If you slip and fall in a Carquest store, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, and other damages resulting from your injuries. Stores have a duty to keep their premises safe for customers, and failing in that duty can mean they are liable. To know your full legal options today, talk to a Carquest slip and fall lawyer in Georgia.
What to Know About Carquest in Georgia
Carquest is an auto parts company that offers vehicle parts and services. Many locations have online options where you can order parts on the website and pick up at the store. Carquest is owned and operated by Advance Auto Parts, Inc., which is the biggest provider of automotive aftermarket parts in North America.
There are Carquest stores in 49 U.S. states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. As of 2020, there are 27 Carquest locations in Georgia, including in the cities of:
- Brunswick
- Cartersville
- Gainesville
- Lexington
- Springfield and
- Villa Rica
No matter how friendly or competent team members at a Carquest in Georgia might be, they are also responsible for making sure you don’t get harmed on their premises. If an employee fails to maintain a safe property and you’ve hurt as a result, you have the right to seek compensation in damages (Georgia Code section 51-12-4).
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Premises Liability at Carquest Locations in Georgia
If a business in Georgia allows people onto their premises, they are legally responsible for keeping that premises safe. Carquest is no exception. You might have a valid personal injury claim against a Carquest location if you can show that:
- Store employees either failed to recognize an unsafe condition or notice the condition but failed to remove it within a reasonable amount of time
- Your slip and fall accident happened as a result of the store’s negligence and
- You suffered damages as a result of your slip and fall accident
Proving that someone at the store should have known about a hazard but did not and/or failed to clean it up soon enough is not easy. You will need to provide as much evidence as possible to support your claim, which will be filed with the store’s insurance company.
You’ll also need to identify exactly what hazardous condition caused your fall. It could be spilled liquids that were not cleaned up or marked with a warning sign, broken or uneven flooring, or even poor lighting that made it impossible for you to avoid slipping and falling. In addition, you’ll need to prove that you could not have avoided the accident even through your own carefulness.
Slip and fall claims are complex, and they require a lot of work. It’s best to contact a Carquest slip and fall lawyer in Georgia as soon as you can after your accident happens. They will know where to start first with your case and how to build a strong claim.
How to Hold a Carquest Store Responsible for a Slip and Fall Accident
To make sure the store is held responsible for your accident, you’ll need to build a strong claim to file with the insurance company. Calling a lawyer who specializes in slip and fall cases like this is your most crucial step, but there are other ways you can help build your case from the beginning.
Here are some actions to take right after you slip and fall at a store like Carquest.
Report the Slip and Fall
Make sure the store’s manager knows that you fell on the property and were injured. If you cannot find a manager nearby, ask an employee to take you to the manager. Make sure they understand what happened.
If you get the sense that the manager is implying you were at fault for your fall, stand firm. Be polite, but do not admit any fault or apologize. You’ll want to investigate the facts with a lawyer before making any claims or saying anything that might be used against you.
Take Pictures at the Scene
The more you can document the scene of your slip and fall accident, the better. Use your phone or an actual camera, if you happen to have one, and snap photos of:
- The hazard or unsafe condition that caused you to fall
- Any visible injuries that you have and
- The entire scene of your fall
You might get shots from different angles and pictures that are zoomed in and close up. Anything that can show how things looked at the time of your accident can be helpful to your case.
Get the Names of Witnesses
If anyone was around when you fell, talk to them. They can be helpful in your case. Ask what they saw, and request their names and contact information.
When you talk to a Carquest slip and fall lawyer, give them this contact information so they can reach out to the individuals for statements.
Get Medical Treatment
If you are seriously injured from your fall, seeing a doctor should be the number one priority. Otherwise, make sure you see a doctor as soon as possible after leaving the scene—even if you feel okay. This will create a record of your injuries and show the insurance company that you got treatment right away.
Be Wary of the Insurance Company
Carquest’s insurance company might try contacting you very soon after the accident. To be safe, we recommend not talking to them at all until you have a lawyer. Then, you can direct all correspondence to your attorney and they can handle communication with the insurer.
Insurance adjusters are skilled at finding ways to discredit an injury victim’s story or injuries, so it’s best to protect yourself with a legal professional who knows how to handle the insurer.
Talk to a Carquest Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer in Georgia for Free Today
A slip and fall accident at Carquest should not derail your life or leave you with expenses that were not your fault. Get help from a lawyer today to seek the full compensation you need and deserve. At John Foy & Associates, we’ll start with a FREE, no-obligation consultation to discuss the details of your case and how we can help you.
Call us today at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get started with your FREE consultation today.
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