Slip and Fall

Address: 531 Roselane St NW, Suite 200A, Marietta, GA, 30060, US
Telephone: (770) 422-8840

Premises Liability and Keeping Your Property Safe

A man stands on the front steps of a building in disrepair which suggests a potential premises liability. — A man stands on the front steps of a building in disrepair.

Any personal injury which occurs because of unsafe or defective conditions on someone’s property falls under premises law. Most people think of these injuries happening at a business, but a person’s home falls under this category as well. If you experience an injury in someone’s home because they fail to address obvious issues, you may have a case against them.

Georgia Law

An old, abandoned factory building with broken windows.

In order to bring a premises liability case against an individual or business you must be able to demonstrate negligence. This means the owner has not used reasonable care to maintain the property.

Unsafe conditions don’t automatically lead to a successful lawsuit. The owner must be fully aware there was an unsafe condition and ignore it. Establishing negligence can be tricky in some cases. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you review the situation and evaluate whether or not there’s a viable case.

In Georgia, the ability to file a personal injury lawsuit of this kind typically only extends to people deemed invitees. These are individuals lawfully allowed to come into the business or be on the property.

Examples are students on the campus of the university they’re attending, tenants within the apartment building where they’re leasing, patrons out shopping in a store or eating at a restaurant. If an injury occurs while you’re illegally on a property, you cannot typically recover for your injuries.

Common types of injuries

A man with an injured and bandaged arm gives a thumbs up.

According to the National Safety Council, falls are the top nonfatal injury in the U.S. They make up 31% of the total nonfatal injuries. Falls are also the third most common injury type that leads to death. Unsafe conditions in the home or a business can often cause trips, slips, or falls. This is why it’s essential to address potentially dangerous conditions as soon as you’re aware of them. Other examples of situations that can lead to personal injury where you may have a case include:

Defective conditions
Improper or insufficient equipment maintenance
Faulty or poorly maintained wiring
Poor safety precautions when working with toxic fumes or chemicals
Plumbing malfunctions

You may even have a case should a personal injury occur as a result of inadequate building security. This can lead to someone accessing the premises and harming you.

Keep your home safe

An old, teal wooden double door and gray concrete wall suggests an abandoned building with a potential premises liability inside. — This old double door suggests an abandoned building with a potential premises liability inside.

In addition to watching out for possible dangers when you're out, it’s important you keep your home safe for others. Maintain the interior of your home, but also make sure all outside stairs, ramps, and even the driveway are properly maintained. These areas are common spots for falls to occur. Your lawn and any undeveloped land on your property should also be kept safe. Other tips for decreasing the risk injury at home include:

Utilizing proper security devices such as exterior cameras or an alarm system
Addressing issues within the home related to plumbing and wiring
Installing safety devices throughout the home such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, or CO2 detectors
Securing all wall hangings and items on shelves
Making sure sidewalks and stairs are in good repair and free of debris
Ensuring children are always adequately supervised
Gating dangerous areas on your property such as swimming pools

Know when to contact an attorney

While you may be attentive in keeping your home safe, others might not be as careful. Should you experience an injury while on someone else’s property, it’s important to reach out to an experienced lawyer to evaluate the situation effectively.

The knowledgeable legal team at The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm can help carefully review your case and provide options for you to achieve the best outcome possible. The initial consultation is free, so schedule an appointment today.

4 Reasons Why You Need a Lawyer Now

A lawyer in a blue suit stands in front of a staircase. — A good lawyer can help you avoid a bad lawsuit.

It’s not always obvious when a situation calls for the expertise of a lawyer. You could find yourself involved in something that seems so straightforward that it doesn’t occur you to enlist outside help. However, when it comes to things like your physical well-being and personal property, it’s often best to err on the side of caution and consult with an attorney.

Lawyers can help in ways you might not have considered

Most people think of a lawyer, standing in a courtroom, arguing a case, and while that happens, there’s a lot an experienced attorney can do for you outside of the courthouse. The knowledge they have that directly relates to your specific situation can be invaluable in establishing the validity of your case, the compensation you deserve, and the strategy to reach the best possible outcome. They can also:

Help you collect evidence to make your case
Coach you through a conversation with an insurance company to protect your best interests
Conduct an independent evaluation of your case to help establish fault
Guide you through the legal process to ensure you take all the proper steps for proceedings
Serve as your advocate

Having a dedicated attorney on your side when facing situations like personal injury, car accidents, DUI offenses, and even traffic tickets can positively impact the outcome of your case and help you reach the best outcome possible.

Personal Injury

Suffering a personal injury can result in physical, emotional, or mental issues that can lead to costly medical expenses. Some injuries can take a prolonged amount of time to heal, causing you to lose income from missing work in addition to paying extra bills. If your personal injury was caused by the negligence of another, you’re entitled to receive compensation. Some examples of personal injury cases include injuries sustained in a car or motorcycle accident, dog bites, medical malpractice, slips or falls, product liability, and wrongful death.

There are three main requirements to establish a personal injury case.

Did you suffer more than just property damage in the situation?
Was the injury caused because of the negligence of another person or entity?
Are there recoverable damages?

In some situations, negligence can be difficult to establish, but a personal injury attorney can help you navigate the process of compiling your case.

Car Accident

Whenever a car accident involves physical injury, fatality, or significant property damage, a lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve to cover your losses. The key is to contact an attorney early so they can help you through the process from the start. When insurance companies are asking you to provide a statement and medical costs and car repairs begin taking place is an important time to have the knowledge of an experienced attorney behind you, protecting your interests and helping you assess the full damage of the accident so you can be properly compensated.

DUI Defense

After you’ve been charged with a DUI, it’s imperative you engage a lawyer who can act quickly on your behalf. This can help save your license, if it’s at risk of suspension, as well as jumpstart the process of collecting evidence to use in your defense. Even if you’ve been charged, there’s no guarantee you’ll be convicted as guilty, so there’s still time to fight with the help of a DUI defense lawyer.

Georgia DUI laws are intricate, with established parameters for fines, license revocation, jail time, fees, and probation costs. With a clear understanding of all these details, a DUI lawyer knows when to challenge the validity of a DUI charge, working toward the ultimate goal of ensuring your rights are protected and the best possible outcome is obtained.

Traffic Tickets

Getting a ticket for speeding or something non-accident related doesn’t mean you simply have to pay. Working with an attorney in situations like these can provide you with a better understanding of the possible solutions to your case and the best course of action to take. You don’t have to navigate the system alone, lose when a violation could result in more than just a fine.

The added protection of an attorney can help prevent you from dealing with increased insurance rates, jail time, or a license suspension. Even if you feel as if the ticket is very cut-and-dry, lean on the expertise of an attorney to ensure you’re handling things in a way to reach the best conclusion for you.

Partner with the right law firm to get results

Scrabble tiles in a line spelling "laywer." — It's easier to win if you line things up in your favor.

Whichever situation you find yourself involved in, the first thing to do is not panic. The second thing? Contact a lawyer specializing in cases like yours.

At The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm, each of these practice areas is addressed by an accomplished attorney who will treat your case with care and respect. Through personal attention and a wealth of knowledge, our law team works to get you the best results possible for your case.

Avoiding Injuries in Snow and Ice

A snowflake closeup amidst snow and ice — A snowflake amidst snow and ice.

Winter weather brings on unpredictable conditions, especially here in Georgia where black ice and dangerous conditions can linger long after the storm has passed. Walking and driving in snow and ice can be especially dangerous here in Atlanta where winter weather is an infrequent visitor. People are often unprepared to handle these conditions or are unsure how to react when forced to get around in these conditions.

Using some basic knowledge when navigating through wintery weather like taking extra care when walking or driving in snow or ice can help prevent injuries that result from car accidents or slips and falls.

If you’re walking

Snow and ice in Chinatown, New York during Christmas.

Slipping and falling on ice can be scary. You usually go down so fast you don’t have time to protect yourself from injury. Even if you manage to catch yourself from falling, a slip can lead to muscle strain or other personal injury.

Ice is a tricky thing too since it can appear overnight and then take a while to melt. It’s something to always be on the lookout for in wet, freezing conditions since it can be hard to see both during the day and at night. What you think is a pool of water could actually be a solid sheet of ice, so it’s always a good idea to step carefully.

To avoid slipping on ice:

Wear footwear designed for icy or snowy conditions.
Take shorter steps.
Walk slowly.
Exhibit extra care when getting out of a vehicle.
Don’t carry stuff. Your arms can help stabilize you if you start to slip.

You should also keep your home safe in wintry conditions to ensure others don’t slip and fall. Make sure to sand or apply de-icer to any slick areas like your driveway or front porch. Take extra care in clearing walkways for the safety of yourself and others. Place a towel or doormat down inside your front door so that puddles don’t collect from the ice and snow melting off shoes.

If you’re driving

An overhead view of a winding road in the middle of snow and ice — A winding road in Mount Saint Helens in the middle of snow and ice

According to the Federal Highway Administration, over a 10 year period, snow and sleet on the roads, across the country, injured almost 55,000 people and resulted in almost 220,000 car crashes. Driving in wintery weather is dangerous and should be avoided when possible. Conditions you may face driving in winter include roads that are wet, icy, or even coated in snow and ice. Sleet and slush also settle on roads, making driving conditions challenging. This pileup of precipitation can make it difficult to see what you’re really driving on. A sheet of ice could hide under newly-fallen snow, making it easier to lose control of your car and cause an accident if you’re not careful.

While you can’t prevent all slips and slides while driving in snowy or icy conditions, there are steps you can take to decrease the risk of a collision:
Keep a snow brush in your car to clear it of snow and ice.
Drive slower so you’re able to fully stop on slicker roads.
Don’t tailgate. Keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you.
If you skid, remove your foot from the gas, don’t break, and run the wheel in the direction you want to go until your tires regain traction.

While you might not need to use these strategies too often in Atlanta, the inexperience of local drivers in winter weather means you should take all precautions to decrease your risk of an accident or injury.

What to do if you're injured this winter

Should you sustain an injury or end up in a car accident related to winter weather, you don’t have to deal with the aftermath alone. Working with the experienced team at The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm means an attorney, well-versed in personal injury law, will guide you through getting the compensation you deserve.

Whether negligence at a place of business led to your injury or wintery weather led to a collision with another car, we will thoroughly evaluate your case before recommending the proper course of action to ensure your needs are covered. There’s no cost for an initial consultation, so give us a call today.

9 Reasons You Need A Personal Injury Law Firm

If you’ve never been in a serious accident it can be easy to say you don’t need a personal injury lawyer, but when the smoke clears and you wake up in a hospital bed with serious injuries, the last thing on your mind should be getting all of the paperwork in order for your personal injury claim. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation is that after an accident, no one is on your side. That’s not exactly a comforting thought when you’re overwhelmed with hospital bills and the burden of recovery. There are plenty of reasons to hire a personal injury attorney to handle your Marietta car accident and here is a list of nine:

1. Experience: A personal injury lawyer has gone through the process before. They have likely been part of cases that were similar to yours and can use that experience to influence the decision making process in your case. There will be many decisions for you to make, and the more experienced your lawyer is, the easier it will be for you to make educated decisions in your case.

2. Attention to Detail: A personal injury firm is less likely to overlook details in any contracts or settlements because they understand fully what every part of the contract means. They will be able to catch any parts of a contract that aren’t in your favor and negotiate for better terms.

3. Complicated: The legal process is long and complicated. An attorney will know the ins and outs and will know what to expect and how best to prepare. There are plenty of deadlines to keep track of and a ton of paperwork. An experienced personal injury attorney will know the entire process and be able to plan for all of the steps.

4. Impartial: Your personal injury attorney will not be as emotionally invested as you are in your case. Emotions tend to cloud a person’s judgement and can lead to mistakes. Having a personal injury attorney allows you to trust an impartial party who will not be making decisions based on anger or any other emotion.

5. Alternatives: Not all personal injury cases require a long drawn out battle with insurance companies. Your lawyer will understand all of the alternatives available to you and will be able to advise you on when these alternatives are best.

6. Insider Insights: Insurance companies on the other side of the table will have lawyers, so hiring your own lawyer will ensure you understand what is going on and what tactics they might use to try to deny you your rights. Your attorney will also know when they are offering you the highest settlement you are likely to get, which will help you respond accordingly.

7. Insurance Companies: A personal injury attorney has worked with insurance companies before. They will understand what needs to happen in order to protect your rights.

8. Reputation: Hiring a well known personal injury attorney that is known for winning cases could prompt an insurance company to settle much earlier and for much more money than they typically would.

9. Time: When you’ve been injured, you need time to recover without worrying about all the documents and deadlines that will be coming up. It is important that you have help with all of the paperwork so that you can recover as best as you can.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Cobb County car accident, call Atlanta personal injury lawyers at The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm at (770) 422-8840.

Personal Injury: Slip and Fall

According to the National Floor Safety Institute, “Slips and falls account for over 1 million visits, or 12% of total falls,” to the emergency room. If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip or fall, it is important to be as educated as possible to ensure you make the right decisions in the following months. In most slip and fall cases, an insurance company conducts an investigation. These investigations are sometimes done in as little as 24 hours from the fall. That doesn’t leave you with much time to understand the full extent of your injuries or the full extent of your entitlement. Insurance companies will often offer settlements outside of court that can be tempting to take, but it is smarter to discuss your case with an accident attorney before considering a settlement.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall, it is important to understand the full extent of your injuries. A person is not likely to heal in one night, and their injuries may not be fully apparent right away. Injuries can worsen, or require surgery months later. Most slip and fall injuries result in a loss of days or weeks of work. It is important to consider this when looking into a settlement. In short, an experienced lawyer will make sure you are protected and compensated.

In order to find fault in a slip and fall case, certain conditions must be met. First, it is important to know whether the owner of the property was aware of the unsafe conditions and when they were brought to their attention. If, for instance, the unsafe conditions have been present for quite some time and nothing was done to fix them, it may be easier to plead your case. It is important to consider whether or not the claimant was authorized to be on the property or had reason to be in the area that is considered to be unsafe. Also to be considered is whether the claimant was being reckless in dealing with the dangerous situation. These are important situations to consider when deciding liability.

Many factors come into play when discussing a personal injury lawsuit, and slip and fall cases are no different. The circumstances in your case may seem simple, but it is important to understand where your injury happened. Did your injury take place on government property or private property? This simple question may change how you approach your case, what the statute of limitations for filing is, and how much you are able to be awarded. This is yet another reason it is helpful to have an experienced lawyer by your side.

Slip and fall accidents can be devastating and should be avoided at all costs. The National Safety council has released a fact sheet to prevent slips and falls and it can be found here. If, however, it is too late for you and you have been injured, make sure to do the most intelligent thing you can. In Atlanta, attorneys at The Patterson Law Firm can help you understand your case. If you or a loved one has been injured by a slip and fall, call The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm at 770-422-8840.