Premises Liability

Those who invite others onto their property, whether for business or social reasons, are obligated to ensure that their guests will be reasonably safe. When they fail in this responsibility, victims may suffer injuries that affect them for life, making it difficult or impossible for them to live and work as they once did. Our attorneys have extensive experience in handling premises liability and slip and fall cases and can help victims move on with their lives by providing compassionate and skillful representation.

Premises liability law establishes a property owner’s responsibility to keep people who visit the property safe from injury. A great deal of any slip and fall or other premises liability case depends on the nature of the relationship between the guest and the property owner. If the guest is an INVITEE (for example, a customer of a store), the property owner must protect him or her from any hazards that are unreasonably dangerous and that should be recognizable to the owner through reasonable care. Even if the owner is unaware of the hazard, he or she may be held liable if reasonable inspection would have made it apparent. Many Georgia victims of slip and fall accidents use this provision of premises liability law with our attorneys’ help to pursue claims against business owners who fail to remove or warn them of dangers.

A licensee (for instance, a friend invited to visit someone’s home) must be protected from all dangers that the property owner should know are hazardous and difficult for a guest to recognize. The licensee must be warned of any such hazards. If he or she is injured by any hazards that were not removed or made known, a lawsuit may be appropriate.

A trespasser (someone who visits private property without the possessor’s consent) has fewer rights than a licensee or an invitee under premises liability law. Typically, a trespasser whose presence is unknown to the property owner enters the property at his or her own risk. If the owner does know of the trespasser’s presence, reasonable care towards the trespasser’s safety must be taken.

Investigation of a potential claim requires personal injury lawyers with experience in handling premises liability claims.

If you believe we may be of assistance to you and you wish to discuss your situation with an experienced attorney without any charge or obligation, contact our office.