If you slip and fall while at a friend or neighbor’s house, the last thing you want to do is call a lawyer. You don’t want to sue your friend or neighbor. That could ruin your relationship forever. The first thing you have to remember is you’re not actually suing your friend or neighbor. More than likely, you’re suing their insurance company. And, if their homeowner’s insurance company covers your claim, you won’t have to sue anybody.
The other thing you have to remember is that property owners carry insurance for this type of thing. Accidents happen. If you get hurt outside or inside someone’s home, you can file a claim with their homeowner’s insurance.
In most cases, your claim will be paid. For small claims, it’s usually not worth the time and money for the insurance company to fight it. For larger claims, however, the insurance adjuster will want to complete a thorough investigation.
This is why you should retain an experienced slip and fall lawyer in Carrollton, Georgia. You don’t want to go up against the insurance company alone. They’ll try to take advantage of you. You’re much better off having an experienced lawyer by your side.
What are the Major Causes of Slip and Falls?
When it comes to slip and falls in someone’s home, they usually fall into one of the following three (3) categories:
- Stair accidents – If your stairs are rickety or damaged, someone could end up slipping and falling down the steps. Depending on their accident, they may suffer serious injuries. Your homeowner’s insurance may cover these types of claims.
- Floor accidents – A lot of people slip on rugs or loose flooring. It’s the property owner’s responsibility to keep their premises safe. If you fall on their floor, you may have a claim for damages.
- Sidewalk falls – In bad weather, a lot of homeowners end up with claims for falls. Ice and snow are the main culprits for sidewalk falls. Property owners have a duty to keep their sidewalks clean and dry. Whether or not they’re found negligent will depend on the timing of the snow and the severity of the fall.
Generally speaking, all homeowners are required to keep their property safe for guests. This means they have to repair obvious defects. They are responsible for any unsafe conditions that a reasonable person would observe.
Your Carrollton Injury Lawyer Must Prove Negligence
There are two main types of homeowner’s coverage. The first is called liability. In order to recover under a homeowner’s liability policy, you have to prove they were negligent. Most policies carry about $100,000 in liability coverage.
The other type of coverage is called no-fault, or medical coverage. The coverage is much lower – usually about $10,000. However, you usually don’t have to prove fault in order to recover. It’s cheaper and easier for the insurance company to just cover your minor medical bills.
If your injuries exceed the homeowner’s coverage, you’ll have no choice but to file a personal claim against the property owner. Your Carrollton injury lawyer can help you do this.
In order to prove negligence, your attorney will have to show that the defendant failed to maintain their house in a safe condition. There are three (3) ways you can do this:
- Show that the premises were unreasonably unsafe – If the conditions are so poor that anyone else would’ve fixed it, it may fall into this category. Injury attorneys in Carrollton usually see these types of cases when a landlord is involved rather than a residential property owner.
- The owner knew or should have known of the unsafe condition – If most reasonable people would’ve known the home was unsafe, the property owner may be held negligent.
- They failed to repair – If the owner knew the conditions were unsafe but failed to fix it, they can be held liable. An example of this is when they were cited for unsafe conditions and never got around to making the repairs.
Regardless of how your accident happened, your lawyer will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact an Injury Lawyer in Carrollton, Georgia Today
If you fell and got hurt on someone else’s property, you may have a legal claim for damages. Call and speak with an experienced injury lawyer in Carrollton today. Schedule your free initial consultation with a lawyer at John B. Jackson. Let a skilled lawyer review your case and let you know what it may be worth. The consultation is free and you pay nothing until you settle your claim.
