Were you injured on someone else’s property in Sandy Springs, Georgia? If so, you may be entitled to financial compensation that can help pay your medical bills, make up for lost income, and acknowledge your pain and suffering.
However, insurance companies don’t make it easy for personal injury victims to obtain compensation following an accident, fighting tooth and nail to deny or minimize their claims.
If you were hurt, you need a Sandy Springs premises liability lawyer who will fight to protect your rights. Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers has over 50 years of combined experience handling all types of personal injury claims.
We can discuss how we can help during a free case review. Call us today at (770) 900-9000 to learn more.
How Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With Your Premises Liability Claim in Sandy Springs, GA
If you were hurt on another party’s property in Sandy Springs, GA, you may have the right to recover compensation for your damages under Georgia’s premises liability laws. However, the outcome of your case may depend on your ability to show your legal status on the property at the time of the accident and the property owner’s knowledge of the dangerous condition that led to your injury.
An experienced lawyer knows how to collect compelling evidence and demand the compensation you deserve.
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of our clients by:
- Preparing cases for trial from the very beginning
- Discussing our clients’ legal rights with them during free consultations
- Investigating accidents in a thorough manner to determine how they happened and who is responsible
- Gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and preparing legal claims
- Preparing detailed demand letters that provide justification for a fair settlement
- Negotiating for maximum compensation
Contact our Sandy Springs personal injury lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your premises liability claim.
What Is a Premises Liability Case?
Premises liability refers to the laws regarding the actions a property owner must take or refrain from taking to ensure their property is safe for visitors. When a property owner or occupier fails to abide by these legal duties, they can be held responsible for injuries that occur as a result.
Where Do Premises Liability Accidents Occur?
Premises liability accidents can occur anywhere. The main aspect of these cases is that they occurred on someone else’s property.
For example, you may have grounds to file a premises liability claim if the property owner was negligent and, as a result, you were hurt at:
- A store
- A business
- A friend’s property
- A hotel
- The zoo
- A movie theater
- A restaurant
- A club
- A concert
- Another entertainment venue
- A multi-family housing unit’s common property, such as stairwells or outdoors
- A government property
- A public school or park
- A hospital or doctor’s office
- A parking lot or parking garage
If you were injured on someone else’s property – whether that was private, public, or commercial property – contact an experienced premises liability lawyer to find out if you have a case against the property owner or occupier.
Common Causes of Premises Liability Accidents
Premises liability accidents can happen for various reasons, but some of the most common include:
- Snow or ice accumulation
- Wet or slippery floors
- Fallen debris
- Broken staircases
- Unlit stairways
- Inadequate lighting
- Negligent security
- Broken steps
- Missing handrails
- Blocked fire exits
- Overcrowding
- Cracked pavement
Any unsafe condition can potentially lead to injury and the right to file a premises liability case.
Who Could Be Responsible for a Premises Liability Accident?
Georgia premises liability laws specifically mention property owners or occupiers of land. Therefore, business owners, government entities, and businesses could be responsible for premises liability accidents.
Under this definition, tenants could also be to blame. Other parties with a contractual duty to maintain the property, such as property management companies, may also be liable.
Legal Status at the Time of the Accident
Your legal status at the time of the accident is critical to the potential outcome of the case.
Invitee
An invitee is someone who is invited to the property by express or implied invitation, typically to the owner’s benefit (e.g., a store customer). Under Georgia law, property owners are liable for damages to invitees for injuries caused by their failure to exercise ordinary care in keeping premises and approaches safe.
Licensee
Licensees are lawfully on the premises and have consent from the owner to enter the property. However, licensees enter the premises for their own purpose, interests, or gratification (e.g., to visit a friend). Under Georgia law, property owners are only responsible for willful or wanton injuries to licensees.
Trespasser
Under Georgia law, possessors of land owe no duty of care to a trespasser who has no lawful right to be on the property except to refrain from causing a willful or wanton injury. However, child trespassers may have a right to financial compensation if they were injured by an “attractive nuisance,” which entices children to the property and poses an unnecessary danger that children cannot recognize.
Common Injuries that Victims Can Suffer on Another Party’s Property
The type of injuries that victims suffer depends on various factors, including how the injury occurred and the circumstances surrounding it.
Premises liability cases can involve injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Hip fractures
- Arm fractures
- Leg fractures
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Torn ligaments, muscles, or tendons
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
An experienced Sandy Springs premises liability attorney can ensure that you seek medical attention and have all your accident-related injuries accurately diagnosed.
What Is My Premises Liability Case Worth?
Accidents – such as slips and falls – can result in severe injuries that cause victims to incur substantial medical bills for ongoing medical treatment. Generally, the more severe the injury, the higher the potential value of the premises liability claim.
More serious injuries mean more medical bills, lost time from work, and pain and suffering. If victims suffer injuries that prevent them from returning to work, they may be able to seek compensation for their lost earning capacity.
An experienced attorney can evaluate your claim and possibly hire financial and medical experts to accurately value your damages.
What Financial Compensation Can I Recover in a Georgia Premises Liability Claim?
You may be able to recover compensation for all your injury-related damages following a premises liability accident, including economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages compensate you for the direct, tangible losses you incurred or will incur in the future, such as:
- Medical expenses for emergency treatment and transportation
- Ongoing medical bills, including rehabilitation, physical therapy, follow-up visits, and visits with medical specialists
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- The cost of any property damaged in the accident
Non-economic damages compensate accident victims for the subjective and intangible losses suffered, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of companionship
An experienced Sandy Springs personal injury attorney can demand maximum compensation for your accident-related damages.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed for the Georgia Accident?
Under Georgia’s modified comparative fault law, accident victims who are 50% or more at fault for their own injuries cannot recover any compensation through a personal injury claim. If they contributed to the accident but were not 50% or more at fault, they can pursue compensation. However, their damages are reduced by their degree of fault.
Suppose you were on your cell phone when you slipped and fell on cracked pavement. The insurance company or jury could assign 25% of the fault to you. If you suffered $100,000 in damages, your award could be reduced by $25,000 or 25%.
Insurance companies are familiar with these rules, so they try to shift as much blame as possible to accident victims. This is one reason why you need a skilled attorney on your side who can fight against unfounded allegations of fault and minimize the degree of fault assigned to you.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Premises Liability Lawsuit in Georgia?
The statute of limitations is the amount of time someone has to take certain legal action. Personal injury victims in Georgia generally have two years to file a premises liability lawsuit.
If you fail to file a claim by the accident’s second anniversary, you can lose your right to compensation. Protect your rights by reaching out to a skilled personal injury lawyer in Sandy Springs today.
Contact Our Sandy Springs Premises Liability Lawyers for a Free, No-Obligation Consultation
If you were injured on another person’s property, a Sandy Springs premises liability attorney can fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
Hammers Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to help. We can investigate your claim, consider all paths to financial recovery, and advise you of your legal options through each phase of your case. Contact us today to get started with a free case consultation.
