According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries statewide. From slippery floors in Buckhead shopping centers to broken stairs in Midtown apartment buildings, dangerous property conditions cause thousands of serious injuries annually. When you’ve been hurt on someone else’s property due to their negligence, you need an Atlanta premises liability lawyer who fights for your rights against property owners and their insurance companies.
You have rights under Georgia law, and we fight tirelessly to protect them. Call 678-888-HURT (4878) for your free consultation with attorneys who have recovered over $1 billion for injured clients.
Atlanta Premises Liability Guide
- How Our Atlanta Premises Liability Attorneys Build Winning Cases
- Understanding Georgia Premises Liability Law
- Who Is Protected Under Georgia Premises Liability Law?
- Most Common Premises Liability Claims in Atlanta
- How to Prove a Premises Liability Case in Atlanta
- Time Limits for Filing Atlanta Premises Liability Claims
- How Georgia’s Comparative Fault Law Impacts Your Premises Liability Claim
- Common Atlanta Locations for Premises Liability Accidents
- Contact Our Atlanta Premises Liability Lawyers for a Free Consultation
How Our Atlanta Premises Liability Attorneys Build Winning Cases
At Hasner Law PC, we bring over 80 years of combined experience fighting for injured Georgians. Our premises liability attorneys in Atlanta understand the tactics property owners and insurance companies use to avoid responsibility. We respond with dynamic legal strategies designed to achieve maximum results.
Our Comprehensive Approach to Property Injury Cases
When you hire our Atlanta premises liability law firm, we immediately begin building your case. Our team visits accident scenes, photographs hazards, and interviews witnesses while evidence remains fresh. We know that property owners often rush to fix dangerous conditions after someone gets hurt, destroying proof of their negligence.
Our legal team thoroughly investigates property records. We search for previous incidents, code violations, and inspection reports that show a pattern of negligence. This research often reveals that property owners knew about dangers but chose profits over safety.
Taking on Big Insurance Companies
Insurance companies begin protecting their interests the moment an injury is reported. Adjusters are quickly dispatched to collect recorded statements, hoping to catch something that can be used against you later.
Insurers may offer quick settlements aimed at minimizing payouts rather than providing full compensation. At the same time, they may challenge your medical bills and downplay the seriousness of your injuries in an effort to avoid full accountability.
Our Atlanta slip and fall lawyers handle all insurance communications on your behalf. We know their tactics because we’ve fought them countless times. When insurance companies see Hasner Law on a case, they know we’re prepared for trial if they don’t offer fair compensation.
Maximizing Your Compensation
Property injuries often cause more damage than people initially realize. A slip and fall may initially appear minor, but can result in chronic back issues that require years of treatment. Our personal injury attorneys work with medical professionals to understand the full extent of your injuries and future needs.
We fight for compensation that covers all your losses:
- Medical bills from emergency treatment through future surgeries
- Income lost during recovery and reduced future earning ability
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Life changes caused by permanent injuries
Our track record speaks for itself. We’ve recovered over $1 billion for injured clients because we refuse to accept lowball offers.
No Win, No Fee Premises Liability Lawyers in Atlanta
At Hasner Law, we understand the financial strain that often follows a serious injury. Medical bills can quickly accumulate, especially when you are unable to work. That is why we handle all premises liability cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and owe no attorney fees unless we win your case.
This arrangement allows you to concentrate on your recovery while we work to hold negligent property owners accountable.
Understanding Georgia Premises Liability Law
Premises liability holds property owners responsible when their negligence causes injuries to lawful visitors. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 51-3-1 requires property owners to exercise ordinary care in keeping premises safe.
This legal obligation applies to a wide range of properties throughout Atlanta. Store owners must keep aisles clear and floors dry. Apartment managers must maintain safe stairways and adequate lighting. Office buildings must fix broken elevators and secure construction zones.
Who Is Protected Under Georgia Premises Liability Law?
Georgia law classifies visitors into three categories, and each is owed a different level of care by property owners:
Legal Rights of Invitees in Georgia Premises Liability Cases
Invitees receive the highest protection under Georgia law. These include customers at stores, guests at hotels, and patients at medical facilities.
Property owners must actively inspect for hazards and either fix them or provide clear warnings. Most premises liability cases in Atlanta, GA involve invitees injured at businesses.
Duties Owed to Licensees Under Georgia Law
Licensees are individuals who enter a property with the owner’s permission but for their own purposes. A common example is a social guest visiting someone’s home.
Property owners have a duty to warn licensees about any known hazards that could cause harm but are not obligated to inspect the property for hidden or unknown dangers.
When Are Property Owners Liable for Trespasser Injuries in Georgia?
Trespassers are individuals who enter a property without the owner’s permission and are afforded the lowest level of legal protection. In most cases, property owners are not required to ensure a trespasser’s safety but are prohibited from intentionally causing harm.
An important exception applies to children who may wander onto the property because of potentially dangerous conditions that attract them, such as swimming pools or abandoned equipment. In these cases, the attractive nuisance doctrine may hold the property owner legally responsible for preventing harm.
Most Common Premises Liability Claims in Atlanta
Property-related injuries occur throughout Atlanta’s neighborhoods, from Buckhead’s upscale shopping districts to industrial areas near Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Each type of accident requires different evidence and legal strategies.
Atlanta Slip and Fall Accident Claims
Slip and fall incidents remain the leading cause of premises liability claims in Georgia. These accidents frequently result from preventable hazards that property owners ignore.
Common causes include:
- Spilled liquids in grocery stores along Buford Highway
- Wet floors without warning signs in Lenox Square shops
- Uneven pavement outside Virginia-Highland restaurants
- Ice accumulation during Atlanta’s occasional winter storms
The National Safety Council reports that in 2022, 46,653 people died in falls at home and at work. Property owners are well aware of these risks, yet many still fail to take simple, preventive safety measures.
Negligent Security Lawsuits in Atlanta
Atlanta’s crime statistics make security a major concern for property owners. When businesses fail to provide adequate protection, violent crimes may occur on their property. Georgia law recognizes that property owners in high-crime areas must take reasonable precautions.
Common negligent security scenarios include parking deck attacks due to broken lighting, assaults in apartment complexes with faulty gate systems, and robberies at ATMs lacking proper surveillance. Previous crimes on the property strengthen these claims significantly.
Dangerous Property Hazards That Lead to Injury Claims
Beyond slips and falls, numerous property hazards injure Atlanta visitors daily. Structural defects like collapsing decks and broken stairs cause serious injuries.
Maintenance failures including exposed wiring and broken elevators create deadly risks. Environmental hazards such as toxic mold and carbon monoxide leaks threaten visitors’ health.
Each type of hazard requires specific evidence to prove the property owner knew or should have known about the danger. Our Atlanta premises liability attorneys understand these distinctions and build cases accordingly.
How to Prove a Premises Liability Case in Atlanta
Success in property injury claims requires proving four key elements. Georgia law places this burden on injured visitors, making experienced legal representation important.
Proving the Property Owner Owed You a Legal Duty
First, you must show the property owner owed you a duty of care. This typically means proving you were an invitee with permission to be on the property. Store receipts, appointment confirmations, or witness statements often establish this status.
Commercial property owners owe the highest duty to customers and business visitors. They must regularly inspect their property and fix hazards promptly.
Proving Breach of Duty
Next, you must demonstrate the property owner failed to meet their obligations. This might involve showing they ignored known hazards, violated building codes, or failed to follow industry safety standards.
Evidence of previous complaints or similar accidents strengthens breach claims. Our attorneys investigate whether other people reported the same dangerous condition before your accident.
Connecting Negligence to Your Injuries
You must link the property owner’s negligence directly to your injuries. This means showing the dangerous condition actually caused your fall and that your injuries resulted from that fall.
Medical records play a key role in proving causation. Your doctor’s notes should clearly connect your injuries to the specific accident on the defendant’s property.
What Damages Can You Recover in an Atlanta Premises Liability Case?
Finally, you must prove actual damages from the accident. Georgia law allows recovery for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent impairments. Detailed documentation strengthens your claim’s value.
Keep every receipt, bill, and record related to your injuries. Document time missed from work and activities you can no longer enjoy. This evidence helps our attorneys fight for maximum compensation.
Time Limits for Filing Atlanta Premises Liability Claims
Georgia law sets strict deadlines for filing injury lawsuits. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, you generally have two years from your injury date to file a premises liability claim.
Failing to meet this deadline usually results in permanently losing your right to seek compensation. The clock starts ticking on the date of the accident, not when you become aware of the full extent of your injuries or the property owner’s negligence.
Why You Should Act Quickly After a Property Injury
In addition to the legal deadline, there are practical reasons to act quickly after an injury. Security camera footage is often erased within 30 days, and locating witnesses becomes more difficult as time goes by. If the hazardous condition that caused your injury is repaired or removed, valuable evidence may be lost.
Delaying legal action may also benefit the insurance company. They may claim that a truly serious injury would have prompted immediate action, using the gap in time to question your credibility. Taking prompt legal action helps preserve evidence and weakens these common defense strategies.
How Georgia’s Comparative Fault Law Impacts Your Premises Liability Claim
Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33. This law reduces your compensation based on your percentage of fault for the accident.
For example, if a jury awards $100,000 but finds you 20% at fault, you receive $80,000. However, if you’re 50% or more at fault, you receive nothing under Georgia law.
Fighting Comparative Negligence Arguments
Insurers often rely on comparative negligence arguments to reduce or deny payouts. They might claim you were distracted, wearing inappropriate shoes, or ignoring obvious dangers. Our property injury lawyers in Atlanta know how to counter these tactics.
We gather evidence showing the property owner’s negligence far exceeded any minor contribution on your part. Witness statements, security footage, and expert testimony help establish that the property owner bears primary responsibility.
Common Atlanta Locations for Premises Liability Accidents
Certain Atlanta locations see frequent property injuries due to high traffic and varying maintenance standards. Understanding where accidents commonly occur helps identify liable parties.
Retail Store Injuries and Shopping Mall Accidents in Atlanta
Popular destinations such as Phipps Plaza, Atlantic Station, and Ponce City Market attract millions of visitors each year. Every store, walkway, and common area in these locations has a legal responsibility to maintain safe conditions. Common hazards include wet floors from cleaning, merchandise left in walkways, and neglected parking lot maintenance.
Large retail stores along Jimmy Carter Boulevard face many of the same risks. Although the size of these buildings can make frequent inspections difficult, property owners are still legally required to take reasonable steps to ensure visitor safety.
Injuries at Atlanta Restaurants, Bars, and Event Venues
Atlanta’s vibrant dining and entertainment scene presents many opportunities for premises liability claims. Major venues like the Fox Theatre, State Farm Arena, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium are responsible for ensuring the safety of thousands of guests during events. Smaller establishments in neighborhoods such as East Atlanta Village and Little Five Points carry the same legal responsibilities, regardless of their size.
Conditions like dim lighting, spilled drinks, and overcrowded areas can significantly increase the risk of accidents. Property owners are expected to anticipate these common hazards and take appropriate steps to prevent injuries.
Premises Liability at Atlanta Apartment Complexes
From luxury Buckhead high-rises to older complexes in Southwest Atlanta, landlords must maintain safe properties. This includes fixing broken stairs, providing adequate lighting, and addressing security concerns.
Many Atlanta slip and fall accidents occur in apartment common areas where maintenance gets neglected. Landlords who prioritize profits over repairs face liability when tenants and guests get hurt.
Injuries in Atlanta Office Buildings and Commercial Spaces
While employees injured on the job generally seek benefits through workers’ compensation, visitors to office buildings in Atlanta may have grounds for a premises liability claim. High-rise buildings in Downtown and Midtown are responsible for keeping common areas such as lobbies, elevators, and parking structures reasonably safe for guests.
Extra care is required in areas undergoing construction or renovation. When building work creates potential hazards, property owners must install proper barriers and provide clear warnings to protect visitors from injury.
Contact Our Atlanta Premises Liability Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Property injuries disrupt every aspect of your life. Medical bills pile up while you miss work recovering from preventable accidents. Insurance companies add stress by disputing legitimate claims and offering inadequate settlements. You need attorneys who understand both the legal complexities and personal toll of these injuries.
Don’t let negligent property owners and their insurers control your future. You may be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact the experienced Atlanta premises liability lawyers at Hasner Law PC today at 678-888-HURT (4878) for your free consultation. We charge no fees unless we win your case, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by calling now.
Hasner Law: Atlanta Injury & Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
2839 Paces Ferry Rd SE #1050
Atlanta, GA 30339
P: (678) 888-4878
