McDonough Slip and Fall Lawyer

After you are hurt on the property of another, you may face medical expenses and the substantial pain of your injuries. However, you may have a chance to recover. In McDonough, property owners have a legal obligation to keep their property safe for visitors.

Filing a slip and fall lawsuit is a way of potentially recovering for any injuries and financial losses you incur because of an injury. After falling, a McDonough slip and fall lawyer could explain your rights, document your injuries, and help you file a premises liability lawsuit to seek compensation. Call today and set up a consultation with a dedicated personal injury attorney.

Slipping Accidents in McDonough

Slip and fall cases are a type of premises liability action that is usually based on the legal theory of negligence. To recover for a slipping accident, those injured are asked to prove that a property owner owed a duty of care, breached their assigned duty, and caused injuries as a result.

This legal duty of care typically includes checking for and cleaning spills, ensuring carpets and handrails are secure, and ensuring that there are not clear hazards on a property. A McDonough slip and fall attorney could help prove liability in a falling accident claim by demonstrating that, if not for the property owner’s negligence, the accident would not have occurred. This may include a detailed investigation to demonstrate that the property owner knew of a hazardous condition but failed to take reasonable care to protect those on the property.

Classifications of Visitors in McDonough Falling Accidents

A property owner’s duty changes depending on the status of the people who enter their property. To this effect, one of the most important steps in a slip and fall accident claim is to determine the injured person’s status at the time of the accident. The Georgia legislature has created three different classifications for purposes of premises liability. Under the law, individuals are considered invitees, licensees, or trespassers. To learn how these classifications may impact a claim, contact a knowledgeable lawyer.

Invitees

Invitees are those who are invited onto the property through an express or implied invitation. For example, when a person goes to a grocery store to purchase food, they are typically considered an invitee. Under the Official Code of Georgia § 51-3-1, property owners are expected to keep property safe from hazards.

Licensees

Licensees are people who are “neither a customer, a servant, nor trespasser, does not stand in any contractual relation with the owner of the premises; and is permitted, expressly or impliedly, to go on the premises merely for his own interests, convenience, or gratification” (O.C.G.A. §51-3-2). Property owners are usually not liable if a licensee is hurt unless there is evidence that a willful or wanton act of negligence caused the injury.

Trespassers

The final classification of those in a premises liability action is trespassers. As outlined in O.C.G.A. §51-3-3, a property owner does not owe a trespasser any obligation of care, expect to refrain from willful acts of negligence.

Reach Out to a McDonough Slip and Fall Attorney

Slip and fall accidents are more than just an inconvenience. They may cause serious injuries such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, sprains, and strains. A McDonough slip and fall lawyer could help prove liability in a slip and fall case by connecting a property owner’s negligence with your injuries. Connect with an attorney today to schedule a free consultation, discuss your case, outline your classification, and determine the potential for compensation.