Slip and Fall Lawyers Serving Athens, Georgia
Our Attorneys Know What it Takes to Win!
As the saying goes, “accidents happen.” Sometimes, when a person falls, it is simply an accident that is not anyone’s fault. Many of us have had the somewhat embarrassing experience of tripping or slipping as the result of our own lack of attention to where we were going, or our own clumsiness. However, there are other times when a fall can be the result of a hazard caused by another person or company. When a dangerous condition on someone’s property results in an injury to someone else, then the property owner can find himself or herself liable for the damages. At the Athens, Georgia law firm of Montlick & Associates, we have over three decades of experience representing individuals who have suffered injuries as a result of dangerous conditions on the property of others and our attorneys fight hard on behalf of each injured client to recover for them the maximum compensation to which they are entitled under the law.
When is a Property Owner Liable for Harm Caused by Dangerous Conditions in Athens, Georgia?
In Georgia, an “owner or occupier” of land can be liable for damages to an injured person if they fail to “exercise ordinary care in keeping the premises and approaches safe.” This protection applies to anyone entering the land for a “lawful purpose” including, by way of example, visitors or customers in a shop or tenants in an apartment building. If a person is trespassing, the land owner owes a much lower standard of care, although children who trespass can be treated differently than adults depending on the circumstances.
A rule referred to as “superior knowledge” creates liability in cases where the owner has more knowledge about a dangerous condition than people entering the property would, and yet fails to remedy the dangerous condition or warn people of its existence.
Some examples of premises liability claims would include a person falling because of a slippery floor or a broken stair. In other cases, a property owner can be held liable for the violent criminal actions of other people on the property. For example, a hotel located in an area where violent crimes are frequently committed normally has a duty to take safety precautions for its guests.
Could I Be At Fault for Not Being Careful Enough?
Often, there is more than one cause of an accident. Perhaps a floor was slippery, but you were in a hurry and running and that was part of the reason that you did not notice the state of the floor. Even further, your speed contributed to the severity of your injuries.
In Georgia, if you were part of the cause of your own injuries, you can still recover from a negligent property owner so long as a court finds you to be less than 50% at fault. This is because Georgia practices a modified form of what is called “comparative negligence.” Under the modified comparative negligence doctrine, an injured person who is 20% responsible for his or her injuries can still collect 80% of the damages. In a claim worth $100,000, this would mean you could collect $80,000 from the property owner. However, if you are 50% or more liable for your own injury, you cannot collect anything under Georgia law.
Time Limits in Athens, Georgia
In Georgia, the statute of limitations generally gives injured individuals two years to file a claim following the accident that caused their injuries. If a slip and fall leads to a death, then the family is normally allowed two years following the death of the individual to file a claim.
What can an Athens Slip and Fall Attorney do for you?
Our attorneys have been handling premises liability claims in Athens, Georgia for over 39 years, and we know how quickly evidence disappears in these types of cases. For example, camera footage can be erased, witnesses may move out of the state, and negligent employees of property owners may change jobs. This is why preservation of evidence in such cases is so important. Our premises liability attorneys work hard on behalf of each injured client in order to document their injuries and pursue their claims. Injured victims can be entitled to medical expenses, lost wages, Pain and Suffering, punitive damages if the defendant’s conduct rose to the level of gross negligence, and more.
If you have been injured in Athens as a result of a hazardous condition on someone’s property, you should speak to one of our experienced attorneys at Montlick & Associates to learn about your legal rights as well as what steps can be taken to protect those rights.
Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years of Legal Experience to Work For Your Case!
Do not delay in seeking legal assistance, as you have a limited amount of time to pursue a claim. Call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, for your free consultation today. Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, has been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over 39 years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.
No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.