Clarkston
Slip and Fall AccidentLawyer

Slip and fall accidents can happen at grocery stores, restaurants, private properties, or anywhere else in Clarkston. Serious falls can leave you with long-term disabilities or chronic pain.

Even minor falls can lead to expensive injuries, missed work time, and other costs that derail your life. If you were hurt this way, a Clarkston slip and fall and premises liability lawyer may be able to help you seek compensation.

At John Foy & Associates, we’ve been helping slip and fall accident victims recover the money they deserve for over 20 years. Starting as a small local law office, we’ve grown to become one of the most well-respected personal injury firms in Georgia. We can help you too—risk-free. We never take a fee unless we win you money.

For a FREE consultation today, call us at (404) 400-4000 to get started.

How to KnowIf You Have a Slip and Fall Case in Clarkston

A slip and fall case is based on fault. In Clarkston, the person who caused your injuries is responsible for all resulting costs. So, if someone else’s negligence (failure to take reasonable care) caused your slip and fall injuries, they are liable. That means you likely have a case.

It’s common for slip and fall victims to quickly blame themselves. Never do this until you have all the facts and have spoken to a Clarkston slip and fall lawyer. You didn’t fall for no reason. Most of the time, the type of accident is caused by an unsafe condition like an obstacle or spilled product. If that’s the case, you can probably file a slip and fall claim against the at-fault party.

Common Examples of Clarkston Slip and Fall Accidents

You can slip and fall just about anywhere, but there are some scenarios we see often. Here are some ways slip and fall accidents tend to happen:

• Slipping on a spilled liquid, wet floor, or product in a store, restaurant, or bathroom
• Tripping over uneven pavement on a sidewalk or in a parking lot
• Falling downstairs
• Tripping over an unmarked or broken step
• Tripping over merchandise left out in a store aisle

In any of these situations, the owner of the premises can be liable for your injuries. According to Georgia Code § 51-3-1, any owner or occupier of land has a legal duty to keep the location safe for everyone who visits. If they do not, they are liable. Not cleaning up or fixing a hazard within a reasonable amount of time means they have been negligent and caused you harm.

What to Do After Slipping and Falling in Clarkston

If you get hurt from a slip and fall accident you didn’t cause, the law is on your side. However, you will still need to be your own advocate. Slip and fall victims are too-often doubted when they report an accident.

Property owners and managers do not want to admit they were negligent, so they may try to say you caused your accident. Further, insurance companies never want to pay out the full value of your claim. They will look for ways to undermine or deny your claim—even when you’ve done nothing wrong.

Thankfully, there are several things you can do to legally protect yourself and begin building a strong insurance claim.

1. Take Pictures

Right after you slip and fall, if you’re well enough, take pictures. Use your phone to capture:

• The scene where you fell
• What your injuries look like and
• The obstacle or unsafe condition that caused your fall

You might also take video of the situation and explain what happened. Picture and video evidence preserves the scene as it was right after you fell. Managers or employees can easily clean up a hazardous situation, but your pictures will not hide anything.

2. Report the Accident

Make sure the store manager knows that you fell and were injured because of an unsafe condition in their store. You can initially tell an employee, but make sure they take you directly to a manager or owner. Ask for the manager’s name and contact information so you can follow up.

3. Speak with Witnesses

Did anyone see you fall or notice the hazardous condition that caused your accident? If so, speak to them and get their names and contact information. Your lawyer can reach out to them later for more information.

4. Do Not Apologize

It’s human nature to say “sorry” or even “I was being clumsy” after an accident. However, it’s very important that you do not apologize or accept blame after a slip and fall. You can be polite, but don’t give anyone a reason to put the fault on you. Even if you feel like you are partially to blame, contact a slip and fall lawyer first.

5. See a Doctor

See a doctor as soon as possible after leaving the premises. There are two main reasons to follow this advice:

• Injuries can be worse than they look or feel. The adrenaline your body produces during an accident can numb the pain. You might not feel the full extent of your injuries until hours later. Plus, some injuries can get worse with time.
• Seeing a doctor very soon helps your injury claim. If you wait too long to get yourself treated, the insurance company can use it to say you weren’t hurt as badly as you claim.

Get checked out by a doctor so you can get an accurate picture of your (current and future) medical expenses from the slip and fall accident.

6. Get a Good Slip and Fall Lawyer in Clarkston

Even if you have clear evidence of your accident and the property owner is cooperative, you still have to deal with their insurance company. Insurance companies care about profit, and they always look for ways to reduce their losses.

The insurance company will ultimately decide what your claim is worth—and it’s almost always less than you’re asking. A Clarkston slip and fall lawyer can make sure you seek fair compensation. They can help you build a solid case and negotiate with the insurance company if they push back.

It’s best to get a good lawyer on your side as soon as possible after a slip and fall accident.

Talk to a Slip and Fall and Premises Liability in Clarkston, GA for Free

Getting fair compensation after a slip and fall accident can feel like a painful uphill battle. But, it doesn’t have to. Our slip and fall lawyers at John Foy & Associates know what a successful case looks like because we’ve been building them for over 20 years.

We approach your case with one simple goal: full compensation of your damages. Plus, we don’t get paid unless we win you money. For a FREE consultation to discuss your situation and your best options, call us today at (404) 400-4000 to get started.