Premises Liability Attorneys in Savannah

We Don’t Mess Around – We Get Results

Fill Out a Form | Call Us | Testimonials

If you have been injured on someone else’s property, it’s important that you understand your legal rights. Depending on the circumstances of your situation, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the property owner to recover compensation for your injuries.

At Jamie Casino Injury Attorneys, we help our clients fight for justice and get the compensation they deserve.

Our Savannah premises liability attorneys have experience handling claims involving hazardous conditions at:

• Stores
• Office buildings
• Personal residences
• Public areas
• Private property
• Shopping malls
• Restaurants
• Grocery stores
• Construction sites
• Dockyards and storage areas

Call (912) 809-5335 today to discuss your case with our skilled personal injury attorneys.

Premises Liability Claims in Savannah

Premises liability refers to the legal responsibility a property owner or occupier has for injuries and accidents that occur on their property. In Georgia, all property owners and managers must ensure that their property is free from unsafe or defective conditions. When this duty is violated and it causes an injury to someone, that individual may choose to file a premises liability claim.

There are many situations that might lead to a premises liability claim, including:

• Slip and Fall Accidents: These occur due to wet or slippery floors, uneven surfaces, or debris that cause someone to slip, trip, and fall.
• Inadequate Maintenance: Failure to maintain the property in a safe condition, such as broken stairs, loose handrails, or unrepaired structures, leading to accidents.
• Dog Bites and Animal Attacks: Owners can be held liable if their pet injures someone on their property or in a public area.
• Swimming Pool Accidents: Lack of proper safety measures, like fencing or supervision, resulting in drownings or injuries around pools.
• Elevator and Escalator Accidents: Malfunctioning or poorly maintained elevators and escalators causing injuries to users.
• Retail Store Accidents: Mishaps in stores, such as falling merchandise, overcrowding, or failure to warn about potential dangers.
• Amusement Park Accidents: Injuries occurring due to malfunctioning rides, inadequate safety measures, or operator negligence.
• Negligent Security: Inadequate security measures leading to assaults, robberies, or other crimes on the premises.
• Falling Objects: Items falling from shelves, ceilings, or improperly secured fixtures causing injury to visitors.
• Uneven Terrain: Cracks, holes, or uneven surfaces in walkways, parking lots, or sidewalks causing trips and falls.
• Lack of Handrails: Absence or improper installation of handrails on stairs or ramps contributing to accidents.
• Hazardous Materials: Exposure to toxic substances, chemicals, or other hazardous materials on the property leading to health issues or injuries.
• Structural Defects: Defects in the building structure, such as weak floors, collapsing ceilings, or unstable balconies, causing accidents.
• Unmarked Hazards: Failure to mark or warn visitors about potential dangers like low-hanging objects, construction zones, or slippery surfaces.
• Defective Stairs or Railings: Poorly constructed or maintained stairs and railings causing falls and injuries to individuals.

To have a valid claim, the injured party must be able to prove four things: First, a dangerous condition existed on the property; second, the owner of the property either knew or should have known about the unsafe condition; third, the property owner failed to eliminate the dangerous condition or did not adequately warn of its presence; finally, the injured individual must prove that the unsafe condition caused his or her injury.

In Georgia premises liability laws, the classification of visitors—invitee, licensee, and trespasser—determines the level of responsibility a property owner owes to individuals on their property.

Here is an overview of the three types of visitors:

• Invitee: An invitee is someone who has the property owner's implied or express permission to enter the property for a purpose that benefits both the visitor and the property owner. This could be a customer in a store or a guest invited to a home. Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees, which includes maintaining the property in a reasonably safe condition, regularly inspecting for hazards, and warning of any dangers that aren't immediately obvious.
• Licensee: A licensee is someone who enters the property with the owner's permission but for their own purposes, not necessarily for the property owner's benefit. For instance, a social guest at a friend's house would typically be considered a licensee. Property owners owe a duty to licensees to warn them of known hazards or dangers on the property but might not have the same level of responsibility for inspecting and maintaining the premises as they do for invitees.
• Trespasser: A trespasser is someone who enters the property without permission or authorization. Property owners owe the least duty of care to trespassers. However, they're still expected to refrain from intentionally causing harm to trespassers and may have a responsibility to warn of known dangers if they're aware of the trespasser's presence.

Steps to Take After Being Injured on Someone's Property

If you've been injured on private or public property in Georgia and intend to initiate a premises liability claim, here are the steps you should consider taking:

1. Seek Medical Attention: Your health is a priority. Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries. Even if injuries seem minor, getting a medical evaluation is crucial. Medical records can also serve as evidence in your claim.
2. Report the Incident: Inform the property owner, manager, or landlord about the accident and your injuries. Ask for an incident report to be filled out and request a copy for your records.
3. Gather Evidence: Document the scene by taking photos or videos of the hazardous condition that caused the accident. Gather the names and contact information of any witnesses.
4. Preserve Evidence: Keep all medical records, bills, receipts for expenses related to the injury, and any correspondence with the property owner or insurance companies.
5. Consult an Attorney: Consider consulting a premises liability attorney in Georgia. They can assess your case, advise you on your legal rights, and guide you through the process.
6. File a Claim: If negotiations with the property owner or their insurance company fail to provide a satisfactory resolution, your attorney can file a premises liability claim on your behalf. In Georgia, there's a statute of limitations (typically two years from the date of injury) within which you must file a lawsuit for a premises liability case.
7. Negotiation or Trial: Your attorney will engage in negotiations with the property owner's insurance company. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your case may proceed to trial.

Why Do You Need a Premises Liability Attorney?

You can technically file a premises liability claim on your own and even represent yourself in court. Although, having the choice to do something does not mean it is the right choice to make. As with any personal injury claim, premises liability claims can get complicated quickly due to liability laws, evidence discovery processes, insurance company interference, and court procedures. If you are unfamiliar with any of these factors of the average claim, then you will be better off teaming up with an attorney than trying to work your claim alone.

Three major benefits of hiring our Savannah premises liability lawyers are:

• Legal knowledge: To get a full and applicable understanding of Georgia’s premises liability laws and rules, you need to complete a law degree. You probably do not have time to do that after your accident and before the statute of limitations expires. The good news is that our highly experienced attorneys have already done that, and you can make their insight and knowledge your own simply by retaining our services.
• Investigative experience: Collecting evidence and using evidence are two different matters. Even if you have as much evidence as possible about the cause of your premises liability accident, you might not know how to utilize it in the best way to strengthen your claim and show you were not to blame for your injuries. Our team can analyze your evidence and recruit additional experts when needed to make each piece of evidence do as much as possible.
• Damage calculation: The damages you are owed in your case go beyond what can be tracked on current medical bills. You also have to consider lost wages, future medical care not yet completed, and the pain, suffering, and hardships you have experienced due to your injuries. Our attorneys are equipped to carefully calculate all of your damages as to leave nothing out.

We Are Up to the Challenge

Proving fault in a premises liability case can be difficult. At Jamie Casino Injury Attorneys, we are ready to take the challenge head-on. Our Savannah premises liability attorneys are known for tackling tough cases. One of our many successes includes obtaining a million-dollar settlement for a victim of negligent security.

Schedule a free case evaluation today by calling (912) 809-5335.