Lithia Springs Premises Liability Lawyer
Anyone who owns property in Lithia Springs has a responsibility to make sure that it is safe. Visitors, friends, family, or customers who enter the property should not suffer injury due to a poorly maintained or hazardous environment.
If you have been injured while visiting someone else’s property, and the cause of your injury was owner negligence, you have a right to seek compensation. At The Embry Law Firm, we can help you get the compensation that you deserve.
What are the Most Common Types of Premises Liability Accident?
Premises liability accidents can range in nature and severity. What is most important to remember is that even seemingly minor accidents can cause injuries with real and serious consequences. At The Embry Law Firm, we help clients with a variety of common premise liability accident claims, including:
- Slip and Falls due to wet or slippery surfaces
- Trips caused by uneven or broken surfaces, or unmarked steps
- Faulty or broken railings or stairs
- Being struck by an object
- Escalator injuries
- Elevator malfunctions and injuries
- Deck collapse
- Dog Attacks
- Pool injuries due to improperly secured pool areas
These are the most common types of premises liability accidents that cause injuries. This list is certainly not exhaustive, as there are numerous possible accidents and injuries. The best way to determine if your accident and injury situation qualifies as a premises liability claim is to contact the Lithia Springs premises liability lawyers at The Embry Law Firm.
How Common are Premises Liability Accidents?
We’ve discussed the more common types of premises liability accident. But there are three that are more common than others and lead to an alarming number of injuries. These are:
- Slip and Fall – According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), slip and fall accidents are one of the leading causes of injury and death in older adults. As many as 29 million fall accidents happen each year. These accidents occur in retail stores, grocery stores, parking lots, hospitals, nursing homes, and private residences.
- Swimming Pool Accidents – The CDC estimates that 14 people die each day due to accidental drowning. Many of these deaths are among children under 14 years old. The primary culprit for accidental drowning is swimming pools that are not properly secured. Children may be curious and wander into unsecured areas without supervision.
- Dog Bites – Each year, thousands of people are injured due to dog bites. From 2005 to 2016, dog bite injuries killed 392 people. Dog owners are responsible for their pets, including keeping them properly secured. The majority of dog bite cases involve children, postal workers, or older adults.
What Georgia Law Says about Property Owners
If you have been injured on someone else’s property, the first thing that must be established is your status as a visitor to the property. The three designations are invitee, licensee, and trespasser. Your designation affects a property owner’s responsibilities under Georgia law.
Title 51 of Georgia Code outlines the responsibilities of property owners. This includes detailing what steps property owners must take in order to prevent hazards or related accidents. It also details a property owner’s responsibility depending on your designation, such as:
- Invitee – An invitee is someone who enters a property after express or implied invitation. Examples of an invitee include someone attending a neighborhood party, a shopper at the mall, or a patron at a restaurant. Property owners have a high standard of care to invitees. That means they must ensure that their property is safe and free from hazards. If there are known hazards, they must warn invitees.
- Licensee – A licensee is someone who is invited to the property, but for his or her own reasons. Examples include salespeople and delivery people. Property owners have less of a duty of care to licensees, and are only liable for injuries caused by their willful or wanton negligence.
- Trespasser – A trespasser is anyone who is not authorized to enter a property. Property owners have no duty of care to protect trespassers from injury. The exceptions to this rule are children or mentally disabled persons who may not understand or foresee risks.
If you have been injured on someone else’s property, the first step in determining if you qualify for compensation is determining your designation.
Contact a Lithia Springs Premises Liability Lawyer
If you have been injured on someone else’s property, take action right away. Contact The Embry Law Firm to find out your designation, what your legal rights are, and what sort of compensation you may be eligible for.
