Cluttered floors are unsightly at a store in Dunwoody, but they’re also hazardous to customers. If you or a loved one tripped and fell on cluttered floors, it’s important to know your legal rights. You might be able to get financial recovery for what you’ve suffered.
Georgia Code § 51-3-1 says that property owners must keep their areas safe. If someone gets hurt or dies because of the owner’s carelessness, the owner is liable. We recommend speaking with a Dunwoody trip and fall lawyer to know your options.
John Foy & Associates can help. With over 20 years of experience, we know how to build strong cases.
Call us at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online for a free consultation today.
Cluttered Areas Can Cause Severe Injuries
Trips and falls on cluttered walking spaces happen more often than people realize. Common injuries we see include:
- Cuts and scrapes
- Bruising
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Broken arms, hands, hips, or other bones
- Nerve damage
- Internal bleeding
- Facial injuries
Details about you and your accident can also affect your case. When you contact a lawyer, they will look at:
- Your physical condition and age
- Any objects you hit as you fell
- What you tripped over or slipped on before falling
- How and which direction you fell
- Whether or not you caught yourself when falling
Some trip and fall injuries cause permanent injuries or death. For example, the elderly or those with disabling conditions are more likely to suffer life-threatening injuries. The financial and emotional aftermath can greatly affect a victim and their families.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries, you might have a case for compensation. A trip and fall accident lawyer will help determine your options.
To discuss your case during a free consultation, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
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What You Might Recover After a Trip and Fall
If cluttered walking spaces caused your trip and fall, you might have a case. You can collect compensation if the property owner or business was responsible.
Damages you might recover include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical treatment
If you lost a loved one, you could have a wrongful death claim. If so, you can file a claim on behalf of your deceased loved one. Although money can never undo what happened, we find it helps a family cover costs and start healing
Pain and suffering damages are the hardest to calculate. They don’t have a set dollar value, so your lawyer will figure them. The courts often give your pain and suffering a number between one and five to come up with an amount.
Examples of Clutter-Related Hazards
Some property or store owners don’t keep up with regular cleaning. As an owner or occupier of a property, they must ensure the space is safe for all visitors. Here are some situations that might lead to trip and fall accidents:
- Items left in store aisles
- Fallen store displays
- Storage boxes left on the floors
- Merchandise left or fallen into aisles
- Dangerous equipment in unsafe areas
The hazard must have been there long enough for a store owner or employee to have reasonably known about it. In other words, the owner or an employee wasn’t as careful as they should have been. As a result, you tripped and suffered injuries.
The above are just a few examples. If a cluttered walking space caused your trip or slip, contact a lawyer. Your lawyer can investigate how and why the items were present. Then, you can explore your compensation options.
An Experienced Lawyer Might Help You
Personal injury lawyers help those who have been injured by someone else’s negligence. According to Georgia Code § 51-1-2, negligence is a lack of ordinary care. After your accident, look for a lawyer with experience in slip and fall cases.
Slip and fall cases are complicated. It’s your right to handle your case alone, but we don’t recommend it. At the very least, it’s best to speak with a lawyer about your options.
If you were hurt at no fault of your own, a lawyer can help by:
- Looking at the details of your accident
- Answering any questions you have about your legal rights
- Determining the strength of your case and your options
- Investigating who was responsible for your slip and fall
- Gathering evidence of your accident and damages
- Completing all paperwork for your case
- Handling the property owner and insurance company
- Representing you in court if you file a lawsuit
Your lawyer will work to prove the other party’s negligence. They’ll show how the negligence led to your accident and injuries. From there, you can pursue compensation for what you’ve suffered.
Protecting Your Legal Rights
After a slip and fall accident, getting the compensation you deserve isn’t easy. Most businesses will have powerful insurance companies and lawyers of their own. It’s smart to level the playing field by working with your own lawyer as soon as possible.
You will need to file a personal injury case with the owner’s insurance company. After you do this, the insurance company will look for ways to pay you less. You can protect your rights by:
- Reporting the accident to the property owner or store manager
- Taking pictures of what caused your trip and fall
- Photographing any visible injuries
- Getting medical attention as soon as possible
- Contacting a Dunwoody trip and fall lawyer for help
Also, be careful about what you say about the accident. Do not say “sorry” or admit any blame. Avoid statements like, “I should have been more careful” or “I was clumsy.” The other side will almost certainly use what you say against you later.
Talk to a Dunwoody Trip and Fall Accident Lawyer for Free Today
After a trip and fall, protect yourself by speaking with a lawyer today. You will need to know your rights and the settlement you’re entitled to receive.
John Foy & Associates can help. We have over 20 years of experience, and we don’t charge you unless we win your case. Plus, the consultation is always free.
Call us at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online for your free consultation.
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