f you were injured on someone else’s property due to unsafe conditions, you may have the right to pursue compensation. Property owners in Georgia have a legal duty to keep their premises safe for visitors. When they fail to uphold this responsibility and you suffer harm, a premises liability claim may be the path to justice. At Van Sant Law, our Smyrna premises liability attorney is dedicated to protecting the rights of injury victims in Smyrna, GA, and helping them secure your entitled compensation compensation.
What is Premises Liability?
Premises liability refers to the legal responsibility property owners and occupiers have to maintain safe conditions for people who enter their property. If a dangerous condition exists and a visitor is injured as a result, the property owner can be held liable for the harm caused.
Common examples of premises liability cases include:
- Slip and fall accidents caused by wet floors, uneven pavement, or poor lighting.
- Trip and fall accidents due to broken stairways, unsecured rugs, or cluttered walkways.
- Negligent security claims, where inadequate security measures lead to assaults or robberies.
- Swimming pool accidents from lack of supervision, unsafe fencing, or poor maintenance.
- Dog bites or animal attacks when property owners fail to control dangerous pets.
- Falling objects from shelves or construction sites.
Essentially, if you were lawfully on someone’s property and suffered injuries due to unsafe conditions that could have been prevented, you may have a valid premises liability claim.
Georgia Premises Liability Laws
Georgia law outlines clear rules regarding the duties of property owners. The duty owed to a visitor depends on the visitor’s legal status:
- Invitees: These are individuals invited onto the property for the owner’s benefit (such as customers in a store). Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees and must inspect for hazards, repair dangerous conditions, and warn of risks.
- Licensees: Social guests or others allowed on the property for their own benefit. Owners must warn them of known dangers but are not required to inspect for hazards.
- Trespassers: Property owners generally owe little duty to trespassers, except not to willfully or recklessly cause harm.
Under O.C.G.A. § 51-3-1, property owners can be held liable if they knew or should have known about a hazardous condition and failed to address it.
To win a premises liability claim in Georgia, you must prove:
- A hazardous condition existed on the property.
- The property owner knew or should have known about the condition.
- The hazard caused your injury.
- You suffered actual damages (medical bills, lost income, etc.).
Our Smyrna premises liability lawyer can investigate your case, gather evidence, and fight to prove the property owner’s negligence.
Compensation from a Premises Liability Claim
The aftermath of a premises liability accident can be overwhelming. Medical bills, time away from work, and physical pain can create lasting financial and emotional strain. Filing a claim allows you to pursue compensation for these losses.
Potential damages available in a premises liability case include:
- Medical expenses (hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation).
- Lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working.
- Loss of earning capacity if your injuries limit your future employment.
- Pain and suffering for physical pain and emotional distress.
- Loss of enjoyment of life for long-term impairments.
- Wrongful death damages if a loved one died due to unsafe property conditions.
At Van Sant Law, we work tirelessly to calculate the full value of your claim and negotiate aggressively with insurance companies. If needed, we are prepared to take your case to court.
Speak with a Smyrna Premises Liability Attorney Today
Unsafe property conditions can cause devastating injuries and lifelong hardships. You shouldn’t have to face these challenges alone. At Van Sant Law, we stand up for victims of negligence and fight for justice in every case we handle.
