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In any store, including O’Reilly Auto Parts, injury accidents can occur if the premises are not maintained. When store employees act in a way that leads to an accident, especially a slip and fall accident, the victim may be able to file a personal injury claim against the business. If you were hurt in this way, you’ll want to contact an O’Reilly Auto Parts slip and fall lawyer in Georgia immediately.
Slip and fall claims can be really complicated and confusing without the help of a legal professional. You may be entitled to compensation for your damages after a slip and fall at a store like O’Reilly, but you’ll need to build a strong case first. At John Foy & Associates, that’s where we can help.
Our lawyers have been helping slip and fall victims win the recovery they need for more than 20 years. We are always on the side of injury victims, never insurance companies, and we know what it takes to win cases. To get a FREE, no-obligation consultation, call us at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online today.
Facts About O’Reilly Auto Parts in Georgia
O’Reilly Auto Parts is an auto parts retail chain that sells automotive aftermarket parts, equipment, tools, accessories, and more, in the United States. The business began in 1957 in Springfield, Missouri, and has since grown to thousands of stores throughout 47 states and parts of Mexico.
There are many O’Reilly Auto Parts locations throughout the state of Georgia, including in Albany, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Gainesville, and Valdosta.
No matter where in Georgia your slip and fall accident happened, you’ll need to know your legal options. An experienced slip and fall lawyer can help you investigate the accident, build your case, and handle the insurance company.
How Slip and Fall Accidents Can Happen at O’Reilly Auto Parts Stores
In Georgia, all property owners and occupiers have a legal duty to keep their premises safe (Georgia Code section 51-3-1). If they fail to keep the property safe for visitors and an injury happens as a result, the business may be liable for the damages.
Slip and fall cases happen when there is a hazard or unsafe condition on a property that store employees either failed to notice or saw but did not clean up in a reasonable amount of time. In other words, you likely have a case if your slip and fall accident (and injuries) wouldn’t have happened if the store had been more careful.
Here are examples of how slip and fall accidents at a store like O’Reilly Auto Parts might happen:
- Loose auto part items falling from shelves or being left in the aisles and causing trips and falls.
- Poor lighting in a store that makes it hard for customers to see where they’re walking.
- Slippery floors from an employee mopping or waxing without putting out a “wet floor” sign to warn customers of the hazard.
- Inclement weather, such as rain, ice, or snow, that has been tracked into the store’s entrances or exits where customers can slip and fall.
- Water on the floor from leaks or spilled water bottles that have not been cleaned up soon enough.
Employees at O’Reilly Auto Parts should regularly check for potential hazards, recognize them, and remove them or clean them up within a reasonable amount of time. In your slip and fall claim, you will need to show that an employee failed to uphold this duty.
Negligence Must Exist for a Slip and Fall Case Against O’Reilly Auto Parts
To have a valid case, someone must have been negligent in your accident. According to Georgia Code section 51-1-2, negligence is defined as the absence of diligence, which is care exercised by “ordinarily prudent persons” under circumstances that are the same or similar.
Simply showing that you fell in the store and were injured is not enough. You must demonstrate that the store was negligent and how that negligence caused your injuries. To be able to claim damages in a personal injury case, your damages must also result from a physical injury.
Questions to Ask in a Slip and Fall Claim Against O’Reilly Auto Parts
When building your slip and fall case, the following questions will help you determine the most important elements related to negligence:
- Was the hazardous condition that led to your fall unreasonable?
- Why did the hazard exist?
- How long had the hazard been present on the premises before you slipped and fell?
- Did the store provide any warning about the condition?
- Were you aware of the condition before you fell?
- Did a store owner, manager, or employee know—or should have known—about the hazard?
As you can probably see from the above questions, a slip and fall case is complex. Not only will you need to accurately show what happened and how the store was negligent, but the insurance company also won’t help your case.
If you file a personal injury claim against the store, you’ll be dealing with their insurance company most of all—and insurance companies will do whatever they can to reduce what they have to pay. To legally protect yourself, it’s best to contact an O’Reilly Auto Parts slip and fall lawyer in Georgia to assist with your case.
Suing the Store Versus the Landlord
After a slip and fall at a location like O’Reilly Auto Parts, you might wonder exactly who you need to bring your case against. Is the store that occupies the property responsible for the accident, or is the property owner ultimately at fault? The answer really comes down to what caused your accident and how that hazardous condition was created.
If you were injured because of a structural problem with the actual building, you would likely need to file a claim or a lawsuit against the property owner or landlord. However, if you slipped and fell because of what someone from the store did (which is more common), your case would be against the store.
Talk to an O’Reilly Auto Parts Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer in Georgia for Free Today
Don’t pay for the costs of a slip and fall accident at O’Reilly Auto Parts that you didn’t cause. Get help from one of our experienced and compassionate lawyers at John Foy & Associates today.
We have more than 20 years of experience helping injury victims win what they deserve. We’ll give you a FREE consultation to discuss the details of your accident and how we can help your case. To get started for FREE today, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
