Stephen Hasner | Slip and Fall | January 20, 2026
Slip and fall accidents are a leading cause of preventable injuries in Atlanta. What starts as a routine walk through a store, office, or parking lot can result in serious harm when a hidden hazard goes uncorrected by the property owner.
Many injured people are quickly blamed for being careless, even when the dangerous condition was something they could not have seen or avoided. In many cases, these incidents happen because a property owner failed to correct a safety issue or provide a proper warning.
Recognizing the common causes of slip and fall accidents is an important step in determining whether a property owner may have been negligent. When an unsafe condition leads to an injury, an experienced Atlanta slip and fall lawyer can review the circumstances, collect evidence, and pursue a claim under Georgia premises liability law.
If you were hurt in a fall, do not let an insurance company minimize the situation. The trial attorneys at Hasner Law are prepared to protect your rights. Call 678-888-HURT (4878) for a free case review.
Key Takeaways on the Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
- Slip and fall accidents are a leading cause of preventable injuries and are frequently caused by a property owner’s failure to maintain a safe environment.
- Under Georgia’s premises liability laws, property owners have a legal duty to keep their property reasonably safe for visitors and to warn of any known dangers.
- Common causes include wet floors, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, and cluttered walkways, all of which may constitute negligence.
- To have a successful claim, you must prove the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition but failed to fix it or provide a warning.
- An Atlanta slip and fall lawyer can play an important role in investigating the cause of your fall, preserving evidence, and building a powerful case against the property owner’s insurance company.
The Legal Duty of Property Owners in Georgia
In Georgia, the law that governs slip and fall cases is known as premises liability. This area of law holds property owners and occupiers responsible for injuries that occur on their property due to unsafe conditions.
The specific duty owed to a visitor depends on why they are on the property. Most clients of an Atlanta slip and fall lawyer are classified as invitees.
What Georgia Law Requires Property Owners to Do to Protect Invitees
An invitee is someone who is on the property for the financial benefit of the owner, such as a customer in a retail store, a guest in a hotel, or a patient in a medical clinic. Under Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) § 51-3-1, property owners have a duty to exercise ordinary care in keeping their premises and approaches safe for invitees.
This means they must regularly inspect their property for hazards, make necessary repairs, and warn visitors of any dangers that are not immediately obvious.
Common Unsafe Conditions That Cause Slip and Fall Accidents
Most falls are not random accidents; they are the direct result of a specific, identifiable hazard. These dangerous conditions are often created by poor maintenance, inadequate cleaning procedures, or a general disregard for visitor safety. An experienced Atlanta slip and fall lawyer knows how to identify these hazards as evidence of negligence.
Wet Floors and Uneven Walking Surfaces That Cause Dangerous Falls
One of the most frequent causes of slip and fall accidents is an unexpected change in the walking surface. Property owners have a duty to maintain their floors in a reasonably safe condition, which includes addressing both temporary and permanent hazards.
Many falls are caused by conditions that a property owner knew about or should have discovered through a reasonable inspection. These conditions often indicate lapses in basic safety practices.
- Spills from liquids or food products that are not cleaned up promptly.
- Freshly mopped or waxed floors without adequate warning signs.
- Torn, bulging, or frayed carpeting and floor mats.
- Cracked, broken, or uneven tiles and flooring.
- Poorly maintained sidewalks with potholes or large cracks.
These hazards are often difficult for an ordinary visitor to spot until it is too late, leading to a sudden and severe fall.
Environmental Factors and Poor Property Maintenance
Beyond the floor itself, the overall environment of a property can contribute to a fall. Issues like inadequate lighting or poor weather preparedness can create dangerous situations that lead to serious injuries.
Property owners must account for how environmental factors affect the safety of their premises. A failure to adapt to changing conditions may be considered negligence.
- Inadequate Lighting: Poorly lit stairwells, hallways, and parking lots can hide otherwise obvious hazards.
- Weather-Related Hazards: Failure to address rain-tracked water, ice, or snow in entryways and on walkways.
- Cluttered Aisles and Walkways: Merchandise, equipment, or debris left in walking paths.
- Damaged Handrails: Broken or missing handrails on stairways.
A property owner’s duties extend beyond the walking surface and include maintaining the overall environment to safeguard visitors from foreseeable hazards.
Where Atlanta Slip and Fall Accidents Happen Most Often
Slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere, but they are particularly common in commercial establishments where there is a high volume of foot traffic and a constant potential for hazards to arise. An Atlanta slip and fall lawyer handles cases from a wide variety of locations.
High-Risk Commercial and Public Properties for Slip and Fall Injuries
Business owners in places like grocery stores, big-box retailers, and shopping malls have a heightened duty to inspect their property because of the large number of customers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that falls are a leading cause of injury, and commercial properties are a frequent setting for these incidents.
Many businesses have specific safety procedures in place to prevent falls. When they fail to follow their own rules, it can be strong evidence of negligence.
- Grocery Stores: Spills in the produce section, leaking freezer cases, and dropped items create constant slip hazards.
- Restaurants and Bars: Spilled drinks, food debris, and greasy kitchen floors can cause dangerous conditions for patrons and employees.
- Retail and Department Stores: Cluttered aisles, fallen merchandise, and poorly placed floor displays can create trip hazards.
- Parking Lots and Garages: Poor lighting, potholes, and crumbling pavement can lead to falls before a visitor even enters the building.
Holding the owners of these large commercial properties accountable requires a law firm with the resources to take on their powerful insurance companies.
Serious Injuries Frequently Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
It is a dangerous misconception that slip and fall accidents only cause minor bumps and bruises. A fall, particularly for an older adult, can result in debilitating injuries that require surgery, long-term rehabilitation, and may lead to a permanent disability.
A fall can generate a surprising amount of force, leading to a wide range of severe medical conditions. These injuries often have lasting physical, financial, and emotional consequences.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Striking your head during a fall can cause a concussion or a more severe TBI with lasting cognitive and physical effects.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: A fall can cause herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, or even damage to the spinal cord itself, potentially leading to paralysis.
- Hip Fractures: This is a particularly common and dangerous injury for older adults, often requiring surgery and leading to a significant loss of mobility.
- Broken Bones: Wrists, arms, and ankles are frequently broken as people try to catch themselves during a fall.
- Torn Ligaments and Tendons: A sudden twisting motion during a fall can cause severe sprains or tears to the ligaments in the knee, ankle, or shoulder.
The high cost of treating these injuries is why it is so important to hold the negligent property owner financially responsible.
How Hasner Law Builds a Strong Slip and Fall Claim for Injured Victims
After a fall, the property owner and their insurance company immediately begin building a defense. They may clean up the hazard, lose security footage, or pressure you into giving a recorded statement that they can use against you.
At Hasner Law, we move just as quickly to protect you. Our team combines thorough investigation with trial-ready advocacy to protect injured clients. Our first step is to launch a comprehensive investigation into the cause of your fall.
Our team has over 80 years of combined experience and has recovered more than $1 billion for our clients. We know what it takes to win a premises liability case in Georgia.
We dispatch investigators to the accident scene, take photographs, interview witnesses, and send legal notices to preserve critical evidence like video footage. We work with safety experts to establish that a dangerous condition existed and that the property owner was negligent.
We handle all communications with the insurance adjuster, protecting you from their tactics while you focus on healing.
FAQs for an Atlanta Slip and Fall Lawyer
What if I was partially at fault for my fall?
Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means you can still recover damages as long as you are found to be less than 50 percent at fault. However, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Georgia?
The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in Georgia is two years from the date of the accident. This is a very strict deadline. If you fail to file a lawsuit within this period, you will likely lose your right to recover any compensation.
What if my slip and fall accident happened at work?
If you slipped and fell while working, your injury may be covered by Georgia’s workers’ compensation system, which can provide medical care and partial wage benefits. You must report the injury to your employer as soon as possible.
You may also have a separate claim against a third party if someone other than your employer created the hazard. An Atlanta slip and fall lawyer can review the incident to determine what types of claims may apply.
How do I prove the property owner was negligent?
You must show that the property owner had actual or constructive knowledge of the hazard. This means proving they either created the hazard, knew it existed and did nothing, or that the hazard was there for so long that they should have discovered it through a reasonable inspection.
What is my slip and fall case worth?
The value of your case depends on many factors, including the severity of your injuries, the total of your medical bills, the amount of your lost wages, and the impact the injury has had on your life. An experienced attorney can evaluate these factors to give you an estimate of your case’s potential value.
Steps to Hold Negligent Property Owners Accountable After a Slip and Fall
A slip and fall can leave you facing painful injuries, rising medical costs, and real uncertainty about what comes next. You do not need to handle these challenges alone.
Georgia law provides a path to hold a negligent property owner financially accountable, but taking timely action is important because evidence can change quickly and insurance companies move fast to create their own narrative.
If your injuries were caused by a dangerous condition that should have been addressed, you have the right to pursue compensation. You do not need to face property owners or insurers by yourself.
The legal team at Hasner Law is ready to guide you through each step of the process and advocate for the financial recovery you need to move forward. Call us today at 678-888-HURT (4878) for a free consultation with a seasoned Atlanta personal injury lawyer.
