Slip and Fall Lawyer
Understanding Slip and Fall Injury Lawsuits
If you are Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident, the negligent property owner may be held financially liable for your injury, including medical care, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and lost income.
Here are some types of property owner negligence that can cause a person being injured in a Slip and Fall Accident:
Slippery or uneven pavement, sidewalks, stairs, or other walking surfaces
Overly steep entryways or driveways
Poor lighting conditions
Poorly built or maintained objects
Blocked aisles
For maximum compensation after your accidnet, call our Slip and Fall Attorneys at The Brown Firm.
In Slip and Fall Accident cases, time is an extremely important factor.
You need to react quickly, or the accident scene may change, and evidence crucial to your case may disappear. If you are injured in a slip and fall incident, there are several steps you should take:
Report the incident to the proper authorities – make an incident report.
Take pictures of the scene – location, cause of the incident, time of day, etc.
Get immediate medical care – make sure you attend any follow-up appointments!
Contact The Brown Firm Slip and Fall Injury Lawyers as soon as possible after the incident.
Understanding Liability After a Slip and Fall Accident
Property owners may be held responsible when someone has slipped and fallen on a damp floor, defective stairs, or rocky patch or path. Slip and fall cases are based on the ideology of negligence:
Whether or not the property owner acted carefully in preventing a slip and fall on their grounds.
Whether the victim acted recklessly in not seeing or avoiding the thing they slipped on.
However, there are particular circumstances in which a property owner would not be held liable for an injured victim. One of which is when an individual's carelessness causes the accident and injuries to occur.
A principle known as Duty of Care is applied when injuries are sustained due to someone not expected to be in the place that the accident occurs.
For Example, Sam wanted to ask a question of the produce manager at his local supermarket. He knocked on the door of the food back room, but no one answered. Sam noticed the door was identified as "Employees Only," but continued to enter through the door.
While he was looking around for somebody, then he slipped and fell on a slippery spot and was injured.
Sam would not have a real liability claim because the shop had no duty to protect customers who disregard Employees Only signs and wander around where they are not supposed to be.
Check out a related blog: How much are slip and fall accidents worth?
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
When a property owner fails to exercise prudent care and is negligent regarding the ownership of their property, they can be held responsible if any accident injuries occur.
If your slip and fall happened while at work, talk to our Work Accident Attorneys.
Some of the most common causes for slip and fall accidents to occur include the following:
Uneven Steps
Weather Conditions
Spills on Floors
Inadequate Lighting
Unnecessary Clutter
The Importance of Documenting your Slip and Fall Accident Injury
In Georgia slip and fall accident cases, properly recording and reporting all evidence about your accident is essential to getting the financial compensation that you deserve.
Time can hurt you if you don't respond quickly enough, witnesses may disappear, or the scene of the accident may change. If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, there are certain steps you need to take to ensure your case is properly documented:
Report the accident- Report your accident to the property owner, or a manager immediately. Many establishments provide their paperwork after an accident occurs. It's okay to use the supplies they give you, just be sure to obtain a copy of the paperwork before you leave.
Seek Medical Care- Even if you feel you haven't experienced significant injuries, please get proper medical care immediately following the accident. You will need accurate documentation of your medical treatment if you wish to explore damages for your injuries.
Take Pictures- It is essential to take photographs of the area surrounding the accident as well as the scene itself. Remember, conditions change quickly, so recording pictures as soon as possible is advised.
Witness Information- If anyone witnessed the slip and fall accident, try to obtain their name, number, and address. This is a critical component of your case and can also contribute to your settlement amount.
Hire Legal Help- Premise liability claims can be very complex, and navigating these complexities alone can risk the loss of your claim. Our experienced Slip and Fall Attorneys have the resources and necessary knowledge to help you gain a fair settlement.
Slip and Fall Cases Can Be Complicated!
Unfortunately, just showing your injuries may not be enough. You need to prove that the property owner or manager was aware of the dangerous or defective condition and had adequate time to repair it.
You must also prove that you were not aware that you were entering a dangerous area, and our attorneys can help!
If you have been injured in a Slip and Fall Accident, contact The Best Personal Injury Lawyers at The Brown Firm in Savannah, Atlanta, or Athens, GA or Okatie, SC, who can help you prove your case and obtain full compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Cases
What are Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents?
When a property owner fails to exercise prudent care and is negligent regarding the ownership of their property, they can be held responsible if any accident injuries occur.
Some of the most common causes for slip and fall accidents to occur include the following:
Uneven Steps
Weather Conditions
Spills on Floors
Inadequate Lighting
Unnecessary Clutter
How Long Will it Take to Get my Settlement?
Personal Injury Lawsuits can vary a great deal when it comes to the length of time it will take to settle.
First, it depends on how soon after your accident you speak to an attorney and how long it takes to file your claim.
Second, the seriousness of the accident and the extent of the injuries can cause the length of time to vary. In most cases, insurance companies will want to wait until the victim is completely healed from their injuries and they have all of the medical bills before settling. This is another reason speaking with an attorney is beneficial as they can set up a medical lien so that you do not have to pay your medical bills and then wait for reimbursement.
Finally, it depends on the size of the settlement and how backed up the courts are at the time. If you are willing to accept a smaller settlement, then your case can usually be resolved in a few weeks or months. If you are going after a larger settlement, it may take longer.
Also, if your case goes to trial, it can get pushed back even further due to courts usually being backed up with hundreds of cases waiting to be heard.
Who is Liable After a Slip and Fall Injury?
Property owners may be held responsible when someone has slipped and fallen on a damp floor, defective stairs, or rocky patch or path. Slip and fall cases are based on the ideology of negligence:
Whether or not the property owner acted carefully in preventing a slip and fall on their grounds.
Whether the victim acted recklessly in not seeing or avoiding the thing they slipped on.
However, there are particular circumstances in which a property owner would not be held liable for an injured victim. One of which is when an individual's carelessness causes the accident an injuries to occur.
A principle known as Duty of Care is applied when injuries are sustained due to someone not expected to be in the place that the accident occurs.
For Example, Sam wanted to ask a question of the produce manager at his local supermarket. He knocked on the door of the food back room, but no one answered. Sam noticed the door was identified as “Employees Only,” but continued to enter through the door.
While he was looking around for somebody, then he slipped and fell on a slippery spot and was injured.
Sam would not have a real liability claim because the shop had no duty to protect customers who disregard Employees Only signs and wander around where they are not supposed to be.
What Can I Be Compensated for in a Slip and Fall Case?
If you are involved in a Slip and Fall Accident, there are many different things that can be included in your settlement, although it depends on the type of accident you were involved in. In a lot of Personal Injury cases, settlement amounts include compensation for:
Property Damage
Medical Bills
Loss of Wages
Pain and Suffering
Emotional Distress
Loss of Consortium
It is important to have an experienced Personal Injury Attorney evaluate your case to determine which of these factors should be included in your settlement, and ensure that you get the maximum amount of compensation available.
How Much does it Cost to Hire a Slip and Fall Attorney?
Hiring a Slip and Fall Attorney will not cost you any upfront legal fees, because they work on what is called a Contingency Fee Basis, and also provide a Free Consultation.
A Contingency Fee Basis means that you do not pay any legal fees upfront, and your attorneys only collect a fee in the form of a small percentage of your final settlement.
Working on a Contingency Fee Basis is very beneficial to Slip and Fall Injury Victims because they can rest assured knowing that their attorney will do everything in their power to maximize their settlement for them.
If I Hire a Slip and Fall Attorney, Will I Have to Go to Trial?
Usually, you will not need to go to trial during your Slip and Fall Injury Lawsuit. Most of the time, a settlement will be reached between your attorney and the at-fault party's insurance company.
However, your attorney will discuss with you what the best option is for you to receive the largest settlement possible, and occasionally that can mean going to trial.