What Damages Can You Claim After a Georgia Slip-and-Fall Accident?

Injuries in slip-and-fall accidents range from slight bruising to TBI and spinal cord injuries. If you or a loved one suffered injury after slipping or tripping and falling on someone else’s property, you may ask what your settlement could cover. 

A Georgia slip-and-fall attorney can estimate your case’s worth and help you calculate your damages. Depending on the severity of your injuries, settlements, and awards typically include the following. 

Common Types of Damages in Slip-and-Fall Lawsuits

Usually, settlements after slip-and-fall accidents consist of two parts: economic damages and non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. Sometimes, punitive damages may also apply to slip-and-fall cases if the negligent party acted with extreme recklessness or malice.

Economic Damages

Economic damages include all the accident-related losses you can calculate or estimate, such as:

• Current medical expenses, like hospitalization, prescription meds, follow-up appointments, and medical equipment
• Future medical expenses, including the prospective long-term care you will likely need because of your injury, like future surgeries and adaptive devices
• Lost wages if you had to take time off because of the accident
• Reduced or lost ability to work if your injuries harm your long-term employability or force you to switch to a lower-paying line of work
• Other related expenses, like traveling to and from medical appointments or hiring in-home help

Expenses you’ve already covered out of pocket are simple enough to prove by producing the relevant bills. However, prospective losses based on your medical prognosis open more room for negotiation. The insurance company may try bringing down the numbers, so you’ll need assertive legal representation from an experienced Georgia slip-and-fall attorney.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages, or pain and suffering, refer to the physical and emotional distress you suffered from the accident. These may cover anything from chronic pain and traumatic flashbacks to the discomfort of depending on others for daily tasks. 

Punitive Damages

In some cases, if you can show that the at-fault party acted with gross negligence and recklessness, a jury may also award you punitive damages. 

Economic and non-economic damages fall under the definition of compensatory damages, the chief purpose of which is providing relief to the victim or their family. In contrast, when a court awards punitive damages, they aim to punish the responsible party and discourage others from such behavior.

What You Need to Prove in a Slip-and-Fall Case

Usually, you can only sue after a slip-and-fall injury if you were on the premises lawfully as a customer, guest, or passerby. Premises liability doesn’t extend to trespassers.

Additionally, a Georgia slip-and-fall attorney will need evidence of the following to make your case:

• You suffered an injury because of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property.
• The property owner should reasonably have known of the dangerous condition but didn’t do enough to prevent harm to others.
• You suffered significant and tangible losses because of the accident.

For example, if you slip on a wet floor in a store and the owner neglects to put up a “Caution: Wet Floor” sign, the law may define this as negligence. To back your claim, you must present solid evidence, such as photos, videos, witness statements, and medical records. 

Injured in a Slip-and-Fall Accident? Call The Foster Firm

Did you suffer a slip-and-fall accident because of someone else’s negligence? Call us at The Foster Firm today. Our highly rated legal team has over 25 years of experience fighting for accident victims’ rights across Georgia. We’ll help you determine liability, prove fault, and negotiate the maximum payout.Call 866-377-2735 for a free consultation with a Georgia slip-and-fall attorney.