Stephen Hasner | Premises Liability | October 19, 2023
Trip-and-fall accidents are unfortunately common, especially when it comes to navigating a cracked, crowded sidewalk. Unkempt concrete can become jagged and uneven, making walking, pushing a stroller, riding a bike, or other modes of transportation difficult or even dangerous. In Georgia, it is the property or building owner’s responsibility to keep their sidewalks free of any dangerous debris and walkable.
If you have tripped or slipped and fell due to negligent sidewalk maintenance, you are owed damages for your experience, and a knowledgeable attorney from Hasner Law can help. While you focus on resting and recovering from your injuries, our team will immediately get to work identifying the liable party and filing a claim with their insurance company.
What Georgia Law Says About Sidewalk Maintenance
While some states actively monitor and maintain their sidewalks, Georgia law currently places that responsibility on the private property owners. As a property or building owner, it is within your standard of care to remove the sidewalk of any potentially hazardous debris, such as snow, overgrown foliage, or trash. Similarly, it is up to the landlord, property owner, or business owner to repair any broken, cracked, or damaged sidewalk.
If an accident occurs, you may file a claim only if the property owner should have reasonably known about the unsafe condition and failed to do anything about it. In an event like this, a seasoned attorney can help you establish liability through the four components of negligence. This will demonstrate the building owner had a duty to keep the specific sidewalk safe, they knew of a problem but failed to fix it, and that reckless disregard for others’ safety directly caused an accident and your injuries.
How a Dedicated Attorney Can Help Your Case
When you are injured in a premises liability case due to a building owner’s negligence, a dedicated attorney can help you establish liability and file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance. This is done through an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding your trip-and-fall, during which relevant evidence will be collected and analyzed. This helps to establish negligence. From this point, your attorney will file a claim within Georgia’s two-year statute of limitations deadline for personal injury accidents.
While you concentrate on recovering from your accident, your attorney will handle all negotiations with the insurance company and fight for a settlement that adequately covers the full extent of your losses. This includes damages for both your economic and non-economic losses, such as medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and scarring or disfigurement. One of the number one reasons for a low settlement offer is the failure to represent the full extent of your losses, including potential future costs. If a worthy offer cannot be reached between both parties, we are even prepared to take your case to court.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With Hasner Law Today
Your path to justice and recovery starts here. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll of premises liability injuries caused by negligent building owners, and we are dedicated to making a positive difference in your life during this challenging time. Your well-being is our priority, and we’re ready to fight for your rights and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Contact Hasner Law today for a consultation, and let us put our 100 years of combined expertise to work for you. Reach us through our contact form or call us today at (678) 888-4878. Don’t wait—take the first step towards the justice you deserve, and let Hasner Law be your unwavering advocate.
