Proving Damages After an Atlanta Slip and Fall Accident

If you were injured on someone else’s property because they failed to keep it safe for visitors, you shouldn’t end up on the hook for related medical bills. Instead, you could be eligible to file a slip and fall claim against the negligent property owner, seeking compensation for your losses. Doing so, however, will require proof of those damages.

Establishing Liability

 Before calculating their losses, slip and fall accident victims will need to first establish that the owner of the property where the accident occurred was negligent. In these kinds of cases, this involves proving that a property owner failed to repair or warn visitors about an unsafe condition that led to an injury. For instance, did the victim fall after slipping on a spill in the grocery store aisle, or trip on uneven flooring? In both cases, the property owner could be held liable if there is evidence that they knew of the hazard or would have known of it if they had been using the proper care in inspecting and maintaining their premises. If slip and fall victims can satisfy this standard, they can move forward with trying to prove their damages.

Understanding Damages 

Slipping and falling on someone else’s property can result in significant physical pain and financial loss for victims. These damages will include losses that are relatively simply to calculate, including:

• Medical bills;
• Lost wages and benefits; and
• Property damage.

As long as victims have access to documentation related to their diagnosis and ongoing treatment, as well as proof of the work they had to miss, they should be able to come up with a number representing their losses relatively easily. Calculating other types of losses, on the other hand, can be more complicated. Proving the kind of pain and suffering that a victim experienced, for instance, is difficult, as can be establishing the kind of toll that emotional trauma, disability, or loss of enjoyment of life took on a victim. This is where an experienced attorney can be especially helpful, as there are specific calculations that insurers and juries use when calculating these kinds of losses, known as non-economic damages.

Proving Slip and Fall Damages 

Whether attempting to establish economic or non-economic damages, a slip and fall victim will need to provide proof of those losses. This can take the form of receipts, bills, and invoices, as well as photos and videos from the scene of the accident, eyewitness and accident reports, and expert testimony. The latter could prove particularly important when trying to establish pain and suffering, emotional distress, and disability.

Schedule an Initial Consultation Today 

Call Shiver Hamilton Campbell if you need help with your slip and fall case. Our experienced Atlanta slip and fall lawyers can assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case, investigate the cause of your accident, and if possible, help you seek compensation for your medical bills and other losses. Call us at 404-593-0020 or reach out to us online to get started.

Sources:

 law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-51/chapter-3/article-1/section-51-3-1/

forbes.com/advisor/legal/personal-injury/slip-and-fall-lawsuit/