A slip and fall accident is one of the most common kinds of premises liability cases. While you may be quick to blame yourself, it may be the property owner who is liable for your injury, and you shouldn’t have to pay for that carelessness.
If you’ve slipped and injured yourself on someone else’s property, speak with our slip and fall lawyers in College Park. For over 25 years, John Foy & Associates has been helping people in College Park get compensation for injuries, and we’re not afraid to get aggressive.
Don’t Blame Yourself
If there was a dangerous or hazardous condition that made you trip and injure yourself, you’re probably eligible for compensation. This is true even if you were partially at fault. As long as you’re under 50% responsible, you can claim damages in Georgia under Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) § 51-12-33.
Do not tell anyone that it was your fault. That is evidence that could deny you compensation. You may be naturally clumsy or embarrassed to blame someone, but you should not have to face the consequences and expenses of someone else’s negligence.
Get the strong arm
The Duty of Property Owners
Any property owner, even a homeowner, that invites someone onto their property assumes a duty of care for their safety. They have to ensure their premises are safe by doing things like recognizing and fixing hazards, or warning people about a potential danger.
There is a reason you see wet floor signs and symbols on mop buckets. They warn the public about a dangerous condition. If those aren’t used and a problem like a wet floor or a loose railing cause you to fall, you’ll have a claim.
To prove the claim, you’ll need evidence. However, the property owner or business won’t always want to cooperate. That’s why you turn to one of our slip and fall attorneys in College Park. We can use our investigative team to gather evidence and compel the responsible party to give information.
What Should I Do to Help My Case?
While retaining a lawyer is the best way to help your case, there are some things you can do to help before you talk to one. First, report the accident to the owner or a manager on duty. They should create an accident report that proves the accident happened.
If you’re not too injured, take photos of where you fell and of your injuries. Try to find the hazard that harmed you and document it. Something hazardous, like a wet floor, will be completely gone by the end of the day, so you need to show that the hazard was there.
You may also have witnesses to the scene. Ask them what they saw and see if they’ll offer their name and contact information. Our slip and fall lawyers in College Park can speak with them to confirm their story and use their testimony as evidence.
Seeing a Doctor After a Slip and Fall Injury
Next, see a doctor as soon as you can after your accident. This does several things. First, you can find out how seriously you were injured and find out if there is hidden damage. Sometimes, the pain of an injury hides for days or weeks, and a doctor can detect it early.
Second, it shows that you had concern about your health and creates a paper trail of medical documentation for what happened to you. To win any personal injury case, we have to prove you were damaged, and your medical records will do just that.
Keep track of all the expenses related to your claim, including medical bills, property damage, physical therapy bills, and lost wages. You should be compensated for every consequence you experience because of your slip and fall accident.
How Much Could I Receive in My Settlement?
Every case we see is different, thus, we cannot give you an exact amount until we have all the evidence. However, we can state that most slip and fall cases earn thousands of dollars, and should cover all your economic losses.
When we calculate a value for the insurance claim, we take into account all the economic losses and non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. Our goal is to get you the maximum possible within the circumstances of the evidence and the law. You deserve to get every penny you can.
What Should I Do If I Get a Settlement Offer?
If your injuries are serious, an insurer may reach out to you with a quick settlement. It’s very tempting to take this settlement because you can get money fast. Do not fall for this. The amount they offer will be far less than what you deserve.
They’re trying to stop the case before you can speak with a lawyer. Do not agree or sign anything from the insurance company before speaking with a slip and fall lawyer. We can assess the settlement offer and tell you if it’s fair or if you should fight.
Speak With Our Slip and Fall Attorneys
John Foy & Associates can help you with your College Park slip and fall case. We’re one of the most trusted names in personal injury representation in the Atlanta Metro area. Let us put our expertise to work for you.
To schedule a consultation with one of our College Park slip and fall attorneys, call us at the number on your screen or use our contact form. We look forward to hearing your story.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form