Slip and fall accidents can seem minor but often cause major problems. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in five falls results in a serious injury. We routinely see slipping, tripping, and falling incidents in Lawrenceville that cause broken bones, sprains, damaged muscles and joints, and weeks of missed work – or more.
Many of these injuries require expensive surgery or prescription drugs, and they may leave with long-term pain or even a disability. All of these conditions are expensive, but you do not have to pay out of pocket for your care. The law gives you the right to make a full financial recovery. You need to talk to a personal injury attorney in Lawrenceville.
John Foy & Associates has the experience and knowledge to help. We have been helping slip and fall victims for over 20 years. We started as a small local law firm and built our way up to one of the largest, most respected names in the state—dedicated exclusively to helping those who were injured.
Does My Injury Count as a Valid Slip-and-Fall Case?
In most cases, if you fell and were hurt through no fault of your own, you have a case. Never blame yourself for what happened – people don’t usually trip and fall for no reason. There is usually a hazard, obstacle, or unsafe condition that contributed to the accident. Legally, that means you are not at fault.
Some of the most common types of slip and fall accidents we see include:
- Slipping on a spilled beverage or product in a restaurant, food court, or store
- Stumbling on damaged or uneven pavement
- Tripping on an unmarked step
- Falling on stairs
- Tripping in a poorly lit area
- Falling over a railing or from a window
All of these are considered “premises liability” cases under the law. This simply means that the owner of a premises has a legal duty to make sure the place is safe for those who use or visit it. If they fail to provide safe premises, they are considered “negligent.” Negligence doesn’t make them a bad person, nor does it mean they intentionally set out to cause harm. It simply means their own carelessness or thoughtlessness caused the accident and their insurance must pay for your costs.
Should I Get a Slip and Fall Lawyer in Lawrenceville?
Your decision to get a lawyer for your slip and fall is ultimately a question of your intent to file a claim. If you intend to get compensation for your accident in any way, you should at least talk to a lawyer about your case–without legal help, you may find that the challenges involved are too difficult to overcome.
Our lawyers don’t charge anything upfront, so there’s no risk of paying more for your slip and fall attorney than your case is worth. We work on a contingency-fee-basis–that means our payment comes out of a portion of your compensation.
If you’re not sure whether it’s worth getting a lawyer, you can at least talk to one for free. At your free initial consultation, a professional will tell you what your options are for getting a settlement for your slip and fall.
What Should I Do If I Slipped and Fell in Lawrenceville?
The rule in any slip and fall case is to be your own advocate. That means taking basic steps to protect your rights and make sure you get the care you need. Some simple ways you can do this include:
- Report the injury to the store or owner. If your fall happened in a business, talk to a manager or the owner – not just a regular employee. Make sure they understand that you were injured when you fell and ask them for their contact information in case you need to follow up.
- Get pictures. The more evidence you have, the better. Pictures or videos help show exactly what happened: where you fell, what obstacles or unsafe conditions are there, and what your actual injuries look like.
- Talk to nearby witnesses. If you’re able to, speak to anyone who was nearby when the fall happened. Even if they didn’t see the fall itself, they may be able to act as witnesses that an unsafe condition was present – such as a mopped floor with no “wet floor” sign.
- See a doctor. Many slip-and-fall injuries are more serious than they look or can become serious if left untreated, and a doctor can help you get the care you need right away. Going to a doctor immediately establishes that you believed your injury could be serious from the beginning, which prevents the insurance company from claiming that you are exaggerating your injury.
No insurance company wants to pay out a claim if it can avoid it. This is true even when your injury is legitimate. Avoid saying anything that may minimize your injury, and never accept the blame for what happened. Even simple courtesies like apologizing to the store owner can later be used against you.
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What If My Fall Happened in Someone’s Private Home?
You still have a right to a full financial recovery. However, we often talk to clients who are afraid to make a claim because they don’t want to take their friend, neighbor, or loved one to court.
Remember: your claim is not an attack on your friend. You do not have to blame them and they will not have to pay money out of pocket. Your claim is a private matter between you and their insurance company. You deserve to get the care you need.
What Is Pain and Suffering Worth in a Slip-and-Fall Case?
In a personal injury case, damages can be either economic or non-economic. Economic damages are clear financial costs that your accident caused. Non-economic damages are less clear costs to your quality of life. Pain and suffering damages fall under the non-economic umbrella.
Georgia’s pain and suffering statute, Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §9-10-184, does not set any cap for pain and suffering damages. That means your lawyer can argue for any amount of compensation for your suffering, as long as it fits your situation and the factors in your case.
In general, pain and suffering damages depend on how the accident affected your mental state and your daily life, so your compensation will depend on your specific situation. Your Lawrenceville slip and fall attorney will calculate all of your damages to make sure you’re paid everything you’re owed.
Is There a Deadline to File a Slip and Fall Claim in Lawrenceville?
Yes. The City of Lawrenceville uses deadlines set in laws known as statutes of limitations. These come from both federal and state law. The specific deadlines in your case depend on the circumstances of the injury. For example:
- In many cases, you may have up to two years to file your claim.
- In some cases, the deadlines may be much shorter – a matter of weeks.
If you miss the deadline to file, you may lose your right to recover any money at all. The Gwinnett county courts will likely refuse to hear your case. Likewise, the longer you wait the harder it may be to win your case. This is why you should speak to a lawyer as quickly after your accident as possible.
Talk to a Lawrenceville Slip and Fall Attorney for Free
Don’t pay out of pocket for an injury that wasn’t your fault. The Lawrenceville slip-and-fall lawyers at John Foy & Associates have been winning cases on behalf of injured victims for over 20 years. Let us give you a free consultation and show you what we can do for you.
Call us or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
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