In Georgia, a property owner or occupier may be liable when a dangerous condition injures a lawful visitor and the owner failed to use ordinary care to keep the premises and approaches safe.
Since 2008, Van Sant Law has helped injured people across Georgia pursue compensation after preventable accidents. Our Union City slip and fall accident lawyers bring decades of combined experience to premises liability claims, including falls at stores, restaurants, apartment properties, parking lots, hotels, and private residences.
Contact Van Sant Law to schedule a free consultation. Our Union City personal injury lawyers can discuss your options and help you Make the Right Call.
How Our Union City Slip and Fall Lawyers Can Help
Our attorneys understand how property owners and insurance companies evaluate these claims, and we know how to build evidence around liability, damages, and available coverage.
We can help by:
- Investigating the property condition that caused your fall.
- Preserving video, records, and witness statements.
- Reviewing maintenance duties and prior complaints.
- Identifying all liable parties.
- Calculating medical bills, lost income, and future losses.
- Communicating with insurance companies.
- Negotiating for a fair settlement.
- Preparing the case for litigation when needed.
We are fully equipped to sign your case electronically, so you do not need to come to our office to get started.
If you prefer an in-home visit, we are happy to discuss that option. We can also connect you with resources that may help with medical or financial pressure while your claim is pending.
What You Need to Prove in a Georgia Slip and Fall Claim
A property owner is not automatically liable every time someone falls. To pursue compensation, you generally need evidence showing that the property owner, occupier, manager, tenant, or another responsible party failed to use reasonable care.
The Hazard Existed
Your claim must identify what caused the fall. A general statement that you fell is usually not enough. The claim may depend on evidence of a spill, broken surface, hidden drop-off, loose mat, poor lighting, unsafe stairway, or another condition that created an unreasonable risk.
The Property Owner Had Notice
Georgia slip and fall claims often require proof that the owner or occupier had actual or constructive knowledge of the hazard.
Actual knowledge means the owner, manager, or employee knew about the dangerous condition before you fell.
Constructive knowledge means the condition existed long enough, or inspection practices were poor enough, that the owner should have found and corrected it.
You Did Not Have Equal Knowledge of the Danger
Property owners and insurers often argue that the hazard was open and obvious or that you should have seen it. We look at the full setting, including lighting, distractions created by the property, foot traffic, warning signs, sightlines, and whether the hazard was hidden or hard to detect.
Common Injuries After a Slip and Fall
Slip and fall injuries can interfere with work, mobility, sleep, family responsibilities, and routine tasks. Some people recover with conservative treatment. Others need surgery, injections, physical therapy, assistive devices, or long-term care.
Injuries we often see include:
- Broken wrists, arms, ankles, hips, and other fractures.
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries.
- Neck, back, and spinal injuries.
- Herniated discs and nerve pain.
- Torn ligaments, tendon injuries, and joint damage.
- Shoulder, knee, and hip injuries.
- Deep bruising, cuts, and soft tissue injuries.
Older adults may face a longer recovery after a fall, especially when a hip fracture, head injury, or loss of mobility is involved. Serious injuries can affect people of any age, so you should not assume you are fine simply because you were able to stand or walk away.
Deadlines for Georgia Slip and Fall Claims
Georgia generally gives injured people two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If your fall involved property owned or controlled by Union City or another government entity, shorter notice rules may apply.
Claims against a Georgia city may require written notice within six months of the injury. The notice must include information about the time, place, injury, alleged negligence, and the amount of monetary damages sought.
Because these rules are strict, you should contact a Union City slip and fall attorney as soon as possible.
Compensation You May Be Able to Recover
At Van Sant Law, we look closely at the full record of harm to ensure you are fairly compensated under the law.
Depending on your individual case, available compensation could cover the following losses and costs:
- Emergency care and hospital bills
- Doctor visits, surgery, imaging, and medication
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of mobility or independence
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury
No lawyer can promise what your case will be worth. What we can do is prepare your claim with a clear view of the losses you have already suffered, the care you may still need, and the parties or insurers that may be legally responsible for paying.
How Insurance Companies Defend Slip and Fall Claims
Insurance companies often try to reduce or deny payment by shifting blame to the injured person. In Georgia, your compensation may be reduced if you are found partly at fault. If you are found 50 percent or more responsible, you cannot recover damages.
Insurers may argue that:
- The hazard was open and obvious.
- You were distracted or looking at your phone.
- Your footwear caused or contributed to the fall.
- The property owner had no notice of the hazard.
- The condition appeared moments before the fall.
- Your injuries were preexisting or unrelated.
- Your medical treatment was excessive.
We prepare claims with these defenses in mind. Our role is to gather evidence, show how the fall occurred, connect the injuries to the incident, and push back when an insurer tries to minimize a valid claim.
Speak With a Slip and Fall Accident Attorney in Union City
Van Sant Law helps Georgia injury victims pursue compensation after preventable falls. If you were hurt in an accident, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a slip and fall attorney in Union City.
