What can be considered negligence per se in Georgia?

Negligence per se in Georgia arises when a statute or regulation is violated, and that violation leads to harm that the statute was designed to prevent. In this framework, the violation of statutory traffic laws is a clear example because these laws are intended to protect the safety of individuals on the road. When someone breaks these laws, such as running a red light or speeding, they can be deemed negligent per se if their actions result in injury or damage. The rationale is that the law exists to prevent specific harms, and failing to adhere to it directly correlates with the risk that the law aims to mitigate.

On the other hand, while not following standard safety practices, failing to meet industry safety regulations, and ignoring local building codes may also indicate negligence, they do not inherently qualify as negligence per se unless there is a specific statute directly applicable that establishes legal standards meant to prevent harm. Therefore, while those options could contribute to a broader negligence claim, they do not achieve the same clear-cut status as the violation of statutory traffic laws, which is directly tied to established legal standards meant to protect public safety.