Have You Suffered An Injury Due to Another Property Owner’s Negligence? Know Your Rights Under Georgia’s Premises Liability Law

When you get hurt on property owned by another person or business, this might become the foundation of a personal injury lawsuit. As a personal injury attorney in GA can tell you, these accidents happen more often than you think and can carry severe impacts for the rest of your life. You might not be able to go to work for weeks, have to cope with costly and invasive procedures, or experience pain daily for longer than you expected. When this affects you, get a personal injury attorney on your side immediately to help you file.

How Does Georgia Law Define Premises Liability?

Premises liability refers to situations in which a person gets hurt or killed because they were on a property with a hazard that someone else owned. Georgia law allows victims to file premises liability claims against landlords, homeowners, retailers, property managers, franchises, or other government entities that failed to keep their property clear of negligence issues.

What Does Georgia Law Require of Homeowners and Commercial Entities?

While not true all of the time based on the person’s right to be on the property in question, most property owners have a responsibility to ensure that their property is reasonably free and clear of any hazards or problems that could cause injury to someone else. When they fail to do so, that home or property owner is open to the possibility of a lawsuit. These lawsuits all relate to a basic premise of owning a legal property visitor some expectation of safety. Dangerous conditions can increase the risk of a serious accident or injury and a resulting lawsuit in which the property owner can be held accountable.

Per Georgia statute O.C.G.A. 51-3-1, homeowners and business entities must keep their property reasonably safe for any invitee while approaching, existing, or being on the premises. This protection, it’s worth noting, applies to invitees, i.e., people who have been permitted to enter the property lawfully. A tenant, for example, is an invitee for a landlord’s property, and therefore the landlord must make sure the property is reasonably safe for that tenant.

14 Most Common Types of Premises Liability Cases

Most people don’t realize that there are many different kinds of premises liability cases. All are protected under the umbrella concept of premises liability law and the types of dangerous conditions that can exist on someone’s property. The most common types of incidents include:

• Dog bites

• Malfunctioning smoke alarms

• Contaminated pool water

• Improper fire safety

• Broken stairs

• Unmarked steps

• Uncleaned spills or icy sidewalks

• Unsafe escalators

• Improperly leveled elevators

• Cracked and uneven sidewalks

• Building code violations

• Unmarked hazardous areas

• Falling merchandise

• Broken handrails

What Should You Do if You Suffer an Injury Due to Someone Else’s Negligence in Maintaining Safe Premises?

If you slip and fall or otherwise get hurt on someone else’s property, it can put a strain on your relationship to seek the compensation you deserve if it is a personal friend. But if it is a serious accident, you’re the one dealing with the fallout of the incident and the medical bills that follow. Homeowners’ insurance or liability insurance policies are often used to allow victims to get the help and money they need to move on with their lives and treat their injuries. It’s essential to retain a personal injury attorney as soon as possible so that you can be clear on your rights and verify the kinds of compensation to which you might be entitled.

In the case of a business, the impact of filing an injury case is less personal but no less stressful overall. You need to ensure that you’re working with a personal injury attorney who has experience with these cases so that you can feel confident in taking on a business. It’s not unheard of for a business to try to talk you out of filing a claim by making you believe it will be more difficult to recover compensation than is true; protect your rights by investigating your options at the outset of the case.

Contact Greathouse Trial Law, LLC

Founded by Attorney and Atlanta native Riah Greathouse, Greathouse Trial Law has helped numerous victims in Georgia who get hurt on someone else’s dangerous property. We handle your case with care and compassion so that you can focus on your medical recovery while we handle the legal aspects of your victim compensation. We know what it takes to explore all possible avenues of resolution within your case, and we’re committed to helping you get clear on what to expect.

Premises liability law can be complex, even when your injuries are obvious. It’s critical to have the support of the right personal injury attorney to guide you through the process of fighting for compensation. Schedule a free consultation today with our office at (678) 310-2827 to learn more about how to protect your interests and right to compensation.