Slip and fall accidents are caused by a variety of hazards and obstacles, including poor lighting, uneven flooring and broken handrails. They are the leading cause of emergency room visits, causing more than eight million trips to the hospital, according to the National Floor Safety Institute. Also known as Dangerous Property cases, Slip and Fall accidents happen often and anywhere. These types of cases occur every day, leaving people not knowing what they can do and how a personal injury attorney can help them.
While it might be easy to believe that slip and fall cases occur due to old age or general clumsiness, many injuries result from a property owner’s or business’s negligence.
Here at Piedmont Injury Law, we specialize in these types of cases and are equipped to assist with them in order to get the best outcome. Our firm of personal injury lawyers is dedicated to offering compassionate and caring counsel to injury victims and their families during an often challenging time following an injury.
Below, we’ll discuss more about how and when these types of cases happen, and what someone can do if they have a Slip and Fall case.
How Slip and Fall Accidents Occur in Georgia
Slip and fall accidents can happen in many different ways. Any property owner or business that invites or leads people onto their property has a duty according to the laws in the state of Georgia to maintain safe premises. If the property owner or business owner fails in their duty to uphold those laws, a slip and fall accident can happen, and it can happen at any time.
Many cases in this area involve people tripping or slipping on a hazard a negligent property owner allowed to exist on the owner’s property, such as a broken staircase at an apartment complex or a slippery floor in a grocery store.
Common Places for Slip and Fall Accidents
Here are some of the most common places where slip and fall accidents happen:
- Grocery Stores
- Retail Stores
- Hotels
- Hospitals
- Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes
- Apartment Complexes and Rental Properties
- Gyms
- Small Businesses
- Government-Owned Buildings
- Personal Homes and other private property
Some of the most common reasons slip and fall accidents occur on properties include:
Slippery or Wet Floors: This includes an employee mopping, cleaning, or waxing, icy or snowy floors, spilled food or beverage items, other liquid spills, and others.
Damaged or Uneven Floors: If floors are uneven, loose, or damaged, they can lead someone to slip and fall. Rugs and carpeting that may be curled up or frayed may also pose a hazard.
Stairs and other Railings: Businesses or buildings with steps and staircases should ensure that there are no issues such as broken or missing steps, loose floorboards or tall steps without a warning sign. Additionally, stairs without railings can lead to accidents for people of all ages.
Lighting: If visitors and customers are unable to see potential hazards due to inadequate lighting, whether outdoors or indoors, slip and fall accidents can occur.
Inclement Weather: Rain, ice or snow can cause slip and fall hazards outside a building or other piece of property. If customers or other visitors track these elements inside, slip and falls can happen inside the property as well.
Parking Lot Hazards: Parking lots and even sidewalks outside a building are included in the responsibility of many property owners. Injuries that occur in these areas can include a slip and fall related to gaps, cracks, uneven pavement or potholes.
Trust Piedmont Injury Law for Slip and Fall Cases
As mentioned above, these types of slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere, and no matter how or where your accident occurred, you may be entitled to compensation for the costs, especially if you can prove that the property owner or business owner is responsible for your injuries and damages.
There is a statute of limitations for filing slip and fall accident cases within the state of Georgia, which is two years from the date of your injury accident. Legal proceedings can often be more complicated and take longer than expected, so it’s important to reach out to a personal injury lawyer who is well-versed in slip and fall cases as soon as possible for a consultation so they can help you know your options and potentially start your case.
It can be challenging to live with pain following an injury, and it can be even more difficult to try to heal alone. The team at Piedmont Injury Law knows how costly and stressful slip and fall accidents can be. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss the details surrounding how your slip and fall accident occurred. Call us at 678-909-0770 or contact us online to get started.