A property owner in Atlanta has a duty to ensure that those who visit his or her home or building will be safe from any hazardous conditions or actions that could lead to injury. As such, he or she can be found liable if an accident that could have been prevented occurs on the premises. If the property is a place of business, that liability is extended to accidents occurring not only from unsafe conditions, but also from the negligent actions of employees.
A recent lawsuit from Virginia illustrates this point. An area medical clinic was sued after clinic employees had asked an elderly woman, who at the time was confined to a wheelchair, to stand while having x-rays taken. The woman ended up falling and sustaining injuries which led to her death. The lawsuit filed by the woman’s family alleged that the employees had disregarded the normal standard of care expected for a patient in the woman’s condition, and that particular incident of negligence caused her death. A jury ultimately agreed, awarding the family $650,000 in damages after finding the clinic liable for the woman’s death.
Anyone injured as a direct result of negligence by a property owner or his or her representatives while still on his or her premises has the right to seek compensation for those injuries. A premises liability lawsuit can be a tool used in seeking that compensation. Anyone interested in pursuing such action may want to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney who knows what to expect from these types of cases.
Source: The Roanoke Times, “Family awarded $650,000 in Franklin Co. woman’s exam injury that resulted in death,” Laurence Hammack, July 25, 2013
