Slip and Fall Attorney in Macon, GA

If you were injured in a slip-and-fall accident, a slip-and-fall lawyer in Macon, GA, could fight for compensation on your behalf. As a victim, you may qualify for damages that cover medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and other losses.

Our legal team is here to stand in your corner and protect your rights. We care about our clients and are committed to providing compassionate and efficient legal service. Continue reading to learn more about how a personal injury lawyer from Poulin | Willey | Anastopoulo, LLC. can help you.

 

What Is a Slip and Fall Accident?

Slip and fall accidents occur when an individual falls and injures themselves on another person’s property. These falls can be caused by the following:

• Ice
• Unsafe walkways
• Poorly maintained floors
• Debris 
• Spilled fluids

 

What Is Premises Liability?

Slip and fall cases are filed into a broader legal category known as premises liability. This legal concept mandates that a property owner can be held liable for the injuries of another person on their property, per O.C.G.A § 51-3-1.

For example, imagine that you were at the grocery store when you slipped on an unmarked spill. In this scenario, you could be eligible for damages if you can prove that the grocery store’s management behaved negligently.

 

Premises Liability Case Results

At Poulin | Willey | Anastopoulo, LLC., we’ve worked on several premises liability cases in the past. Notable results include:

• $10,000,000 jury verdict for a client who was injured at a Walmart store
• $6,018,000 jury verdict for a client who was injured while playing pool at a bar

 

How Are Slip and Fall Cases Settled?

There are several ways that a slip and fall case can be settled in Macon, GA:

• Liability claim: Businesses in Macon, GA, often carry a form of insurance known as liability insurance. This type of insurance is designed to prevent lawsuits. If the party responsible for your injuries carries liability insurance, you can file a claim with their insurer. Then, if the insurer accepts your claim, you’ll receive a settlement.
• An out-of-court settlement: If liability insurance isn’t applicable, both parties can participate in settlement negotiations. This approach is often less time-consuming and expensive than proceeding to a civil trial.
• Jury verdict: If liability claim or settlement negotiations don’t produce a desirable outcome, you or your lawyer could take the responsible party to civil court. During civil court, a jury will ultimately decide if you receive compensation for your injuries.

Do I Need to Hire a Slip and Fall Attorney?

Macon, GA, law does not require slip-and-fall accident victims to hire a lawyer. You are permitted to pursue an insurance claim or lawsuit without seeking legal counsel. Taking this approach makes you a “pro se” litigant, meaning you are representing yourself.

However, there are several challenges slip and fall accident victims often face, including:

• Struggling to understand relevant laws
• Not knowing the best way to pursue compensation
• Receiving unfair settlement offers
• Managing a claim or lawsuit while recovering from their injuries

This is where the support of Macon slip and fall attorney from Poulin | Willey | Anastopoulo, LLC., could prove beneficial. Our firm is led by Akim Anastopoulo, who has 25 years of legal experience. We’re proud to provide legal counsel to those in need and have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients.

While you recover from your injuries, we can manage every aspect of your case. This way, you won’t need to stress over fighting for compensation–we have it covered. These are the services we provide to our clients:

• Negotiating and communicating with relevant parties
• Determine who’s responsible for your accident
• Fight aggressively for fair compensation
• Pursue legal action if needed–we aren’t afraid of filing a lawsuit
• Providing clear explanations of difficult legal concepts

 

Our Fee Structure

When it comes to legal fees, we like to keep it simple. We offer a contingency fee payment structure, which means that: 

• You don’t need to pay us anything upfront
• We only get paid if you receive compensation

 

The Benefit of Free Case Evaluation

When seeking a slip-and-fall lawyer, it’s important to take your time and find the right fit. To make this search easier, our law firm provides free case evaluations. During this initial meeting, we can discuss what working with our firm looks like. We can explain:

• The culture of our firm
• The potentially liable parties involved in your case
• What legal options you might have
• How our team could support you
• Whether or not you’re eligible for compensation

You can think of free case evaluations as an initial trial period. They are obligation-free, meaning you aren’t required to work with our team even if you contact us for an evaluation.

 

Slip and Fall Accident Damages

Slip and fall accident damages can help victims recover by providing reimbursement for:

• Lost wages
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Property damages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Lowered quality of life

In addition to these standard damages, those who’ve lost a loved one may qualify for:

• Funeral expenses
• Burial expenses
• Loss of companionship

In Macon, GA, wrongful death damages are typically limited to immediate family members, per O.C.G.A § 51-4-2. If you have questions about wrongful death case eligibility, our team can address them during a free initial case evaluation.

 

Proving Fault in a Slip and Fall Case

Fault is the core of slip and fall cases. Without it, you can’t receive compensation. Therefore, you must show that another party’s negligence caused your injuries. To establish fault, you or your lawyer must prove that:

• The property owner was responsible for keeping you from harm
• They didn’t uphold this responsibility
• You were injured as a result
• Your injuries are linked to the property owner’s negligence

To determine who’s responsible for your accident, a Macon slip and fall lawyer from our team review case evidence, including:

• Footage of the accident
• Statements from relevant experts
• Eyewitness interviews
• Your medical records
• Images of the accident scene

These are some potentially liable parties in a slip-and-fall case:

• A business owner
• A property manager
• A franchise location
• A restaurant
• An individual homeowner
• A bar
• A grocery store

 

What if I Was Partially Responsible for My Slip and Fall Accident?

While it would be convenient if legal cases were always black and white, the reality is that they usually operate in shades of gray. This rule applies to slip and fall accidents – often, both parties are partially at fault.

However, due to Macon, GA,’s comparative negligence rule, you can still receive compensation even if you were partially responsible for your accident, per O.C.G.A § 51-12-33. This statute apportions compensation based on fault.

Here’s an example:

• A slip-and-fall victim is 35% at fault because they were using their phone before slipping on a patch of ice
• The property owner is 65% at fault because they didn’t clear the ice or provide an adequate warning

In this example, the victim could receive 65% of their initial settlement valuation. So, if a jury verdict awarded them $100,000, they ultimately get $65,000 in compensation. Keep in mind that being more than 50% at fault typically bars you from receiving compensation. 

 

Slip and Fall Lawsuits Have a Deadline

Per O.C.G.A § 9-3-33, you typically have two years to file a slip and fall accident lawsuit. Missing this deadline prevents most types of legal action. Your case may not necessitate a lawsuit. However, the threat of a lawsuit can be used as a bargaining chip during negotiations–running down the clock could reduce the number of legal tools you have available.

Other benefits of getting a head start on your case include:

• Prevents witnesses from forgetting what they know about your accident
• Offers you or your lawyer more time to gather evidence
• Shows the responsible party that you’re serious about fighting for compensation.

 

Hire a Slip and Fall Attorney in Macon, GA, Today

Were you recently injured in a slip-and-fall accident? Do you believe another party is responsible? At Poulin | Willey | Anastopoulo, LLC., we’re here for those in need. Call (800) 313-2546 to connect with our firm and learn more about your case.