Slip and Fall Claims in Georgia  

Slip and fall claims are becoming a common occurrence in courtrooms across America.  A recent study by the National Floor Safety Institute found that over 25,000 have slip and fall accidents each day and each accident costs the insurer an average of $12,000.  The cost to defend a slip and fall lawsuit is, on average, over $50,000.  In 2009, a Georgia woman brought suit against AMC Theaters because she tripped and fell on a wet floor sign (of all things!).  In Sue Brown v. American Multi-Cinema, 679 S.E.2d 25 (Ga. 2009), the Georgia Supreme Court found it to be a jury issue as to whether the wet floor sign was like any other potentially hazardous object on the floor in a commercial establishment.  Slip and fall claims are becoming a large section of work for premises liability attorneys. 

This research guide explores various sources of information relevant to slip and fall claims in Georgia.  Both residential and commercial landowners are addressed by the cases and sources in this research guide.  Under the Primary Sources tab, the reader will find the main sources of statutory guidance in Georgia.  The guide also lists cases and each case's holding organized by status of the Plaintiff (licensee, invitee or trespasser).  The Secondary Sources page includes treatises specific to Georgia law and treatises that cover all jurisdictions of slip and fall cases.  Also listed under this tab are law journal articles, Restatements. annotations from the American Law Reports and legal encyclopedia entries.  Finally, the Interest Groups, Blogs, etc. tab includes two groups in Georgia that strive to advance plaintiffs and defense interests.  Each group provides its members with information in various areas of the law, including premises liability.  This tab also includes other sources of internet research, including blogs by various Georgia attorneys.

Elizabeth Bentley is a part-time student enrolled in Georgia State University College of Law.  Prior to attending law school, she obtained a political science degree, cum laude, from Georgia State University.  She has also been Office Coordinator of Henning Mediation & Arbitration since 2006.  Henning Mediation & Arbitration pioneered the art of dispute resolution in the southeast and settles billions of dollars in claims each year.  One of the most common types of claims in Henning's office is slip and fall claims.  Also, over the summer, Mrs. Bentley clerked with an insurance defense firm handling a large amount of premises liability claims.