Slip and fall incidents are one of the top causes of injury in Suwanee and the surrounding area. They can happen anywhere and at any time, whether you’re at the grocery store, strolling around your apartment complex, or at a friend’s home. If you are injured in a slip and fall because the property owner didn’t take the proper precautions to keep visitors safe, you may be entitled to compensation.
The Suwanee slip and fall lawyers at Andersen, Tate & Carr are intimately familiar with the local laws and how they impact your case. We have decades of experience representing injured victims of slip and fall accidents and know what it takes to get the compensation you deserve. If you have been injured, contact us today by calling 770-237-9860 or by filling out our online contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation.
How Much Is Your Case Worth?
When it comes to determining how much your case is worth, our Suwanee slip and fall lawyers must first take all the facts of the incident. No two slip and fall cases are the same. Even a detail as simple as if you tripped over a box or slipped in a puddle can have a significant impact on the amount of compensation you are owed.
In general, the compensation, or damages, we will fight for on your behalf is divided into two categories: economic and noneconomic. Economic damages are those that are directly related to the money you lost because of the incident. These damages may include past and present medical and rehabilitation costs, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, and more.
On the other hand, noneconomic damages are related to the losses you suffered that have nothing to do with money. Rather, they pertain to your well-being. We may be able to recover damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, permanent disability or disfigurement, and more.
Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Happen in Suwanee?
As we mentioned before, slip and fall accidents can happen just about anywhere. However, there are some locations and types of property on which these incidents are more likely to happen. No matter the type of property, however, the owner of said property has an obligation to ensure they take proper steps to protect visitors — even if those visitors aren’t legally allowed to be there.
Some of the most common locations for slip and fall injuries include:
- Retail establishments
- Grocery stores
- Shopping areas
- Office buildings
- Apartments
- Homes
- Restaurants
- Parking Areas
Types of Property Visitors in Suwanee
Just like most states, Georgia defines three general types of visitors that may come to a property. Each one is granted various protections in potential slip and fall cases. The least protected type of visitor is a trespasser. These are people who either come onto a property illegally or enter an area they aren’t allowed in, such as an “Employees Only” area. The only protections granted to trespassers is that property owners may not intentionally harm them.
The second type of visitor is a licensee. A licensee is a person who is allowed to be on the property, but their presence doesn’t offer any financial benefits to the property owner. Licensees include house party guests, food delivery drivers, and travelers at a rest stop. Property owners must take reasonable care to protect licensees from harm, such as cleaning up spills in a reasonable amount of time.
The third and most protected type of visitor is the invitee. These are people who are on the property for the financial benefit of the property owner. The most common example of an invitee is a retail shopper. People utilizing an airport or MARTA station are also invitees. Property owners are required to inspect the property to make sure there are no hazards that could be dangerous to invitees.
How Are Slip and Fall Cases Proven?
Property owners are required to take the proper steps to ensure no harm comes to visitors on the property, in accordance with their classification. If they do not take appropriate measures, they may be held liable for any injuries that may occur.
However, for you to have a successful lawsuit, you must also show that there was a hazardous situation that could have caused injury. For instance, if you are at a house party and trip over your own feet, you wouldn’t be able to hold the homeowner responsible. However, if there is a thick power cable on the floor that causes you to trip, you may be able to hold them liable.
In some instances, the property owner may have no reasonable way of knowing there is a hazardous condition, such as if someone spills a gallon of milk at a grocery store and another patron slips in it just moments after. In these cases, the property owner may not be held liable for injuries, even though the spill was there and no signage regarding the spill was posted.
Finally, you have to show that you suffered real, compensable damages. This may be as simple as showing your medical bills or paystubs showing the wages you missed because of your injuries.
Talk to an Experienced Suwanee Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
If you have been injured in a slip and fall in Suwanee or the surrounding area, you have legal options. At Andersen, Tate & Carr, our experienced attorneys have helped thousands of people throughout Gwinnett County get the compensation they deserve after they’ve been injured by someone else’s actions or negligence.
We have taken on the biggest insurance companies in the country, and we know the tactics they use to pay you as little compensation as possible. Our legal team will try to negotiate a deal outside of the courtroom, so your case gets settled as quickly as possible, but we aren’t afraid to go to court if we need to.
Contact our Suwanee slip and fall lawyers today by calling 770-237-9860 or by filling out our online contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation.