Slip and fall accidents can be embarrassing, especially when they happen in a public place. They can also be painful and debilitating, causing lasting or permanent injuries. Falls are also responsible for about 15% of accidental deaths in the workplace and are a leading cause of injury-related deaths, hospitalizations, and ER visits for older adults in Georgia. Falls are also the number one cause of injury-related ER visits and hospitalizations for Georgia children between the ages of one and 19.

Slip and fall accidents happen for a reason. They occur when a property owner was negligent about the way they maintained their premises. The Atlanta slip and fall attorneys at Durham Law Group are skilled and experienced in premises liability claims, taking on store owners from local shops to major department store chains whose lack of oversight and attention has created a dangerous situation for customers, guests and members of the public. If you have been hurt in a slip and fall accident in an Atlanta grocery store, restaurant, retail store or other establishment, call Durham Law Group at 404-845-3434 to discuss your claim with a skilled and dedicated Atlanta slip and fall attorney.

Common Slip & Fall Accidents

The Atlanta slip and fall attorneys at Durham Law Group have decades of combined experience coming at personal injury cases from diverse backgrounds and strengths. Our team is equipped with the skills, knowledge, resources and dedication to take on the biggest property owners and the most complex cases, as well as more straightforward slip and fall accidents. Below we look at some of the kinds of slip and fall accidents and injuries that commonly occur in Atlanta grocery stores, restaurants and other establishments. If you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall accident in Atlanta, call Durham Law Group for a free consultation at 404-845-3434 to discuss your case with a skilled and experienced Atlanta slip and fall lawyer.

Types of Accidents

Slip and fall accidents happen inside and outside. They happen in grocery stores, restaurants, department stores and retail stores. They happen in bathrooms, parking lots and sidewalks. Slip and fall hazards can be found anywhere. It’s the duty of property owners and managers to regularly inspect their premises for the safety of their customers and guests. Any dangers should be promptly dealt with by cleaning up spills or making repairs, and putting up warnings until the repair is completed.

Common types of slip and fall accidents in Atlanta include:

• Slippery floor surfaces caused by food or drink or other liquid spills, freshly mopped or waxed floors, oil or grease, or rain, snow or ice swept in by the wind or tracked in by customers and employees
• Unmarked steps or ramps
• Surfaces that are uneven or change in elevation, such as floors that suddenly transition from linoleum or wood to carpet or tile
• Loose flooring
• Inadequate lighting in hallways and corridors
• Loose steps or handrails
• Missing handrails
• Merchandise, equipment, or trash in the aisles
• Electrical cords across walking paths
• Parking lot potholes
• Broken curbs
• Cracked or broken sidewalks

Contact Durham Law Group for an Atlanta slip and fall attorney today!

Types of Injuries

Soft-Tissue Injuries

Soft-tissue injuries are a common result of slip and fall accidents. According to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, a soft-tissue injury refers to damage to muscles, ligaments and tendons. Soft-tissue injuries cause painful bruising and swelling and can involve more serious injuries such as torn or detached muscles, ligaments, or tendons and stress fractures. Sprains, strains, tendonitis, bursitis and stress injuries all fall under the heading of a soft-tissue injury. Treatment for a soft-tissue injury often involves a period of rest and pain medication, followed by physical therapy. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to repair a torn muscle or detached tendon or ligament.

The term “soft-tissue injuries” might give the impression they are not very serious, but the degree of a sprain or strain can be quite severe and painful, limiting a person’s mobility and function until properly healed.

Fractures

Fractures (broken bones) are a common result of slip and fall accidents. People might try to break their fall by putting their hands out at the point of impact, which can result in a wrist fracture. Twisting one’s foot in a slip and fall or trip and fall can cause an ankle fracture. The fall itself can cause a hip fracture or vertebra fracture in the neck or back, depending on how one falls. Skull fractures are possible as well. Hip fractures and other broken bones in the frail or elderly can be especially harmful. Often it’s a fall and resulting hip fracture that sends an older person’s health into a rapid decline that they never recover from. Looking for a law firm for a slip and fall in Atlanta? Contact the best Atlanta slip and fall attorney today at Durham Law.

Head Injuries

People who hit their heads when they fall might suffer a concussion or traumatic brain injury. These injuries run from mild to severe. It’s essential to watch out for symptoms of a brain injury and obtain a prompt and accurate diagnosis. Severe and permanent brain damage can be the outcome of a head injury from a slip and fall.

Orthopedic Injuries

A slip and fall injury is often accompanied by twisting or wrenching of parts of the body or an especially hard impact on body parts and joints. Slip and fall accident victims can experience neck and shoulder injuries, back injuries, and knee injuries. Torn muscles, avulsion injuries, and fractures can all result. Treatment may require physical therapy, surgical repair, or joint replacement. Back injuries can cause or exacerbate a herniated disc, causing it to rupture. Vertebral fractures or slipped discs can also impinge on spinal nerves and lead to partial or complete paralysis, either temporarily or permanently.

Cuts and Bruises

Falling on a rough surface such as a parking lot or sidewalk is likely to induce cuts, abrasions, and contusions. Facial lacerations may create scarring and disfigurement, with lasting emotional pain and psychological trauma. Open wounds create a risk for serious infections as well, and serious bruises may be a sign of internal bleeding or organ damage. Contact the premier law firm for a slip and fall in Atlanta today. Contact Durham Law!

Slip and Falls in Atlanta Grocery Stores

Whether popping in for a loaf of bread or filling out your shopping list for the week, most of us find ourselves inside grocery stores and supermarkets more often than anywhere else outside of our homes or work. Grocery store employees and managers are more than aware of the many spills and slipping hazards that can be present in their stores. Supermarket workers are constantly working throughout the stores and moving up and down the aisles, stocking shelves and returning products that get misplaced. Given the large volume of foot traffic in a grocery store, workers should act quickly when they spot a spill and call for help (“Cleanup on aisle seven!”), put up a caution sign, and get to work making the area safe again. Failing to act promptly is negligent behavior that opens up store owners to liability for slip and fall injuries that occur.

Grocery store slip and fall hazards include:

• Liquid spills
• Spills of dry products from broken packages (pasta, rice, beans, etc.)
• Slick spots in the produce section from misters
• Puddles forming around refrigerated cases and frozen food aisles due to leaks or condensation
• Floor mats that are missing, torn, bunched up or misplaced
• Rainwater tracked in from outside

Slip and Falls in Atlanta Restaurants

Restaurants are busy, bustling places. Servers move incredibly fast to bring food and drinks to their customers, clear plates, and turn over the tables for the next diner. Bussers work just as swiftly to clear tables, wipe down surfaces, and sweep up food from the floor. In all this commotion, spilled food and beverages are a common occurrence. Restaurant workers typically have several different customers to attend to at the same time, and since they are working for tips, they can’t afford to neglect their patrons. Even so, safety needs to be a top priority for every restaurant employee. It is incumbent on any worker who causes or spots a spill to see that it is addressed as soon as possible. A worker’s neglect can mean a dangerous fall for a customer or co-worker, and expensive liability for the restaurant. If you’ve been involved in an accident like this, contact the Atlanta slip and fall lawyer today.

Slip and Falls in Atlanta Retail Stores

When you stop to think about it, department stores, big-box stores, and discount warehouses are complicated environments. Workers and customers are bustling about crowded aisles, up and down escalators, in and out of elevators, in and out the store, and into crowded parking lots teeming with cars. Keeping these stores operating safely requires supervision from the top down and vigilance from the ground up. Employees need to be always on the lookout for spills from broken product packaging or customer’s drinks they brought in. Any recently mopped, waxed or buffed floor should have conspicuous signage of a slipping hazard. After a slip and fall accident in an Atlanta retail store, we’ll bring in industry experts to review security camera footage and company logs to determine whether industry standards and best practices were met regarding periodic inspections, cleaning, and maintenance. If store employees or management were negligent, we’ll work to hold the company accountable and secure a fair amount of compensation to help the accident victims deal with their physical injuries and emotional trauma. We’ll settle your case for an appropriate amount or try your case to a jury verdict if necessary to get the best result. We’ve been doing this for Atlanta residents for years and welcome the opportunity to serve you as well.

Get the Help You Need After an Atlanta Slip and Fall Injury

Any slip and fall injury should be taken seriously. Victims should report the incident to the property owner or manager, seek immediate medical attention, and reach out to an experienced Atlanta slip and fall attorney who can evaluate whether some amount of compensation is appropriate and how best to proceed. Contact the best Atlanta slip and fall lawyer now. Call the Durham Law Group at 404-845-3434 for a no-cost, confidential consultation regarding your injury. We’ll take on the difficult task of recovering compensation on your behalf while you focus on the difficult task of getting better. Together, we’ll succeed.