Were you injured in a slip and fall accident in Norcross, GA?
At Schneider Williamson Car Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys, we provide a free, confidential case review with a Norcross slip and fall lawyer.
If you fell because a Norcross property owner left a hazard in place, you can bring a claim against that owner for your injuries. A Norcross, GA slip and fall lawyer gathers the proof that the owner knew about the danger and failed to correct it.
Schneider Williamson Car Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys has more than 50 years of combined experience with slip and fall cases. Our clients are the people who were hurt, and we take no cases for property owners or their insurers. Contact us for a free case review.
Slip and Fall Lawyer Norcross, GA
A slip and fall attorney represents people injured by hazards on someone else’s property. The central task is proving what the owner knew and when the owner knew it. We obtain incident reports, maintenance records, and surveillance video, and we use them to show that the hazard should have been found and fixed.
Georgia recorded 725 unintentional fall deaths among adults aged 65 and older in 2020, according to CDC mortality data. Falls are also the leading cause of injury for that age group nationwide. Younger people are hurt in falls as well, often at work sites, stores, and apartment communities. Norcross has many properties of that kind along Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Buford Highway.
Types of Slip and Fall Cases We Handle in Norcross
The hazard that caused a fall determines who is responsible and what records will prove it. Norcross slip and fall attorneys at our firm handle the following cases.
- Wet and slippery floors. Spills, tracked-in rain, and freshly mopped floors cause falls in grocery stores and restaurants. The claim usually depends on how long the hazard was present and whether employees inspected the area. Warning signs and cleaning schedules are part of that proof.
- Parking lot and sidewalk falls. Potholes, broken curbs, and uneven pavement are hazards an owner can find through routine inspection. Rain and poor drainage make these defects harder to see. Photographs taken before the owner makes repairs are important evidence.
- Stairway falls. Loose handrails, worn treads, and steps of uneven height cause some of the most serious fall injuries. Repair records and prior complaints show whether the owner ignored the defect.
- Poor lighting. Dim stairwells, hallways, and parking decks hide hazards that a visitor would otherwise avoid. Burned-out fixtures that went unreplaced for weeks are evidence of neglect. Photographs taken at the same hour as the fall help prove the condition.
- Apartment complex falls. Landlords are responsible for common areas such as walkways, stairs, and breezeways. Exterior stairs need regular inspection because weather wears them down. Tenant complaints and work orders can show that management knew about the problem.
- Retail store falls. Merchandise left in aisles, loose floor mats, and leaking coolers are frequent causes. Stores keep inspection logs and video, and both should be requested before they are overwritten.
- Restaurant and bar falls. Grease near kitchens, spilled drinks, and crowded walkways create hazards during busy hours. Staffing and cleaning practices are relevant to whether the business acted reasonably.
- Ramp and loading dock falls. Delivery drivers, vendors, and customers are injured on ramps and docks that lack guardrails or slip-resistant surfaces. The company that controls the dock is usually the responsible party. A worker hurt on another company’s property can have a claim against that company in addition to workers’ compensation.
- Construction defects. A fall caused by faulty construction can support suing a builder in addition to the property owner. Building plans and inspection records are central to these claims.
Why Choose Schneider Williamson Car Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys as my Slip and Fall Lawyer in Norcross, GA?
Premises Liability Experience in the Courtroom
Property owners and their insurers often contest fall claims, and many cases require a lawsuit. Campbell Williamson has represented clients in premises liability cases in state and federal courts. He was named a Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star each year from 2020 through 2024, and he was a member of the Moot Court Society at Emory Law. Jason Schneider holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is based on the recommendations of his peers. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and holds membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. A personal injury lawyer in Norcross, GA with that trial background can take a fall case to a jury when a property owner denies responsibility.
What We Have Recovered in Premises Liability Cases
Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for clients injured in premises liability cases. Our previous settlements include recoveries of $1,000,000, $500,000, and $475,000. We also obtained an $840,000 premises liability verdict at trial.
Fees are contingent upon a recovery. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
What Is Important to Understand About a Slip and Fall Case?
What Is The Slip and Fall Case Timeline?
A fall claim begins with the incident report and your first medical visit. We ask the owner in writing to preserve video and maintenance records. The investigation then continues while you receive treatment, and it includes witness interviews and a review of the owner’s inspection practices.
We send a demand to the owner’s insurer after your physicians have reached a prognosis. Negotiation follows. We file a lawsuit if the insurer disputes liability or undervalues the injury, and the case then proceeds through discovery and mediation. A slip and fall attorney in Norcross should prepare for trial from the start, because owners frequently deny that they knew about the hazard.
Some fall claims settle within several months. Cases involving surgery or disputed liability take longer.
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Slip and Fall Cases
A property owner owes visitors ordinary care to keep the premises safe. To recover, you must show that the owner knew or should have known about the hazard. Questions about who is liable can also involve a tenant, a management company, or a maintenance contractor.
Georgia weighs your own conduct too. A jury assigns fault to each party by percentage, and an injured person who is 50 percent or more at fault recovers nothing. Owners often argue that the hazard was obvious or that the visitor was not paying attention.
- Medical expenses, including surgery, rehabilitation, and future care
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Physical pain, limited mobility, and loss of enjoyment of life
Economic losses are proven with bills and wage records. Noneconomic losses are proven through your own testimony and the testimony of people who know how the injury changed your routine.
Payment typically comes from the owner’s liability insurance. Fractures and traumatic brain injuries from falls can require long treatment. Complete medical documentation supports the full value of a claim.
What Are Important Aspects of a Slip and Fall Case?
Slip and fall claims depend on evidence that can disappear quickly. Georgia’s filing deadline applies as well.
- Notice. The owner’s knowledge of the hazard is the main issue. Inspection logs, prior complaints, and employee testimony establish it.
- Evidence. Save photographs of the hazard and the surrounding area, and keep the shoes you were wearing. Surveillance video is often overwritten within days or weeks.
- Incident report. Report the fall to the manager or owner, and ask for a copy of the report. Give the facts of the fall, and avoid guessing about its cause.
- Early offers. An insurer may offer a quick payment before your treatment ends. You cannot yet judge at that point whether the compensation is fair.
- Deadline. Most fall lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.
What Should You Bring to Your Slip and Fall Consultation?
Bring the records you have from the fall and from your treatment. We can request the rest, including records held by the owner.
- Photographs of the hazard and the location
- The incident report, or the name of the employee who took it
- The shoes and clothing you wore
- Medical records and bills
- Names of witnesses and employees you spoke with
A Norcross slip and fall attorney reviews these items with you during the free case review. We explain where the proof is strong and where it is thin, and we tell you what we would do next.
Reach Out to Schneider Williamson Car Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys to Schedule a Consultation
Property owners report falls to their insurers right away, and you are entitled to representation of your own. Schneider Williamson Car Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys reviews slip and fall claims at no cost, and fees are contingent upon a recovery. Your case review covers how the fall happened, who controlled the property, and what your treatment has involved. We answer new inquiries promptly. Contact us to schedule a free case review with a slip and fall lawyer in Norcross, GA.