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$389,000
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What Should I Do If I Get Injured from a Slip and Fall Accident?
The moments after a slip and fall are disorienting. You’re likely to feel hurt and sore, in addition to embarrassed. The natural reaction is to try and get up and walk it off as quickly as possible, but that may not always be the best choice, especially if you are severely injured. Follow the steps below to get the help you need in both the short and long term.
Get Medical Help
You likely want to get back up as quickly as possible, but if you’re injured, you could make the injury worse by trying to scramble back to your feet. If the injury is serious or seems serious, get medical help as quickly as possible, even calling 911 if necessary. Try to be more concerned about your health than about being embarrassed.
Report the Accident
The owner or manager of the property on which you slipped and fell should be notified of the incident as soon as possible. If the hazard remains in place the owner or manager will likely want to remove it as quickly as they can, purely to avoid further accidents.
The owner or manager should be informed about your injuries and what caused it, and you should make sure to get their contact information.
Gather Evidence
Gathering evidence as soon as you can after the accident will prove hugely beneficial in the long run. You should:
- Get photographs
- Get video
- Get witness testimony
- Get contact information from witnesses
The more information you gather, the better. Try to get photos and/or videos that tell the full story, providing context and details on what the circumstances were that led to the accident happening. And remember, the property owner or manager is likely to remove the hazard as soon as possible to avoid further accidents. Try to get the evidence you need before they do.
In time, a McDonough, Georgia personal injury lawyer could help you gather further evidence, including
- The property owner’s maintenance and repair records
- Design issues at the property that led to the slip and falll (such as no handrails on stairs)
- Lack of signage to warn people about a hazardous situation
- Records of a hazard existing for a long time without being removed
The lawyers at the Millar Law firm are experts at gathering this information to prove an owner or manager has been negligent in their responsibility to maintain safety on their premises.
Don’t Take the Blame
It’s a natural reaction to say you were “clumsy” or that “you’re fine” following a slip and fall accident, but these statements could come back to hurt your case. While you don’t want to exaggerate your injuries, you shouldn’t take the blame for them either. If you don’t want to sound whiny, you don’t need to talk about the incident or your injuries, except, of course, to your medical and legal teams who need to know the full extent of your injuries.
It’s important to remember this is also true in online environments. Responding to a post on social media by saying “I’m fine” is very likely to hurt your case. The best practice is to not speak about your incident on social media until the personal injury claim has been resolved and fully compensated.
Talk to a McDonough Slip and Fall and Premises Liability Attorney for Free
Insurance companies tend to be highly skeptical about slip and fall accidents,, meaning you’ll need clear evidence that you slipped and fell due to a hazardous condition. Our McDonough, Georgia legal team is deeply experienced in working with these types of claims and can help you get your due compensation following these difficult accidents. And we don’t charge any fees unless you win money, meaning you can avoid all financial risks involved.
What are Common Slip and Fall Injuries?
Unfortunately, slip and fall injuries are all too common and can be life altering when not treated properly. Our legal team has helped slip and fall victims recover compensation for injuries including
- Broken Bones
- Hip Fractures
- Knee Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries
- Brain Injuries
- Neck Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
Make sure that you’re personal injury lawyer is familiar with the extent of your injuries and that they are deeply knowledgeable of Georgia law to ensure that you are able to get the compensation that meets your needs.
Who Is Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident in McDonough, Georgia?
Under the Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) Title 51 Chapter 3 Article 1, property owners are liable, (or responsible), for damages caused by a failure to exercise ordinary care to keep the premises safe.
This means that property owners must take reasonable steps to ensure that their premises (or property), is maintained and safe. They key word in the previous sentence, however, is ‘reasonable.’ Owners are not expected to continuously patrol their property for hazards, or have security cameras constantly patrolling for hazards, as that would be unreasonable. It’s far more likely that a property owner would be found responsible for a slip and fall accident if they had known of the hazard and not done anything to remove it.
How to Prove a Slip and Fall Claim in Georgia
The best way to prove your slip and fall case in Georgia is to prove that the owner or manager of the premises was negligent. Georgia law states that a person who is injured by someone else’s negligence has the right to seek recovery for damages, (Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) § 51-1-6).
It should be noted, however, that the victim must file personal injury claim for those damages, which would be filed with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Georgia law is clear that business have a “duty of care” to ensure their premises are safe for those who visit. (OCGA § 51-3-1). This means that slip and fall injury victims must provide evidence, demonstrating that:
- There was a clear hazard.
- The property owner, business, or employees were aware of the hazard, (or should have been), but did not resolve the issue in a reasonable amount of time.
- Your slip and fall injuries were cause by that negligence.
- Your damages are a direct result from the injuries of the slip and fall accident.
Clearly showing evidence of the above would likley prove negligence and help slip and fall victims receive fair compensation for their injuries.
Should I Get a Lawyer for My Slip and Fall?
If you have been injured from a slip and fall accident and you believe there was negligence on the part of the premises owner or manager, then yes, you should most likely get a lawyer to help you with your slip and fall claim. Once you have filed a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance, the insurance adjuster will do their best to minimize your settlement. This is particularly troubling if you have serious injuries.
Time Limit for Filing a Slip and Fall Lawsuit in Georgia
The statute of limitations for slip and fall accidents in Georgia is the same as for other personal injury claims. You typically have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, per O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.
Talk to a McDonough, Georgia Slip-and-Fall Lawyer
The Millar Law Firm has been representing slip and fall accident victims in Georgia since 1993. Over the past 30 years, our lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in fair compensation for our clients.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident resulting in medical bills and costs that aren’t your fault, let us help you. We will review your case and go over the details of your accident to explore your options for a claim. We are deeply committed to getting you the compensation you deserve, and the sooner you start the process, the better your chances are of securing compensation.
Call us today at 770-400-0000. Our phones are answered 24/7.