As many Georgia residents unfortunately have found out, arguments that start out in a bar can quickly escalate from somewhat minor disagreements into violent fights. Although the perpetrator is often the recipient of criminal charges, the criminal justice system will not be able to bring much to the victim of the assault other than some degree of satisfaction. These victims often require extensive medical care and treatment, and in many cases, they might not be able to return to employment for prolonged periods, with the resulting wage loss worsening their financial condition.
If this has happened to you, you might want to know that bar owners have a legal duty under Georgia state law to make sure that their premises are reasonably safe for their guests. This duty not only covers the requirement to correct dangerous conditions such as slippery floors but also to ensure that the customers are safe.
This area of the law is known as premises liability. As an example, bar owners might be held financially responsible for an innocent patron’s medical expenses and other losses if they served alcohol to another patron who showed obvious signs of intoxication. If the owners had previous incidents of fights in their establishment but failed to hire appropriate security, a court might find them responsible as well.
At our law firm, we have extensive experience in helping assault victims like you recover appropriate compensation for your losses. You should know, however, that you will likely not prevail if you participated in the fight, even if you were acting in self-defense. If you would like more information about the services that we offer, you are invited to visit our page on the subject.