Atlanta Slip and Fall Lawyer

Falls caused by a slippery surface can lead to serious injury. Atlanta slip and fall lawyer Terrence R. Bethune has helped accident victims in Georgia collect compensation for their injuries since 1997. If you fell on public or private property and sustained injuries, you may have a premises liability claim on your hands. Call the Bethune Law Firm for a free case evaluation.

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Falls Are a Leading Cause of Injury

Unintentional falls are the number one cause of fatal injuries and trauma-related hospital visits for older adults. An unintentional fall can cause severe injuries, costing thousands of dollars in hospital bills, lost wages from missed time from work, and pain and suffering.

Falls can result in broken bones, head and brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries.

What Are Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents?

Business owners who invite customers on their property have a duty to keep their stores, offices, or other property free from hazards. If owners fail to do so, a customer injured by the hazard can file a claim to collect damages.

Hazards that frequently cause slip and fall accidents include:

  • Unlit sections of walkways and hallways
  • Wet or slippery staircases, walkways, or floors
  • Weather-related conditions such as when snow isn’t salted or shoveled away
  • Failing to restrict affected areas and/or place signs warning of a safety risk
  • Structural faults or improper upkeep, leading to uneven stairs, steps, potholes in parking lots/streets, cracked sidewalks, torn carpeting, or broken floor tiles
  • Escalators that are out of order, broken staircases, missing handrails on stairs, etc.
  • Spills inside stores, nursing homes, hospitals, etc. that aren’t cleaned up
  • Hazardous debris that isn’t cleaned up, such as cut grass or tree branches
  • Failing to install storm drains, roofing gutters, and/or anti-slip devices leading to perilous conditions during bad weather

Business owners who invite customers on their property have a duty to keep their stores, offices, or other property free from hazards. If owners fail to do so, a customer injured by the hazard can file a claim to collect damages.

Caution wet floor sign

Property Owners Must Keep Floors Clean

Business owners in Georgia have a duty to remove or warn of dangerous conditions on their property they know or should have known about. This includes things like liquids, holes, or objects that may pose a fall hazard.

If a customer slips and falls on a hazard and sustains injuries, the property owner may be held liable. To prove liability and win a slip and fall lawsuit, a plaintiff must prove:

  • The property contained a slip and fall hazard;
  • The business owner knew or should have known of the slip and fall hazard;
  • The business owner did not remove or warn of the slip and fall hazard; and
  • The hazard caused the plaintiff’s injury.

For example, if an employee mops the floor of a grocery store but does not warn customers that the floor is still wet, the grocery store may face liability if a customer slips on the wet floor. Likewise, if part of the grocery store’s tile floor is broken and could be a tripping hazard, the store may be liable if someone trips and falls. Ditches or holes from construction may also pose a hazard that could leave a property owner liable.

Whether the business owner knew or should have known about the hazard is often an issue to be resolved in slip and fall cases. For example, if a grape falls on the floor of a grocery store, the owner may not have been able to remove the hazard if it has only been on the ground for a few seconds. If you have questions about a property owner’s duty in your slip and fall case, ask Attorney Terrence R. Bethune.

Victims of Negligence May Recover Damages

Plaintiffs who bring a successful slip and fall lawsuit within two years of the accident can recover compensatory damages. These are damages that will compensate the plaintiff for bodily, financial, and emotional injuries. Some examples of compensatory damages are hospital bills, lost salary from missed work, and emotional distress. In rare instances, slip and fall plaintiffs may be eligible for punitive damages.

Contact an Experienced Atlanta Slip and Fall Lawyer

People who have fallen on the property of another person have a right to seek compensation for their injuries if the property owner did not fulfill her legal obligations. If you have been injured because of a negligent or careless property owner, Atlanta slip and fall attorney Terrence R. Bethune can help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Call 4048757800 or fill out our contact form to set up a free case evaluation.

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