Were You Injured In A Physical Assault At A Shopping Mall?
Shopping is one of America’s favorite pastimes. Many people even see shopping as a form of retail therapy. However, it’s far from a relaxing experience if you happen to be assaulted while you shop. Unfortunately, physical assaults are not uncommon in shopping malls and their parking lots. Physical assaults that occur in shopping malls are likely to happen in the course of robberies, pick-pocketing, and disputes over parking or fender-benders. If you have been injured in a physical assault of this kind, you may be relieved to know that there are legal options available to you. In addition to suing the individual who actually harmed you, you may also be able to hold the mall liable for negligent security. The information in this article is fairly general, but if you would like specific feedback on your claim you are encouraged to contact a skilled Alpharetta personal injury attorney today.
When Can You Sue a Mall for Your Injury?
Malls are not responsible for every kind of injury that happens inside of them. Additionally, they will do everything that they can to avoid liability for a physical assault by pushing the onus onto the party who committed it. However, there is legal precedent to suggest that in some situations the mall can be held liable. The primary situation where this occurs is when the mall failed to provide adequate security or when they had knowledge of similar assaults or risks and did not take action to remedy it. If the specific incident should have been foreseeable to the mall or security officer then they can be held liable for failing to prevent it. It’s similar to when a property owner has knowledge of a hazard on their property, they become responsible for taking reasonable care to either warn guests or remedy the issue. For this reason, in order to bring a successful lawsuit, you must be able to show that the kind of harm that you suffered was or should have been reasonably foreseeable to the mall and that they failed to act with reasonable care. You must then be able to show that their negligence was the direct cause of the harm that you suffered and that you incurred damages as a result. The best way to prove foreseeability is by gathering evidence of similar past incidents and their knowledge of it. A lawyer can help you to prepare the best possible case.
Schedule a Consultation with Hawkins Spizman Trial Lawyers
If you have been injured at a shopping mall in Atlanta, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Cobb County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, or the greater Georgia area, and you believe the mall may be culpable for your injuries, Hawkins Spizman Trial Lawyers can help. Our lawyers will assess the facts of your case to determine all liable parties and help you select the best avenue for recovery. Contact our Georgia personal injury lawyers today to schedule your free, personalized consultation.
