Atlanta Premise Liability Lawyer: Understanding Premise Liability in Georgia
Barker Law Group will zealously fight for you in this matter. You are not alone as many people feel overwhelmed when they are injured. As such, you may be tempted to take any offer proposed by the insurance company simply to move on from the entire ordeal. However, that is the worst mistake that you can make as you could be leaving thousands of dollars of compensation on the table. Time is of the essence because important evidence could be destroyed or lost as you contemplate how to proceed next.
Your life could be altered forever by your injury. Thus, you deserve just compensation, which is typically not obtained without the assistance of a lawyer. We know how to deal with insurance companies to ensure that you are properly compensated for your injuries and other issues that may arise from slip and fall cases where your damages were caused by the negligent acts of another.
If you have been seriously injured, Barker Law Group can help.
YOUR PREMISE LIABILITY LAWYERS IN GEORGIA
Property and business owners and managers have a duty to keep their respective properties safe, including a duty to inspect the property and fix anything that may pose a danger. The extent of that duty is dependent on different factors, like what type of visitor the injured party was. Homeowners' duties are slightly different from other property owners' or business owners' duties.
What matters in the end is this: if you have been injured and it was due to a property or business owner's breach of their duty, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against them and/or their insurance company. At Barker Law Group, LLC., our personal injury attorney in Georgia will provide the advocacy and representation necessary to obtain the compensation you deserve. Contact us at 844-344-3055 to schedule a free consultation.
Types of Visitors in Premises Liability Cases
The extent of liability a property or business owner has is dependent on the type of visitor the injured party is. There are three types of visitors: trespassers, licensees, and visitors.
Trespassers
Trespassers are not authorized to be on the property. There is no duty to protect trespassers but a property or business owner or manager cannot willfully harm a trespasser. There are two exceptions:
- When landowners know that trespassers frequent the property, there could be liability for an injury if:
- The owner created or maintained a dangerous condition.
- The condition was likely to cause serious bodily injury or death.
- The owner believed or had reason to believe trespassers would discover the condition.
- The owner breached the duty to take reasonable care to warn trespassers of the condition.
- When the trespasser is a child, the property owner has a duty to inspect the property for potentially dangerous conditions that may attract a child. The property owner must take action to correct the unsafe condition. This is known as an attractive nuisance.
Licensees
Licensees, like dinner guests or meter readers, are foreseeable visitors who are on the property with the owner's express or implied permission but not for the owner's financial benefit. Homeowners and occupiers or renters have a duty to take reasonable care to protect licensees from any known hazards on the property, but there is no duty to inspect the property for hazards.
Invitees
Invitees, like customers in a store, are foreseeable visitors who are on the property with the owner's permission and for the owner's benefit. The highest level of responsibility is with invitees, where property owners or occupiers owe a higher duty to keep the premises safe and to inspect for any dangers and then, if a dangerous situation, take appropriate action to address it.
Types of Premises Liability Claims in Georgia
There are a wide variety of ways for property hazards to cause an injury. Some of the most common include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Falling objects, like at construction sites
- Hazardous or toxic chemical exposure
- Defective stairs or railings
- Poorly maintained balconies or decks
- Poorly guarded or maintained swimming pools
- Pool accidents or drowning
- Escalator or elevator accidents
- Inadequate or negligent security
- Dog bites
- Snow and ice accidents
- Inadequate security
- Inadequate maintenance of premises
- Other defective conditions on premises
When the injuries sustained in these accidents prove to be fatal, it can lead to a wrongful death claim.
Personal Injuries and Premise Liability in Gwinnett and Dekalb Counties
Premises liability claims are often founded on the negligence of a property owner or entity. Negligence is the failure of that property owner to provide a certain level of care that is reasonably expected or required of them by law. When a person is injured because of that negligence, the injured party can claim or sue for personal injuries.
Common personal injuries in premise liability cases include but are not limited to:
- Broken bones
- Electric shocks
- Burns
- Bruising, contusions, internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Head injuries
- Paralysis
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Death
You may also suffer pain and suffering and emotional distress caused by the accident and/or any of the above injuries.
Who Can Be Held Accountable in a Premises Liability Claim in Gwinnett and Dekalb Counties?
Premise liability claims are brought against the owner or occupier of a piece of property. As such, people or entities most likely to be held accountable are:
- Property owners
- Property management
- Business owners
- Renters or other occupiers
Keep in mind that your personal injury or wrongful death claim will be filed against the insurance policy that covers the property. In some cases, you may also file a claim against the individual property owner or occupier.
Defenses Property Owners Use in Georgia Personal Injury Claims
Property owners and/or their insurance company or the insurance adjuster will try to defend themselves. There are three main doctrines that are often employed as defenses: assumption of risk, comparative negligence, and contributory negligence.
Assumption of Risk
The assumption of risk doctrine suggests that you as the victim/plaintiff voluntarily assumed a risk of harm that may have arisen from the negligent or reckless conduct of the defendant, and as such, you cannot recover for the harm. Under this theory, you enter into a risky situation knowingly and therefore cannot claim damages when/if an injury occurs. The defendant must show that you knew or were aware of the danger or risk but undertook it anyway.
Comparative Negligence
Comparative negligence is a partial legal defense in the sense that the plaintiff can still recover if the defendant is successful, but the plaintiff's recovery will be reduced according to their own negligence contributing to the injury. Comparative negligence is a doctrine that most U.S. states follow. There are, however, three different categories of comparative negligence:
- Pure, under which damages are awarded based on the assigned fault determined by the court;
- Modified using the 50 percent bar rule, which means the plaintiff cannot recover damages if they are found to be 50 percent or more at fault; and
- Modified using the 51 percent bar rule, which means the plaintiff cannot recover damages if they are found to be 51 percent or more at fault.
Contributory Negligence
Contributory negligence is a doctrine where the plaintiff cannot collect damages if they are found to be at fault in any shape or form. That means, even if one percent is at fault, injured parties cannot recover 99 percent of their damages from the other party. Only a handful of states still adhere to this doctrine.
At Barker Law Group, LLC., we will address and counter any defenses the other party invokes. We have a thorough understanding of the law and will build your premises liability case accordingly.
Why Hire a Premises Liability Lawyer in Gwinnett and Dekalb Counties
Premises liability cases can be complex. You need a premises liability and personal injury lawyer not only for the latter reason but for these reasons as well:
- You will get the legal representation you need and avoid delays and pitfalls because of it.
- You will level the playing field between you and the property owner, who sometimes can have resources that severely outweigh your capabilities.
- An experienced personal injury lawyer will account for all potentially recoverable damages so that you get the compensation you deserve.
- If a fair and just settlement is not negotiated, you can rest assured that you will be well-represented if the case goes to trial.
Contact the "RIGHT" Premises Liability Lawyer in Georgia Today
Do not suffer in silence. Our personal injury lawyer in Georgia will be your voice during this difficult time. At Barker Law Group, LLC., we know the law and have the resources to investigate and build your case. Contact us today at 844-344-3055 or fill out our online form to schedule your free consultation.
What must I demonstrate to win in my slip and fall case?
We must prove the following issues to prevail in Georgia:
- The responsible party knew or should have known of the dangerous condition, should have realized that it involved an unreasonable risk of harm and should have expected that people would not discover or realize the danger.
- The responsible party failed to exercise reasonable care to either make the condition safe or to warn people of the risk involved.
- That you did not have reason to know of the dangerous condition and risk involved.
FREE CONSULTATION
We offer a free consultation to evaluate your injury claim. It will cost you nothing to consult with an attorney to see if you have a case. The Atlanta injury lawyers at Barker Law Group, LLC. will ensure that action is taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the accident and/or conduct in question and to file a lawsuit, when necessary prior to a deadline imposed by the Georgia statute of limitations.
NO FEE UNTIL WE WIN YOUR CASE
We give all our injury clients a promise that if we do not recover monetary damages in your case, we will not charge you an attorney fee. If we take your case, we only get paid when we win your case.
Call Barker Law Group, LLC. immediately at 844–344–3055 or complete our free case evaluation.
