Standard Of Care

The standard of care changes based on the situation and how an injury or accident occurred. Someone is negligent in the context of personal injury law if they did something to cause harm to another person or failed to take reasonable precautions to prevent harm. If the defendant’s carelessness caused the victim’s injuries, the defendant must pay for the victim’s losses.

Some instances in which a standard of care was not reached and the victim may demand monetary compensation include:

Medical Malpractice

A healthcare provider has breached their duty of care and may be held accountable for harm to patients if their treatment falls below an established minimum standard of care. Due to the gravity of their responsibility, healthcare providers and specialists are held to a far higher standard than the general public.

Car Accidents

All drivers in Georgia are responsible for using caution around others, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. The driver has a responsibility to other motorists not to do any harm. Not meeting the required standard of care on the road can include things like texting while driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or driving without auto insurance. If any of the aforementioned activities causes an accident that results in injuries to other drivers, the motorist will be held legally responsible for any damages.

Dog Bites

Owners must keep their dogs under control, especially if the dog has a history of aggression. Dog owners typically bear legal responsibility for injuries caused by their pets.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Property owners are obligated to take reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of their patrons at all times. For example, if there’s a spill on the floor, it should be cleaned up quickly, or if broken stairs need to be fixed, the building owner should post a warning. 

If someone gets hurt due to an owner’s negligence, they may be able to hold the owner financially accountable.