At Ashby Thelen Lowry, our Georgia personal injury attorneys know that typically, when someone falls in public, their first reaction is to jump up right away and shake off the embarrassing event as quickly as possible. The first thought is, “I can’t believe I did that.”
However, many injury victims should consider the facts of how the incident occurred and why business owners may be held responsible for injuries under certain circumstances.
Situations In Which Georgia Business Owners May Be Held Responsible for Injuries
The legal concept often applies to these situations is premises liability, which holds property owners responsible for maintaining safe conditions. Here, we discuss a few different injury scenarios that may lead the business owner or operator to be held liable for our client’s injuries.
They may include:
- Slip and Fall Incidents
If a business owner fails to address hazards such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, or other dangerous conditions, and someone is injured as a result, the owner may be held liable for negligence.
- Inadequate Security
Business owners have a duty to provide reasonable security measures to protect customers and visitors. If a person is injured due to inadequate security leading to criminal activities — like an assault, robbery, or shooting — the business owner may be held responsible.
- Defective Conditions
If a business owner is aware of dangerous defects on the property — like broken stairs or faulty handrails — and fails to address them promptly, they may be liable for injuries resulting from those defects.
- Falling Merchandise
If a business negligently places merchandise or displays in a way that poses a risk of falling and causing injury, the business owner may be held responsible for resulting damages.
- Negligent Hiring and Supervision
Business owners can be held liable for injuries caused by their employees’ negligent or intentional actions if it can be shown that the employer was negligent in hiring, training, or supervising those employees.
- Inadequate Warning Signs
If there are potential dangers on the premises — like wet floors or construction areas — and the business owner fails to provide adequate warning signs or barriers, they may be held responsible for resulting injuries.
- Product Liability
If a business sells a defective product that causes injury, the business owner may be liable for the damages under product liability laws.
It is important to note that proving liability in a premises liability case often requires demonstrating that the business owner was aware of the hazardous condition or should have been aware of it and failed to take reasonable steps to address it.
If you have been injured on someone else’s property in Georgia, contact our skilled Georgia personal injury lawyers and support team at Ashby Thelen Lowry today at (404) 777-7771 to schedule a free consultation. We can assess the specific circumstances of your case, determine whether the property owner may be liable, and guide you through the legal process of pursuing compensation for your injuries.