Atlanta Premises Liability Attorney

There are different situations and accidents that can be filed as premises liability cases. This includes snow and ice accidents, uneven surfaces, dog bites, slip and falls, elevator accidents, fires, swimming pool accidents, improper maintenance of premises, chemicals, and others. 

Litigations involving landowners or business owners are commonly referred to as premises liability. An individual is responsible for maintaining their property so that it is safe for visitors as part of their legal responsibility. Your legal rights may be affected if a property owner fails to comply with these requirements and you are injured as a result.

Our Atlanta landowner negligence attorneys at Singleton Law Firm, LLC represent clients who have been injured by:

• Slip and falls

• The risk of tripping on an uneven surface

• Falling objects hitting you

• Stairs and railings with defects

• Accidents involving escalators and elevators

• Attacks and bites by dogs

• Toxic or hazardous chemicals – such as lead paint or mold

• Accidents at Home Depot

• A lack of security

• Airport accidents

• Termites

• A drowning accident in a public pool

• Injuries caused by falling or misplaced merchandise.

Our Atlanta premises liability lawyers can help you demand compensation if you have been injured on another’s property. Obtain a free consultation with our law offices today.

Falls can cause serious injuries, even when they are minor. We see the following types of injuries most often:

• Fractures and broken bones

• Traumatic brain injury

• Injuries to the head and neck

• Burns

• Electrocutions

• Attacks by animals

• Torn ligaments

• Bruises and cuts.

In the event of a fatal accident, our firm can assist family members in pursuing damages through a wrongful death claim.

It’s important to remember that the requirements for a successful premises liability claim are largely determined by why you were on the property. Customers typically sue the owner of a business open to the public when they have a problem. Georgia law refers to customers as “invitees.”

What are the responsibilities of business owners to customers?

All invitees must now be treated with the highest level of care by the owner. It is his or her responsibility to keep the premises, parking lots, and entrances to the property in a safe condition. Certain measures must be taken, such as inspecting the premises regularly, repairing existing hazards, and advising customers about hazardous situations.

What is the standard of care for social guests?

On the other hand, visiting someone’s house as a social guest involves a lower standard of care. The owner is not responsible for fixing any potentially dangerous conditions when you are a “licensee.” The owner is only responsible for injuries caused by willful or wanton behavior. A licensee must, however, be warned about hidden dangers on the premises by the owner or occupier.

When you fall into a ditch on a friend’s property without being warned about it, you may have a case if you are injured. In contrast, if you see broken glass everywhere and the owner could have made repairs or swept the area, you cannot sue.

Don’t forget that a person’s reason for being on the property may not always be clear. Perhaps a friend of yours comes to lunch with you but is also interested in buying antiques. A lawyer can be helpful in answering questions you may have about these types of cases since they can be complicated.

What are the responsibilities of trespassers?

Finally, those who are on the premises without the owner’s permission owe a much lower duty of care. In these cases, trespassers are not required to be warned about hidden dangers on the property.

Owners will, however, be held liable if they are willful or reckless in their actions. Putting traps on your land could, for example, cause injury to people crossing your property. You would be liable for any harm caused by these traps.

It’s important to note that children who trespass have a different standard. When these five conditions are present, an owner may be held responsible for the youth’s injuries:

• There was knowledge or should have been knowledge that children trespassed on the property

• There was a hazardous condition that could cause severe injury or death to kids, and the owner knew or should have known about it

• A trespassing child might not have been aware of the dangerous condition because of their youth, or they might not have understood the extent of the danger.

• Compared to the risk of injury, the burden of fixing the condition was minor.

• In removing the condition, the owner failed to exercise reasonable care.

• Putting up a fence around a pool would be a typical example of failure to meet these conditions. Possibly, the owner could be held liable if a neighbor’s kid sneaks onto the property, jumps into the pool, and drowns. A nuisance that attracts attention is called an attractive nuisance.

Please note that these rules apply only to children who are considered trespassers. Otherwise, the rules regarding licensees would apply if the kids were guests of the owner.

The following must all be proven in order for you to bring a successful premises liability claim:

• It is sometimes necessary to investigate who owned the business and the building to determine who was responsible for the damage

• There was a dangerous condition on the property

• It is the owner’s fault for not repairing or warning you about the hazardous condition on the property

• The duty of care owed to you depends on whether you were a customer, guest, or trespasser

• You were injured by the dangerous condition, and

• There is evidence that you were injured, which entitles you to compensation – such as medical bills and expert testimony.

With more than 80 years of experience handling premises liability cases, the Atlanta premises liability lawyers at Singleton Law Firm, LLC are experts in this field. We’ll use our experience to help you recover compensation if you’ve been injured. During the course of building a solid case for you, we will look into your accident, gather evidence, interview witnesses, and consult with experts.

You may be entitled to compensation if you can prove that someone is responsible for your injuries.

Medical expenses lost wages, and reduced earning capacity are often covered by monetary damages in these cases. These amounts are fairly straightforward to calculate, and your award would likely include them.

In addition to monetary damages, non-monetary damages can also be awarded. Pain and suffering, as well as loss of enjoyment of life, are covered by these policies. Due to their difficulty in calculating a dollar amount, these damages are usually negotiated in settlement talks or decided by a jury after a trial.

An individual’s relatives may be able to file a wrongful death claim in situations where the injury resulted in death. In addition to the compensation mentioned above, a family member may also get compensation for funeral and burial expenses, lost income earned during a person’s lifetime, and loss of companionship.

A landowner may also be liable for punitive damages if their actions are so egregious. These amounts are above and beyond ordinary damages for willful misconduct or malice.

Premises liability compensation is determined by a variety of factors, as you can see. Experts are often needed to arrive at these figures, which requires an in-depth review of the facts and law. Before consulting an attorney, you should not feel pressured to settle with your insurance company.

Personal injury claims in Georgia have a two-year deadline, while property damage claims have a four-year deadline.

In some cases, you may not be able to sue due to the statute of limitations. In any case, feel free to contact us regardless of whether you believe your case has missed the deadline. Exceptions may apply.

It is beneficial to pursue your claim as soon as possible, even if you are not at risk of missing the deadline. It becomes harder to locate evidence as time passes, and witnesses’ memories fade.