Georgia premises liability rules
What a store, landlord or property owner owes you depends on why you were there.
Last updated: October 6, 2026
| Why you were there | Duty owed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Invitee: a customer or someone there on business | Ordinary care to keep the premises and approaches safe | O.C.G.A. 51-3-1 |
| Licensee: a social guest or someone there for their own purposes | Not to injure willfully or wantonly | O.C.G.A. 51-3-2 |
| Trespasser | Generally only to avoid willful or wanton injury | O.C.G.A. 51-3-3 |
Slip and fall: the knowledge test
In a fall case, the key question is usually who knew about the hazard. The injured person generally must show the owner knew or should have known about it, and that they did not know despite using ordinary care.
Store video showing the spill sat for 40 minutes while employees walked past can show the store should have known. A spill that happened seconds before the fall is much harder.
Illustration only, with made-up facts. Your case depends on its own facts.
Crimes on the property
Injuries caused by crimes (assaults, robberies, shootings) follow special negligent security rules updated in 2025. Read the negligent security page →
Free recreational land
Owners who open land to the public for free recreation get added protection under the Recreational Property Act.
Questions
How long do I have?
Generally two years from the injury for the lawsuit. Government-owned property can require notice much sooner.
What should I do right after a fall?
Report it, photograph the hazard and your shoes, get witness names, and ask that video be saved.
Official sources
Look up each section in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (free public access). Laws change; always read the current text.
Have a Georgia injury question?
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