Georgia Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Retail Stores

Personal injury is the wrongful injury of one person caused by the fault of another. A Georgia personal injury claim can seek compensation for lost wages, medical expenses and potentially punitive damages to punish the offender. Gwinnett County personal injury attorney Shane Smith explains a victim's rights when a slip-and-fall accident occurs in a retail store.

There are four general types of "fall down" accidents:

  • Slip-and-fall accidents—A foreign substance causes a shoe to slide on a floor resulting in an injury.
  • Trip-and-fall accidents—A foreign object obstructs an area used for walking.
  • Step-and-fall accidents—A hole or uneven surface causes someone to lose their balance and fall.
  • Stump-and-fall accidents—A permanent obstruction in the walking surface causes someone to fall.

Retail businesses have a duty to keep customers safe. Slip-and-fall accidents are often considered premises liability cases because a business is liable to a customer if he sustains an injury. Business patrons are considered "business invitee" and are owed a duty of care.

Stores are obligated to clean up hazards on a floor and maintain the premises, including stairs and elevators, in a safe condition. Larger stores often employ risk management personnel to handle patrons' accidents. Frequently there are internal policies and forms already designed to document an incident. The store might encourage a victim to sign a statement or agree to compensation at the time of the incident. This is often done in an effort to minimize legal liability and commit the victim to a settlement without the aid of an attorney. Such agreements may cover medical treatment associated with the slip-and-fall but it may not pay for lost wages, pain and suffering and continuing medical treatment or therapy.

An experienced Gwinnett County personal injury attorney will pursue a case to get fair compensation for the victim. Call the Law Office of Shane Smith to schedule a free legal consultation.

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