Slip-and-fall accidents happen all the time. A few scraps and bruises are the usual result of such eventsand matters between the victim and the proprietor can be settled simply and easy. But if you have been the victim of a slip-and-fall accident that has led to more serious injury, then you may need to take legal action.
The Brauns Law firm serves the people of Gwinnett County, Georgia. The firm takes the claims of accident victims seriously and works to get ordinary people the justice they deserve.
Premise Liability
Owners of public venues have an obligation to ensure that their spaces are safe. As a patron of a restaurant, bistro, or hotel, you should not have to worry about your well-being whenever you enter it. Spills in restaurants should be wiped up immediately, you should not be endangered by falling light pieces or broken chairs, and you should be able to walk through a hotel that is properly lighted with electrical sockets and devices that are safe to use.
If the owners of the establishment have failed to provide these basic protections, then you have grounds to sue.
Consequences of a Slip-and-Fall
A severe slip-and-fall accident can upend your life. If you must be rushed to the hospital after the incident, you may need to stay there for some time. This will of course mean that you will lose income and will at the same time accumulate medical bills, including expenses for rehabilitative therapy and prescription drug medicine. If you are in a trade profession and you are badly hurt, you may need to give the job up altogether. Even when you are healthy enough to resume work, you may be forced to limit your hours.
If your injury was bad enough, it may even deprive you of your livelihood. People who work in jobs that are physically demanding are at an especially high risk of this happening.
The financial strain that results from the accident will only contribute to your suffering. You should not have to bear alone a burden that was put on you by someone else’s negligence. You should contact a personal injury lawyer and explore your legal options.
Filing a Lawsuit
You need not file a lawsuit straightaway. Hiring a lawyer is the first step. Your lawyer will then approach the owners of the venue in which you were hurt and try to negotiate a settlement. If this approach is rejected or the offer istoo low, you may need to file a lawsuit.
Your lawyer will gather all the evidence that is required to prove the negligence of the owners. They will have professional investigators interview eyewitnesses and gather documents related to the unsafe spaces and fixtures that existed in the establishment at the time you were there.
In the end, your lawyer must prove that you did have a slip-and-fall accident, that you sustained injuries, and that the venue in which the accident took place is liable for damages. A personal injury lawyer will know how to put such a case together.
