Childers & McCain, Macon, Georgia
Premises & Product Cases
Georgia attorneys representing people seriously injured by negligent property owners and defective products.
When a property owner's negligence or a defective product causes serious harm, the injured person has the right to pursue full compensation — from the party responsible, and through all available legal theories. As premises liability lawyers serving Macon and all of Georgia, Childers & McCain handles these cases with the same trial preparation the firm brings to its trucking and catastrophic injury practice. The standard of investigation does not change based on how the injury happened.
What Georgia's 2025 Tort Reform Changed for Premises Cases
Georgia's Senate Bill 68, signed April 21, 2025, made a significant change to negligent security claims in the state. Under the prior standard, plaintiffs could establish a property owner's liability for criminal acts on their premises using general evidence of crime in the surrounding area — neighborhood crime statistics, prior incidents at nearby properties, and similar evidence. SB 68 raised that standard.
Under the new law, plaintiffs pursuing a negligent security claim must show the property owner had actual, specific prior knowledge of a likely criminal act on the premises — not just general awareness of crime in the area. For incidents occurring after April 21, 2025, this change directly affects case strategy.
What SB 68 does not change is the underlying obligation of property owners to maintain safe premises. Slip and fall cases, dangerous condition claims, and other premises liability theories operate under a different legal framework and are not governed by the negligent security standard. For cases that may involve negligent security, the right approach is working with an attorney who understands which legal theory applies to the specific facts — and how to build a viable case under the current standard.
Premises & Product Cases the Firm Handles
Trust Administration
Supporting trustees as they manage and distribute assets according to a trust. We provide step-by-step guidance to meet legal duties and avoid common mistakes.
Slip and Fall
Property owners and occupiers in Georgia have a legal obligation to maintain reasonably safe premises for people lawfully on the property. When a dangerous condition causes a fall and the owner knew — or should have known — about that condition, they can be held liable for the resulting harm.
Premises Liability
Premises liability covers a broader range of property-owner negligence beyond slip and fall: inadequate lighting, structural failures, poorly maintained walkways, and other dangerous conditions that cause serious injury to lawful visitors.
Dog Bite Injuries
Georgia's dog bite law holds owners liable when their dog injures someone and the owner had prior knowledge of the animal's dangerous tendencies. Serious dog bite injuries — particularly those involving children — can produce lasting physical and psychological harm that warrants full compensation.
Defective Products
When a product causes serious injury because of a design flaw, manufacturing defect, or inadequate warning, the manufacturer, distributor, and retailer can each carry liability. Product liability cases often require expert testimony and detailed technical investigation to establish the defect and trace it through the supply chain.
Dangerous Drugs
Pharmaceutical products that cause serious harm through inadequate testing, undisclosed risks, or manufacturing failures may give rise to individual claims and, in some cases, mass tort litigation. Childers & McCain evaluates dangerous drug cases for clients seriously injured by medications that failed to meet the standard of care.
Talk to an Attorney Directly
Childers & McCain offers free consultations for truck accident, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and serious personal injury cases across Georgia. Call or submit a contact form and an attorney will follow up directly.
Common Questions
About Premises and Product Cases in Georgia
Can I sue a business if I was injured on their property in Georgia?
Yes, if the business owned or controlled the property and its negligence caused the condition that injured you. Georgia law requires property owners and occupiers to exercise ordinary care in keeping premises safe for people lawfully on them. Whether the business is liable depends on what they knew about the dangerous condition, when they knew it, and whether they took reasonable steps to correct it or warn visitors. A free consultation gives you a direct answer for your specific situation.
What is premises liability in Georgia?
Premises liability is the legal framework that holds property owners and occupiers responsible for injuries caused by unsafe conditions on their property. It covers slip and fall incidents, structural failures, inadequate lighting, and other hazards that injure lawful visitors. The legal standard in Georgia requires showing that the property owner had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition and failed to address it — and that the injured person did not have equal knowledge of the hazard.
How did Georgia's 2025 tort reform affect premises liability cases?
SB 68 significantly changed the standard for negligent security claims specifically — cases where a criminal act on someone's property caused harm to a visitor. The new standard requires plaintiffs to show the property owner had actual, specific knowledge of a likely criminal act, rather than general awareness of crime in the area. For standard premises liability cases — slip and fall, dangerous conditions, structural failures — the legal framework is governed by a different set of statutes and is not directly affected by the same change. An attorney who understands which theory applies to your case is essential for cases arising after April 2025.
Do I need a lawyer for a premises or product liability case in Georgia?
Property owners, businesses, and product manufacturers carry liability insurance and typically respond to injury claims with experienced adjusters and legal teams. A free consultation costs nothing and gives you an accurate read on whether your case is viable, what it may be worth, and what the process looks like before any decisions are made.
Talk to a Georgia Premises Liability Attorney
Childers & McCain offers free consultations for premises liability, product liability, and all serious injury cases across Georgia. Call or submit a contact form — an attorney will respond directly.