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Could you start a case if you were injured outside a business?

On Behalf of | Sep 13, 2019 | slip & fall accidents

If you were injured while walking down the sidewalk, trying to find out who is responsible for your injury might not be the first thing you think of. However, in a situation like that, someone’s negligence could have contributed to your fall. That is because property owners in Georgia have a responsibility to keep their property safe. However, that does bring up an interesting question.

Did your injury have to happen in a building to sue someone for an injury? After all, a shop owner might not feel an obligation to keep a sidewalk safe. Please read on for more about this topic.

If you think about it, it does make sense that property owners would have to maintain their sidewalks. However, it is not always clear about exactly what exactly qualifies as being under someone’s purview. In fact, this point is false in one of the elements argued in complicated premises injury cases.

Some cases are relatively clear. For example, if you were injured walking on a slippery surface, such as a poorly maintained or constructed pool deck, then you would probably assume you would be able to claim that the owner of the pool was liable. However, if you were injured out in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant, you might have some second thoughts.

As explained by FindLaw, there are a number of situations that could warrant a slip and fall case. Generally, they could be divided into two categories:

  • There is a latent defect or danger
  • There is a foreign substance 

After that, you would want to establish that the owners were negligent. That means that they knew about or should have known about the hazard. 

Unfortunately, careless acts by property owners typically require you to put together a very careful case in order to reclaim the resources you have lost. It is important that you look at the specifics, including any and all documented evidence you have, before you make a decision on how to proceed.

Please do not think of this as legal advice. It is only general information.

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