Canton Slip and Fall Lawyers

Premises Liability Cases in Georgia

When property owners neglect to maintain safe conditions or repair potential hazards, innocent people are put at risk of injury. If the property owner’s negligence causes an injury, the injured party may file a lawsuit for damages related to the accident.

Were you injured due to unsafe conditions on someone else’s property? Did you slip, trip, or fall, causing you to experience significant physical, financial, and emotional harm? Let a Canton slip and fall attorney from Hasty Pope, LLP advise you on your legal options and fight for compensation on your behalf.

Fighting for Clients in Premises Liability Cases

When Unsafe Conditions Cause Injury

Slipping, tripping, or falling may seem insignificant, but even a minor slip and fall can cause a serious injury. Although not every accident justifies legal action, you should not hesitate to explore your legal options if you were seriously injured. If your injury required medical treatment, prevents you from earning a living or interferes with your daily life, you may want to seek legal advice.

Some of the most common slip and fall injuries include:

• Sprains
• Fractures
• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Hip fractures
• Shoulder injuries
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries

Simply falling on someone's property is not enough to warrant a lawsuit. However, if the conditions of the property were unsafe, you deserve to seek compensation for your damages. In order to prevail, your Canton slip and fall lawyer will need to show that a dangerous condition existed on the property, that the property owner was aware of the unsafe condition, and that they failed to take appropriate action to prevent injury.

What Constitutes a Dangerous or Hazardous Condition?

Proving that your injuries were caused by a dangerous condition or hazard is one of the key elements of a successful slip and fall claim. Additionally, you will need to prove that the property owner knew about or should have known about the dangerous condition/hazard yet failed to take reasonable measures to rectify it.

But what exactly is a dangerous condition?

Simply put, any condition that poses a risk of foreseeable injury to others constitutes a dangerous or hazardous condition. This means that the condition has to be such that a reasonable person would know it could cause someone to be injured.

Examples of dangerous and hazardous conditions that commonly give rise to slip and fall claims include but are not limited to:

• Wet or uneven floors
• Slippery surfaces
• Unmarked steps
• Poor lighting
• Overcrowded walkways and aisles
• Exposed cords/wires
• Improper signage
• Defective sidewalks
• Potholes
• Lack of handrails
• Defective stairs/stairwells

These and other hazards may lead to a slip and fall accident—and the property owner may be liable if they knew or should have known about the existence of the hazard but failed to take appropriate steps to remove it, repair it, or warn you about it.

How to Prove Liability in a Slip & Fall Accident Claim

In order to win a premises liability case, you must be able to prove that:

• The owner of the property knew about the hazard, or should have known about the hazard that caused the accident
• You, the victim did not know about the hazard, even though you were paying reasonable attention to what you were doing on the property

In Georgia, you may have an advantage if you choose to file a premises liability claim because you do not need to prove how careful you were being on the property unless the other party has evidence showing that you were being reckless on the property.

Challenges in Slip & Fall Accident Cases

There are a few hurdles for slip and fall cases. One is the statute of limitations, which states that lawsuits must be filed within two years of the date of injury. The other is the comparative negligence law, which is a tactic often used by property owners to place some of the blame on the victim. This is important because if you are found to be negligent, your award will be reduced by the percentage of your blame. For example, if you are found to be 25 percent at fault, your award will be reduced by this percentage.

“I was very happy with their service and the outcome of my case and would recommend Hasty Pope, LLP to anyone seeking legal advice.” - Former Client, Holly C.

At Hasty Pope, LLP, our experienced Canton slip and fall lawyers have extensive experience aggressively pursuing compensation on behalf of injured victims. We are not afraid to do what it takes to represent you and fight for justice.

Damages in Slip & Fall Cases

Although may people think of slip and fall accidents as relatively minor events, the truth is these accidents can have serious, long-lasting effects. Victims may suffer significant injuries, causing them to miss work and lose out on weeks or even months of income. When injuries are very severe, victims may struggle with lifelong disabilities that affect their ability to work for the rest of their lives. Additionally, these hardships are compounded by the cost of ongoing medical treatment and emotional trauma.

At Hasty Pope, LLP, we help our clients seek maximum compensation for all their damages after a slip and fall accident, including but not limited to:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Current and future lost wages
• Current and future pain and suffering
• Lost quality of life
• Lost or reduced earning capacity due to disability
• Disfigurement and inconvenience

Our goal is to help you recover the fair compensation you deserve so that you can get back on your feet after a serious slip, trip, and fall accident.