insurance adjuster representing the defendant until you consult with a qualified attorney. We will give you an accurate assessment of the type of financial recovery you should demand given the circumstances of your case.
Contact a skillful Georgia lawyer to discuss a slip and fall accident claim
The Brownell Law Office in Gainesville represents Georgia clients who have suffered injuries in slip and fall accidents on someone else’s property. For an appointment with Mr. Brownell regarding your legal options, please call 770-215-0184 or contact us online.
