Slip and falls happen every day around Georgia. Although headlines like to focus on slip and fall schemes, the truth of the matter is that most of these incidents are simple accidents that can still result in serious injuries.
Some people can trip and pick themselves back up and be fine. Others experience falls so severe people experience traumatic brain injuries, broken bones and spinal cord injuries. If you find yourself in the latter, you need to follow these steps to protect your rights and try to receive compensation.
Determine the cause of the fall
Many slip and falls occur in a parking lot. These lots can be extremely treacherous, especially if the person who owns the lot does not adequately take care of it. Some of the most common explanations for these falls include:
- Ice, sleet or snow
- Broken or loose paving stones
- Potholes
- Debris left behind by other customers or employees
- Spilled liquid, such as water or oil
- Improper lighting, which makes it tough to see hazards in a parking lot
- Shifting or irregular surfaces, such as sand left behind
Most of the time, the person who owns the business is responsible for maintaining the parking lot. If the owner knew of a danger in the parking lot and failed to remedy it in a timely manner, then she or he would hold a great deal of liability.
Look into filing a lawsuit
For a lawsuit to be successful, certain pieces of criteria need to be present. First, the person who sustained the injury needs a right to be on the property, which is certainly true for public parking lots. Additionally, the hazard had to be on the property, and the owner must have known about the hazard for a significant amount of time for him or her to do something about it. You can then seek compensation to recover pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses.