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What you should know about store fall accidents

On Behalf of | Sep 4, 2017 | Blog, Firm News |

If you are out shopping in a store and you slip and fall, you may be wondering what to do. You may have serious injuries that require you to undergo ongoing medical care and incur medical expenses, and other costs that may leave you stressed and worried about how you will pay them. 

Accidents are common occurrences around Georgia. Many people fall and experience injuries that change their lives. Even if your injuries are minor, you may qualify to file a premises liability claim against the property owner. Here is a brief overview of these claims

Your claim must satisfy three requirements 

For you to hold the property owner liable, you must show that your fall injuries were due to the property owner ignoring known hazards. You must also show the conditions that led to your accident were preventable if the property owner had taken the appropriate measures to correct them. The last requirement your claim must meet is that the property owner should have known about the dangerous conditions that led up to your accident. 

Examples of premises liability 

For example, you fracture your hip after slipping on the wet floor in a supermarket. It is the duty of the store’s employees and property owner to monitor their floor surfaces and ensure they stay dry and safe from reasonable hazards that can cause injury to their customers. They should warn customers with signs and make repairs to prevent accidents and trauma. 

Another example is if you are walking in a parking lot and trip and break your ankle due to a hole in the ground, you may file a claim against the property owner. However, if you walked into a pole because you were texting on your cellphone and not paying attention, you may not be able to file a claim because you believe the pole was in your way. Your inattentiveness and carelessness led to your fall and injuries. 

Not all accidents that happen on someone else’s property qualify as premises liability issues. Proving liability is not always easy. Many people who are dealing with injuries from slipping and falling find it beneficial to seek out guidance from an attorney.