Slip and fall accidents are the most common cause of premises liability claims in Georgia and Arizona. When a slip and fall occurs on someone else’s property, the courts can hold the property owner legally responsible. This means the property owner may owe accident victims financial compensation for their injuries. Slip and falls fall under the umbrella of «premises liability,» a related category of property owner liability.
A slip and fall can result in broken bones, head and brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, soft tissue injuries, and more. The damages can be severe, painful, and expensive. To get the most out of a slip and fall personal injury claim, you need the help of an attorney. Cruz & Associates has dedicated slip and fall attorneys ready to help in Atlanta and Phoenix, and they want to hear about your recent injuries. If you slipped on wet floors, oily surfaces, ice, snow, mud, debris, or another hazard and fell, you may be eligible for compensation.
Your Rights to Security on Another Person’s Property
In Arizona and Georgia, property visitors have the right to expect a reasonably safe environment. When you shop at a grocery store, walk through a mall, cross a parking lot, visit a school campus, swim in a community pool, walk in a public park, or visit a friend’s house, you have rights. Property owners of all types must take reasonable steps to maintain premises free from defects or hazards, including slip and trip hazards, which are common causes of fall accidents.
What is “reasonable” for a property owner to do depends on the circumstances. For example, it might be reasonable to expect the owner (or an employee) of a grocery store to post a “Caution: Wet Floors” sign if it has been raining for several minutes. If a slip and fall occurred 30 seconds after it began to rain, the courts might rule that the defendant could not have reasonably posted a warning sign in time to prevent the accident. Understanding a property owner’s responsibilities often requires contacting a premises liability attorney.
The duties a property owner owes will vary depending on their status as a visitor. Invites enjoy the most duties of care, as do people the property owner invites onto the property. Customers of a business are examples of invitees. Licensees, or people who enter the premises for their own purposes (such as a vendor), receive fewer duties of care but must still expect a safe place. Trespassers (except minors) are the only property visitors to whom property owners do not owe duties of care. To learn about your status and the property owner’s duties of care, speak with one of our experienced attorneys.
Should I Hire a Slip and Fall Attorney?
If your injuries are catastrophic, hire a lawyer. A «catastrophic» injury is one that causes permanent disability, such as many paralyzing spinal cord injuries, or one that results in long-term pain, scarring, or disfigurement. You should also hire a lawyer for minor injuries if you want to ensure that an insurance company offers you a settlement for the amount your injuries deserve. If you have any questions, don’t know how to file a claim, want to file a personal injury lawsuit, or simply don’t know what to do, talk to a lawyer.
The premises liability attorneys at Cruz & Associates have years of experience handling slip and fall claims in both Phoenix and Atlanta. We know the laws like the backs of our hands and have the experience and drive to fight for maximum compensation on your behalf. Our team can guide you through the litigation process, from filing a claim before the deadline to handling a workers’ compensation claim. Speak with one of our attorneys during a free consultation and let us learn the details of your unique case. We can help you decide what to do from there. Contact us today to get started. Spanish spoken.
