In our previous blog, we discussed the rights that a tenant has if injured in an apartment complex shooting where the apartment complex and/or its management knows about the existence of previous violent crime at the apartment complex.  This blog focuses on the rights of someone who is visiting the apartment complex based on the consent of a tenant.  For instance, John Doe resident invites his brother from North Carolina to visit for the weekend.  During the visit, John Doe Brother is injured as a result of a shooting in the parking lot of ABC Apartment Complex.  Does John Doe Brother have the right to be compensated for his personal injuries in Georgia?

In Georgia, a landowner has a duty to exercise ordinary care to protect social guests from known dangers upon his/her premises.  That is because social guests are considered invitees of the apartment complex as to the common areas of the apartment complex (I,e parking lot, pool-during authorized pool hours) Georgia courts have determined that this means social guests are afforded the same legal rights as a tenant, as to the common areas of the apartment complex, like parking lots.   Thus, in our example above John Doe Brother could absolutely be entitled to compensation for his injuries as a result of the apartment complex shooting.  If John Doe Brother becomes deceased as a result of the shooting, then John Doe Brother's estate could sue the apartment complex for wrongful death, much like the tenant in the most recent blog.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a shooting or other violent criminal activity at an apartment complex in Georgia, give us a call or email us for a free evaluation of your case.  Or if you just want to simply leave us a question for a better understanding of what rights tenants have to be protected from criminal conduct at apartment complexes in Georgia, email us at the Lawson Law Firm at [email protected].