A slip-and-fall or unsafe property condition can cause serious injuries in an instant. What follows is often more complicated than the incident itself. Property owners and their insurers move quickly to document the scene from their perspective, minimize legal exposure, and build defenses before an injured person has had a chance to speak with an attorney.
Childs & Curreli Trial Attorneys represent individuals across Middle Georgia who have been hurt on someone else's property. Wes Childs and Christy Curreli spent more than a decade defending insurance companies in civil litigation, including property liability claims. That background provides direct insight into how these cases are evaluated, contested, and resolved.
That experience shapes how every premises liability case is prepared from the outset.
Premises liability cases are often harder to resolve than other injury claims. Property owners and their insurers routinely argue that the hazard was open and obvious, that the injured person was not paying attention, or that the owner had no prior knowledge of the dangerous condition.
Years spent on the defense side provided our lawyers with firsthand knowledge of:
Preparation built on that knowledge can change how a claim is evaluated before it ever reaches a courtroom.
Childs & Curreli is intentionally structured as a small firm. Clients are not passed through intake staff or case managers while waiting to speak with an attorney.
When you hire the firm after a premises liability injury:
Once representation begins, the property owner's insurer is directed to communicate with the firm. That shift removes pressure from you while your legal team manages the claim.
Every client has different priorities. Some want an efficient resolution if a fair offer is available. Others are prepared to pursue litigation if the insurer refuses to take responsibility. Wes Childs and Christy Curreli discuss those options early and build a strategy around your goals and the specific facts of the case.
In premises liability cases, early action matters. Conditions change. Surveillance footage is recorded over. The property owner prepares incident reports without the injured person's input. Witnesses move on.
After representation begins, the firm promptly requests incident reports, identifies surveillance systems, and documents the physical conditions that caused the injury. Medical records and billing are requested as treatment begins. Clients can send photographs of the scene, the hazard, and visible injuries by text for direct upload into the case file.
Organized documentation from the outset gives the claim a factual foundation that the defense cannot easily walk back.
The central question in most premises liability cases is whether the property owner knew, or should have known, about the dangerous condition and failed to address it. Establishing that requires evidence beyond the incident itself.
The firm investigates prior complaints, maintenance records, inspection logs, and the history of the specific hazard, when available. Because both attorneys spent years reviewing these records from the defense side, they understand what documentation creates exposure for property owners and what gaps the defense will try to exploit.
When treatment reaches a stable point and the scope of injury is clear, a structured demand package is prepared. It includes certified medical records, documentation of lost income when applicable, and a clear presentation of liability, including notice, the condition, and the impact on the client.
Premises liability claims often require more detailed liability analysis than straightforward auto cases. The demand reflects that. Because both attorneys understand how insurance companies evaluate property claims, the presentation is organized to address the factors adjusters use when assigning real settlement authority.
If the offer reflects the documented harm and aligns with your goals, the resolution makes sense. If it does not, you receive a direct explanation of your options and the practical realities of proceeding.
Our attorneys have real courtroom experience and understand how the defense prepares its side of a premises liability case. If litigation serves your long-term interests, the firm files suit and guides you through each stage of the process.
You are kept informed about what is happening, why it matters, and what to expect next. The same attorneys who accepted your case remain involved throughout. Preparation from the start reflects trial standards, so escalation does not require rebuilding the claim's foundation.
Property owners in Georgia have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions for lawful visitors. Injuries often occur when that duty is not met.
The firm handles premises liability claims arising from:
If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, a direct conversation with an attorney can quickly clarify your options.
Premises liability cases are not always straightforward. Questions of notice, fault allocation, and the severity of injury can all affect value and strategy. Georgia's modified comparative negligence standard means that a finding of partial fault on the part of the injured person can reduce recovery, and the defense will often push hard to assign that fault.
Wes Childs and Christy Curreli provide candid assessments of what the evidence supports, where challenges exist, and what realistic outcomes look like. If a case is strong, they will explain why. If complications are present, those are discussed openly alongside available options.
That straightforward approach reflects how they built this firm: deliberate preparation, honest counsel, and strategy shaped by your goals.
If you were injured on someone else's property and want direct access to attorneys who understand how property owners and insurers defend these claims, Childs & Curreli Trial Attorneys is ready to listen.
Share what outcome matters most to you. The firm will outline the path forward and provide a clear assessment of what pursuing your claim entails.
Report the incident to the property owner or manager before leaving if at all possible, and request a copy of any incident report that is filed. Document the scene with photographs, including the specific hazard, any warning signs or lack thereof, and your injuries. Seek medical attention promptly, even if the injury seems minor. Then contact an attorney. The steps taken in the hours and days after an incident can significantly affect the strength of a claim.
Open and obvious is one of the most common defenses raised in Georgia premises liability cases. The property owner argues that the dangerous condition was visible and apparent, and that a reasonable person would have noticed and avoided it. Whether that defense succeeds depends on the specific circumstances, including the nature of the hazard, the lighting conditions, and what the injured person was reasonably expected to see. An experienced attorney can evaluate how strong that argument is likely to be in your specific situation.
It may affect recovery, but it does not necessarily eliminate it. Under Georgia's modified comparative negligence rule, you can still recover damages as long as you are found to be less than 50 percent at fault. Your recovery is reduced proportionally by your percentage of fault. The defense will often push to assign as much fault as possible to the injured person, which is why the way liability is documented and presented from the beginning matters.
That is a standard defense argument, and it is not automatically decisive. Georgia law holds property owners responsible when they knew about a dangerous condition and failed to correct it, but also when they should have known about it through reasonable inspection and maintenance practices. The firm investigates maintenance records, prior complaints, and inspection history to build a record around what the owner knew or should have known.
In most cases, Georgia's statute of limitations for personal injury claims gives you two years from the date of the injury to file suit. However, claims involving government-owned property, such as a public building or municipality-maintained sidewalk, may have significantly shorter notice requirements. Contacting an attorney as soon as possible protects both the evidence and your legal options.
Yes. The firm handles premises liability matters throughout Middle Georgia and statewide. If you were injured at a retail store, apartment complex, restaurant, or other commercial property anywhere in the region, the firm is equipped to manage the claim.
