Anyone in Georgia who regularly buys auto parts for care and maintenance is likely familiar with AutoZone. While these stores can be great for your automotive needs, injury accidents can happen if employees are not careful and diligent to prevent hazards. If you or someone you know was hurt in an AutoZone shop, it’s a good idea to speak with an AutoZone slip and fall accident and injury lawyer as soon as you can.
At John Foy & Associates, we can help you with your slip and fall case against a store like AutoZone. We have been helping slip and fall victims win the money they deserve for more than 20 years. It’s risk-free to work with us because we don’t charge you a fee unless we win you money.
Contact us today for a FREE consultation and case evaluation. We’ll evaluate the details of what happened and go over your legal options. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get started with your FREE consultation.
An Overview of AutoZone in Georgia
AutoZone, Inc. is the largest aftermarket automotive parts and accessories retail chain in the United States. The company was started in Forrest City, Arkansas, in 1979, and has since grown to 6,000 plus locations throughout the U.S., Brazil, and Mexico.
In Georgia, AutoZone shops can be found in the cities of:
- Acworth
- Albany
- Atlanta
- Columbus
- Decatur
- Lawrenceville
- Marietta
- And more
AutoZone sells auto parts, interior and exterior accessories, truck and towing equipment, oils and other chemicals, tools, equipment, performance products, and repair services.
If employees are not careful, the merchandise sold at AutoZone coupled with common hazards in repair areas can increase the risk of slip and fall accidents for customers. If you were harmed in an AutoZone store, speak with a slip and fall lawyer. You may have a case to seek compensation.
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What to Know About Slip and Fall Cases in Georgia
After a slip and fall injury happens at an AutoZone, you have the option to first seek compensation through a personal injury claim. This claim would be filed with AutoZone’s insurance company.
To have a valid slip and fall case, you will need to prove that the store was negligent in your accident. There are four main elements to proving negligence:
- A duty of care was owed.
- The duty of care was breached.
- That breached duty led to your slip and fall accident.
- Your damages directly resulted from the slip and fall accident.
You will need to prove each of these statements in your personal injury claim. A Georgia slip and fall lawyer can help you gather evidence to support your claim and show how AutoZone was responsible. In most cases, the insurance company will not make it easy for you to immediately get the compensation you’re requesting.
Insurance companies do not like to pay out much for injury claims, especially when they involve a large chain of stores like AutoZone. They will likely offer you a lowball settlement (that doesn’t come close to covering your damages) or deny your claim completely. This is where your slip and fall lawyer will work to negotiate for a fair settlement.
If your lawyer is unable to get the insurance company to negotiate, you may decide to file a lawsuit against AutoZone to pursue an award for your damages. Your lawyer will be there to represent you and fight for your rights every step of the way.
Potentially Dangerous Conditions at AutoZone Stores in Georgia
There are many ways slip and fall accidents can happen in any store. The nature of AutoZone presents some especially dangerous conditions if employees are not careful to prevent them.
While shopping at AutoZone, you could come across hazards like:
- Automotive tools, products, and other merchandise left out on floors or in the aisles
- Spilled oils, coolant, or other chemicals
- Mopped floors without warning signs
- In-store displays that are left in aisles
- Slippery parking lot or sidewalks on the premises
- Uneven or cracked flooring
- Curled up, frayed, or torn rugs or carpeting
AutoZone management has a duty to ensure that the premises stay safe for customers. That means that managers and employees should be careful to watch for, recognize, and clean up hazards and dangerous conditions as they happen. Failing to do so is a form of negligence and can easily lead to a slip and fall or another injury accident.
How to Build Your Slip and Fall Case Against AutoZone
After your injury accident happens, there are certain things you can do right away to begin building your case. You usually only have two years from the date of your accident to file a claim (Georgia Code § 9-3-33). So, you’ll want to start gathering information right away. Here are some actions you can and should take to protect your rights.
Take Pictures
If you are well enough to do so after your fall, take out your phone and snap some pictures. Get photos of the hazard or dangerous condition that caused your fall, the entire scene of your accident, and any injuries that are visually apparent.
Slip and fall accident scenes can be fixed or cleaned up quickly, so pictures help preserve the scene forever.
Talk to Witnesses
Speak with anyone who saw you fall and/or saw the hazard that led to your fall. Ask for their name(s) and contact information. Your slip and fall lawyer will reach out to them soon to get statements supporting your claim
Report the Accident
Don’t leave the property without reporting your slip and fall accident to AutoZone’s management. If you cannot find a manager, ask an employee to take you to one. They will likely create a report of the accident.
Contact a Slip and Fall Lawyer
The sooner you can get a trusted lawyer on the phone, the better. They can help you take the right action and begin protecting your rights from the beginning. To schedule a FREE consultation with one of our AutoZone slip and fall lawyers in Georgia today, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
See a Doctor
Get medical treatment as soon as possible—ideally, on the same day as your accident. Even if you feel okay, you’ll want to document your injuries and make sure you treat anything before it worsens.
Talk to an AutoZone Slip and Fall Accident and Injury Lawyer in Georgia for Free Today
Don’t struggle through the aftermath of a slip and fall injury at AutoZone alone. At John Foy & Associates, we can assist you with your entire case, from start to finish. Our number one goal is getting you full compensation for your damages.
We do not charge a fee unless we win you money, so it’s risk-free to work with us. Plus, the consultation is FREE. To schedule your FREE consultation today, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
