Wal-Mart Slip And Fall Accident And Injury Lawyer In Georgia

Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere in Georgia, including inside huge stores like Wal-Mart. And just like any establishment, Wal-Mart has a legal requirement to keep their premises safe for everyone who enters their doors or steps onto their property. If you slip and fall in one of these stores and it results in injuries or chronic pain, it’s time to talk to a Wal-Mart slip and fall accident and injury lawyer in Georgia.

You may be entitled to compensation for your expensive medical bills and other costs if you were hurt in a Georgia Wal-Mart. With thousands of locations throughout the country (and over 200 in Georgia), injuries in these stores are common. Unfortunately, customer safety is not always handled in the best manner. That’s why, for your own protection, you’ll want to reach out to a personal injury lawyer experienced in slip and fall cases after your accident.

At John Foy & Associates, we have been helping slip and fall accident victims get the compensation they need for more than 20 years. We’re not afraid to handle pushback from insurance companies after a personal injury accident and fight for your rights. To discuss the details of your case and how we can help, give us a call at 404-400-4000 for a FREE consultation today.

How Liability Works After a Slip and Fall Accident at Wal-Mart

In most situations when you are hurt in a store at no fault of your own, you will file a personal injury claim with the store’s insurance company for your damages. If your claim is accepted, you will receive payouts from the insurer, not the store, for your costs. But things work a little differently when someone is hurt in a Wal-Mart store.

Wal-Mart is self-insured, which means the chain processes claims itself instead of handing it over to a separate insurance company. If they pay out any money to an injury victim hurt in their store, the money comes directly from Wal-Mart.

Unfortunately, this means they will do everything they can to avoid paying out slip and fall claims. But it doesn’t mean you should give up if you were hurt in a Wal-Mart; it just means you will need to build a strong case and have experienced legal representation.

What Happens After a Slip and Fall Accident in a Georgia Wal-Mart

If you are hurt during a slip and fall at Wal-Mart, your well-being is the number one priority. If you need emergency medical attention, get it right away. Otherwise, there are three things you should do right away:

1. Take pictures of the accident scene, the hazard or dangerous situation that caused your slip and fall, and any visible injuries you have.
2. Talk to any witnesses. If someone else saw you fall or saw the hazard that caused your accident, ask for their contact information. This can be very useful to you later.
3. Tell a store manager that you slipped and fell and you were hurt. If a manager isn’t present, ask a store employee to take you to one. Make sure they understand the situation, and don’t let them try to downplay what happened.

It’s also very important that you do not apologize or admit any blame for the accident or your injuries. Don’t say you were being clumsy or that you should have noticed where you were going. Just present the facts. You can be polite, but avoid the human instinct to apologize.

You might be given a number to call for Wal-Mart’s risk management office. Don’t be surprised if you don’t get a call back from this office or if communication is very delayed. This is a tactic. They are hoping you will drop the whole thing if you have to wait too long or don’t get an answer. Instead, call a Wal-Mart slip and fall accident and injury lawyer in Georgia right away. They can help you begin your slip and fall claim while knowing what to expect and how to handle it.

What You Need to File a Slip and Fall Claim Against Wal-Mart in Georgia

Facts matter the most in premises liability claims like this. To have a valid claim, you will need to be able to show at least one of the following:

• A Wal-Mart employee should have recognized a hazard or dangerous situations (such as slipped liquid in an aisle) and cleaned it up or fixed it, but they did not.
• A Wal-Mart employee caused the situation that led to the slip and fall accident (such as leaving out an obstacle or mopping the floor without a “wet floor” sign) when it was rationally predictable that someone would fall because of it.

This includes demonstrating that the hazard could be reasonably recognized as dangerous and that it was not remedied in a reasonable amount of time. The store failed in its legal duty to keep the premises safe for customers.

You will also need to show the damages you face because of your accident.  That includes keeping track of all medical bills and records, receipts, pictures, and anything else demonstrating losses from your accident injuries.

When you file a slip and fall claim against Wal-Mart for damages from your slip and fall accident, they will probably try to say you hold some blame for your injuries and deny your claim. They might also refuse to present certain possible forms of evidence, such as surveillance camera footage, that could be helpful in your claim.

This is where you’ll need to assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer who can fight for your right to fair compensation. They will know how to handle situations like a claim against Wal-Mart and guide you towards the best options.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit Against Wal-Mart in Georgia

If Wal-Mart continues to deny your claim and/or not agree to a settlement that is fair to you, your slip and fall lawyer may advise filing a lawsuit against the company. This might make the store more open to negotiating with you about your claim. If it doesn’t you can proceed to court to seek an award for your damages. This step is riskier but if you see success, you’ll receive the recovery you need to pay for expenses from your Georgia slip and fall accident in Wal-Mart.

Talk to a Wal-Mart Slip and Fall Accident and Injury Lawyer in Georgia for Free

Filing a claim against Wal-Mart is tougher than most personal injury cases, but it doesn’t mean you can’t win what you deserve. You just need an experienced legal professional on your side. At John Foy & Associates, we have been representing slip and fall accident victims for 20+ years, and we know how to handle cases involving huge retail stores. To schedule a FREE consultation and talk about your case today, call 404-400-4000, or fill out our contact form.