Savannah, Georgia Slip, Trip and Fall Injury Lawyers

Savannah Lawyers Helping Slip and Fall & Premises Liability Victims

Proving Liability in a Slip and Fall Claim in Savannah, Georgia

Not every fall results in liability for the property owner. However, there are laws in place to define the requirements of property owners.

In Georgia, landowners and land occupiers must “exercise ordinary care in keeping the premises and approaches safe.” If a landowner knows about a dangerous condition on his or her property, but does not warn those who enter the property or take steps to remedy the hazardous condition, then he or she may be held liable in the event that the condition causes someone to fall and become injured.

What if I was careless?

If the only reason for your injury was that you failed to be cautious, then the landowner may not be held liable. However, there are many times when a person might share some of the responsibility for his or her own injury, but where another party is predominantly at fault.

Under Georgia’s laws, if you are less than 50% liable for your own injury, then you will be able to collect some compensation from the other responsible party. For instance, let’s say you walked down the front steps of a shop, and at the time, you had your hands in your pockets and was talking to someone behind you. You are not being particularly careful in this hypothetical. Unfortunately for you, the shop has a step that is very loose, and when you reach it, it rolls and you fall awkwardly, in part because your hands were in your pockets. You break your arm. The owner of the shop knew the stair was broken, and you had no reason to know that it was. The owner argues that had you used the hand rail, and looked where you were going, you would likely have avoided the serious consequences of the injury.

Ultimately, you are found to be 10% at fault, while the owner is found to be 90% at fault. Here you would be able to collect 90% of the damages for your claim.

What if I was trespassing?

Premises liability law aims to protect people who are lawfully on the property. This usually applies to guests, customers, or other welcome visitors. Generally, trespassers do not receive the same protections.

How long do I have to act?

In Georgia, you generally have two years in which to file your personal injury claim following an accident, however that timeline can vary depending on the unique circumstances of your situation, and you should always consult a lawyer to understand the legal rights that apply in your case.

It is important to file your claim within the statute of limitations. Failing to meet the time limits can prevent case from succeeding, and hurt your ability to get the full financial recovery you deserve.