Video Library

Categories: Premises Liability

11.28.18

FAQ: Who will pay my medical bills if I slip and fall in a grocery store?

If you’ve been injured in a slip-and-fall accident in a grocery store, you may be wondering how you’ll pay your medical bills and other damages. In this video, premises liability attorney Darl Champion discusses some of the factors that can impact your case. If you have more questions about slip-and-fall claims in Georgia, please don’t hesitate to contact us today at 404-596-8044.

Categories: Premises Liability

08.13.18

Georgia Premises Liability Claims

Premises Liability Claims

Premises liability claims are some of the toughest claims to prove, and there are a number of reasons for that. If somebody has been rear-ended and they come to hire us, I can generally tell if that person who rear-ended my client is at fault. But if I have someone who falls at a store, I don’t know if the store is at fault right away. Sometimes I do know, but Georgia law requires that we show the owner or occupier of the property had superior knowledge of the dangerous condition. If our client knew about the dangerous condition but still fell, we can’t recover. Or if we are unable to show that the store owner, the occupier of the land, whoever it is, if we can’t show that they knew or should have known of that dangerous condition, we can’t recover. Without the benefit of a lawsuit and doing discovery and taking depositions and finding witnesses, a lot of times you don’t know if you have the evidence or are going to be able to find the evidence to prove a premises liability claim. That is one of the reasons why we have a high standard for taking premises liability cases.

Generally if somebody doesn’t have a broken bone or something that is going to require surgery or at least something with significant medical treatment and bills, it’s probably not a case worth pursuing because what can frequently happen is those claims will be more time consuming and take more money to prove than we can actually get for our clients if they have a very minor injury.

Categories: Premises Liability

08.13.18

Here what Sue had to say about her experience with Champion Firm.

Hear About Sue’s Experience With Champion Firm

I was at a hotel and I fell. There was slippery paint on a concrete patio area. A colleague of mine had a relative who had a similar accident and she spoke with me about seeing an attorney. She recommended Darl Champion to me. The accident did require me to go to the hospital. I wasn’t able to walk. I went by ambulance. It required surgery which left me unable to walk for a while. I was out of work for almost six months. I had physical therapy at home to help me learn to walk to bear weight. My patella was shattered too much for doctors to simply repair it. A significant portion had to be removed. I then had physical therapy when I was able to drive.

I didn’t think of calling the insurance company first thing. The first call I wanted to make was to my employer because I wasn’t going to be able to come back due to my injury. My main issue was dealing with surgery and focusing on being able to walk again. It did not occur to me to call an insurance company. It did not occur to me to call an attorney either. I’m a baby boomer so I don’t know if it’s my generation, my age, or my own value system but it wasn’t something that came across my mind until the colleague recommended that I talk with someone.

I went to Darl’s website and filled out a questionnaire. What impressed me initially was when they emailed me different questions to answer. It was kind of a back and forth chat conversation. I was really appreciative of the responses from the person I was emailing. When I met Darl, I was very impressed. I found him to be very kind and very professional. I could tell that he was knowledgeable. After meeting with him, I felt very good about the things he had said and the way that he came across. I was very impressed because within just a couple days he had gone out to the property and got back to me very quickly saying that he would take my case.

We were able to settle our case with the company. I found that the more I spoke with the Darl the more I saw how much integrity he had. I was able to relate to him. I really like his support staff. I felt they were very professional and they were also very kind. I thought the entire process took a very reasonable period of time.

For me that personal relationship is really important, that I kind of click with somebody and feel good about them because as I mentioned I didn’t take this lightly. I felt that connection with everyone, from Darl and the rest of his support staff. I really wanted something that would be fair to me, fair to Darl, and fair to the company where I fell. I didn’t want to take advantage of people but I realized over time that I was going to have to physical issues that were going to be life-long, so I wanted it to be fair all around and I feel like it was.

Darl also impressed me because he gave me choices. Had I told him that I wanted to continue the lawsuit and go to court, he would have done that. He listened to me and my wishes. I believe that he thought that we did well and that it was a very reasonable and fair outcome.

I absolutely would recommend The Champion Firm. I will say when I first came here that Darl is much more experienced than he appears. He looks very young, but he is very experienced and very knowledgeable. I would absolutely recommend him without hesitation.