Premises Liability

A dangerous condition on someone else’s property can be catastrophic to unsuspecting visitors. Slip and fall accidents, exposure to hazardous chemicals, roof collapse, fires and floods…it only takes one negligent property owner to injure or kill others. Georgia law has specific statutes in place regarding incidents that happen on another person’s property. Bringing a premises liability claim against someone in Atlanta can lead to compensation for lost wages, medical costs, and pain and suffering. Kaufman Law can help you navigate these laws, which are often comprehensive and complex.

Common Injuries on Unsafe Premises

Elements that can make premises unsafe for guests vary greatly, resulting in a diverse range of potential injuries. Innocent guests can experience anything from traumatic brain injuries to lacerations on others’ properties in Atlanta. Catastrophic injuries are those that result in permanent disability or disfigurement. Such incidents, and injuries that result in the victim’s wrongful death, deserve immediate legal attention. Common injuries our firm has seen in slip & fall cases include:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Injuries from falling objects
• Accidental drowning
• Vehicle run-over or back-over injuries
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Burns from fires or explosions
• Illness from hazardous substances or fumes
• Head or spine injury from amusement park accidents
• Crush injuries/amputations from elevator/escalator malfunctions
• Assaults and robberies

Inadequate premises maintenance, dangerous conditions, loose animals, and negligent security can all lead to premises liability claims in Atlanta. We’ve helped clients recover for broken bones, contusions, concussions, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burns, and illnesses from unreasonably dangerous properties. No matter what type of injuries you suffered, come to Kaufman Law for a consultation. You may be eligible for compensation.

What Are the Differences Between an Invitee, Licensee, and Trespasser?

Property owners owe different standards of care depending on the relationship of the visitor to the landowner. There are clear lines between these relationships in the eyes of the law. The first is the invitee. An invitee is anyone with an implied or expressed invitation to enter the property. For example, customers at a grocery store are invitees. Property owners owe the highest standards of care to these entities. The property owner must ensure invitees’ reasonable care and safety. Owners must warn of existing conditions and protect invitees from dangers the person may not know about.

The second class is a licensee. A licensee is someone who has the privilege to enter the property by the possessor’s consent. For example, a door-to-door salesperson would be a licensee. Licensee often encompasses social guests as well. The property owner owes fewer duties of care to these parties. The owner must warn of dangers if the licensee will likely not realize the hazard. From there, it is up to the licensee to accept or deny the risks involved, and to assume liability for any incidents therein.

Trespassers are the third type of relationship. These entities do not have the landowner’s permission to enter or remain on a property. Owners owe no duties of care to trespassers, except that they may not deliberately inflict harm on innocent trespassers. If the trespasser is a child, however, the landowner must take reasonable care to protect the trespasser from hazards. These include attractive nuisances, or dangerous property elements that may attract children by their very nature – such as swimming pools, hot tubs, and trampolines. The property must be safe for neighborhood children who may wander onto the land.

Retaining an attorney can make proving a slip & fall claim in Atlanta much easier. Attorneys understand the state and local laws, and property owner responsibilities. Kaufman Law, P.C. has four decades of experience representing clients who sustained serious injuries, or whose loved ones died, in slip & fall accidents. If this sounds like your situation, contact us for a free consultation.