Augusta Slip and Fall Lawyer

If you are injured after slipping and falling on someone else’s property, you may suffer significant damages. In addition to medical bills, you may have missed time from work to deal with your injuries, as well as experienced various non-economic losses. Fortunately, you may be able to recover compensation to make up for your losses, including the pain and suffering you have endured.

An Augusta slip and fall lawyer could analyze your case and explain your options for recovery. It is generally best to consult a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after suffering a fall in order to recover all available evidence and prevent missteps which could jeopardize your ability to pursue compensation.

Premises Liability Laws

The laws that hold property owners accountable for harm suffered by people on their property fall within the category of premises liability. Essentially, if a property owner causes “willful or wanton injury” to any person on the property, the owner may be liable for subsequent civil damages. Under the Official Code of Georgia §51-3-3, this liability may apply even when someone is trespassing on the property.

Attractive Nuisance

Additionally, if a property owner has something that is both inherently attractive to children and inherently dangerous, the owner can be held liable for harm caused to children by that feature unless reasonable steps are taken to eliminate the danger. Swimming pools, trampolines, and other man-made features may be considered attractive nuisances, so owners may be liable for harm suffered by children even if they are trespassers.

Duty of Ordinary Care

If someone “invites, induces or leads others” to enter their property for “any lawful purpose,” then that property owner may incur liability for injuries resulting from a lack of “ordinary care in keeping the premises and approaches safe” under O.C.G.A. §51-3-1. In most cases where someone recovers damages based on premises liability after suffering an injury, that person must show that they were invited onto the property—or the approach to the property—and that the lack of ordinary care is what directly caused their injury.

It is usually essential to gather evidence quickly to show what the ordinary standard of care should have been and how the landowner failed to meet that standard. Most importantly, an Augusta slip and fall attorney could help an accident victim show how the failure to exercise ordinary care caused the injuries suffered, often by bringing in expert witnesses to help establish these factors.

Potentially Recoverable Damages

Once a slip and fall lawyer in Augusta establishes liability, the person injured may be entitled to receive damages to offset many different effects of the fall. Monetary damages are the civil court’s most common remedy to make up for the harm caused by the negligence of another.

Someone injured after a slip and fall incident could seek damages to cover, among other things:

• Emotional anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Reduced future income capacity
• Medical bills
• Future medical needs
• Lost income due to time missed from work

Compensation may be available for these and other losses even a case settles before trial.

Consult a Dedicated Augusta Slip and Fall Attorney

Many times, insurance companies try to speak to accident victims as soon as possible after an incident. When doing so, they may attempt to trick them into making statements or taking actions that could be used against them later to prevent recovery.

When you work with a dedicated Augusta slip and fall lawyer, your legal advocate could begin providing representation right from the start to prevent admissions against interest. In addition, your attorney could stay on top of deadlines, collect and preserve evidence, and fight for fair compensation for all that you have suffered. To learn more about your options, call today.