Slips and falls are some of the most common causes of injury. They can happen just about anywhere, whether you’re shopping at Sugarloaf Mills or you’re walking around your condominium complex. No matter where or how you get injured, our Lawrenceville slip and fall lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Slips and falls are a type of premises liability case. Georgia law provides a clear path for those who are injured in these types of cases to get the compensation they deserve. At Andersen, Tate & Carr, our attorneys have recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars in numerous slip and fall cases. Call us at 770-237-9860 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation today.
How Much Is My Case Worth?
Every premises liability case is different. Over the past 30 years, our experienced lawyers have seen a variety of different verdicts and settlements, ranging from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. Each case is unique.
Damages are classified into two different categories: economic and noneconomic. Economic damages pertain to the real money you lost because of your slip and fall incident. This may include past and future medical bills, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, and much more. Proving economic damages is relatively easy since you will have receipts, medical bills and other evidence showing your losses.
Noneconomic damages, on the other hand, are much more abstract. These damages are intended to compensate you for your intangible losses, such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment in life, and more. Because you can’t just show an invoice that details your pain and suffering, your Lawrenceville slip and fall lawyer will use their experience and thoughtful arguments to prove the amount of compensation you deserve.
In rare cases, punitive or vindictive damages may also be assessed to punish the defendant and deter similar action in the future. However, Georgia law sets high standards regarding when punitive damages can be assessed. Your premises liability lawyer can help you determine if your case qualifies for punitive damages.
Elements of a Slip and Fall Case in Lawrenceville
In general, there are three different types of visitors who may enter a property: trespassers, licensees and invitees. Property owners and managers have specific duties of care toward each of these classes of visitors. Trespassers get the least protection, while invitees get the most.
Property owners have a duty not to intentionally harm trespassers, who are visitors on their property who aren’t invited to be there. Trespassers may also include those who are in a specific area on a property where they aren’t allowed to be, such as an employees-only breakroom.
Licensees are people who are allowed to be on a property but don’t provide any sort of financial gain for the property owner or manager. For instance, a delivery person or partygoer would be a licensee. Property owners are required to take reasonable care to make sure these visitors don’t get injured. For instance, they must repair stairs that they know are a hazard to anyone using them.
Invitees are given the most protection. These are visitors on a property who are there for the financial benefit of the property owner, such as retail shoppers or amusement park visitors. Property owners are required to fully inspect their property to ensure any hazards are either fixed or clearly marked to make sure invitees don’t get injured.
Proving Negligence in Lawrenceville Slip and Fall Cases
Many slip and fall cases happen because of negligence. In order to prove negligence, you must prove four factors.
First, your lawyer must help you prove that the property owner or manager had a duty of care to protect you. As noted above, that duty of care is different for each type of visitor.
Second, the property owner must have breached his or her duty of care. For instance, if the owner left a box in the middle of a grocery store aisle and a customer trips over it, the owner may have breached their duty of care. However, if the floor is clear but you fall anyway, you may not be able to prove a breach of duty of care.
Third, you must have been injured directly by the slip and fall to have a case. If you fall but don’t suffer any real injuries, or if you fall on your own accord and not because of anything the property owner did or failed to do, you may not be able to seek compensation. Finally, there must be real compensable damages suffered, such as medical bills or lost wages or serious physical injury.
Speak to a Lawrenceville Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident in Lawrenceville or greater Gwinnett County, you may be entitled to compensation. At Andersen, Tate & Carr, we know what it takes to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us at 770-237-9860 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation today.