South Carolina Slip & Fall Lawyer
A slip and fall case is a type of personal injury claim that occurs when a company owner fails to properly maintain their property. This can be caused by a temporary substance on a floor or something more permanent, such as a crack in a business’s sidewalk. When a visitor or tenant on another person’s property has catastrophic or life-altering injuries as a result of a fall, the property owner or management business may be held liable.
The injured person and their South Carolina injury attorneys must, however, show that the property owner’s or manager’s negligence or recklessness caused them to suffer a serious harm that necessitated hospitalization or prolonged medical treatment.
Two questions must be answered in order to prove negligence or recklessness. First and foremost, you must discover what caused you to fall. The second question, which may be more difficult to answer, is how the situation that led you to fall got there and if anyone was aware of it.
The South Carolina slip & fall lawyers at Mickelsen Dalton will be able to investigate the surrounding facts for your slip and fall claim. They will likely be able to answer any ambiguous questions that will help determine liability and result in a successful claim against the responsible party. Contact our firm today to set up your free case consultation.
Why Choose Mickelsen Dalton After a South Carolina Slip and Fall Accident
Mickelsen Dalton has experience handling even the most complex slip and fall cases. We are here to provide the best representation for your claim and to get you the compensation you deserve.
The right choice is easy, choose Mickelsen Dalton to represent you in your personal injury claim.
- We offer a free consultation to discuss the security of your future.
- Our clients are the number one priority. Let us handle the legalities of the situation while you focus on healing.
- In just three years, our South Carolina slip and fall attorneys have obtained over $40 million in verdicts and settlements for clients, filed lawsuits in 10 different jurisdictions, and appeared on major national news outlets.
We will meet you at our office, at your home, at the hospital, or at any other location that is most convenient for you. After our meeting, we will begin promptly working on your case to ensure a favorable result. We strive to win.
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can happen at any time, on any person’s South Carolina property. There are many hazards that could contribute to these serious and sometimes life-threatening accidents, many of which arise because of the property owner’s negligence.
Below are just some of the factors that could lead to slip and fall accidents:
- Wet and slippery floors
- Uneven sidewalks, driveways, and pavement
- Lack of proper handrails on stairs
- Rotting or broken stairs, porches, and floors
- Cluttered walkways and aisles
- Lack of adequate lighting
- Holes and dips on the property grounds
- Loose carpeting and floorboards
Common Slip and Fall Injuries
A slip and fall accident can be very serious, leading to dangerous injuries. In many cases, victims require medical care to recover from their injuries and may develop permanent complications, including disability. Elderly people are especially at risk of serious injury following a slip and fall.
Some of the most common slip and fall injuries include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries, like concussions
- Broken bones and fractures, especially in the legs, hips, and wrists
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Soft tissue injuries that affect the tendons, ligaments, and muscles
- Severe cuts, lacerations, and abrasions
If you were involved in a slip and fall accident, it is critical to seek medical attention right away. Many of these injuries do not show symptoms at first, and it is important to receive care before they worsen and cause dangerous complications.
Why You Need a Slip and Fall Attorney
An experienced South Carolina slip and fall lawyer understands that there are a lot of gray areas in premises liability cases when it comes to what is reasonably safe and what level of care was provided to the injured person.
Slip and fall lawsuits can be difficult to win. Liability of the property owner might be disputed, establishing negligence is often difficult, and defining an owner’s duty of care can be even more complex.
Litigating slip and fall lawsuits can be difficult. Fault is not always evident, and a property owner may contest your claim, alleging that your carelessness or clumsiness was to blame for your fall. This is why hiring a South Carolina slip and fall attorney is essential—they know how to work around the intricacies of the case.
Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Happen?
Accidents involving slipping and falling can result in significant and sometimes permanent injuries. You may have legal recourse if a property owner failed to fix a hazardous or dangerous situation on their land, resulting in your accident and injuries.
Slip and fall accidents can occur in a variety of places due to a property owner’s negligence, including:
- Apartment complexes
- Governmental buildings and offices
- Hotels and motels
- Parking lots and garages
- Restaurants
- Shopping malls
Because they are generally embarrassed, some people are hesitant to pursue a lawsuit after falling in public. If you were seriously injured in a slip and fall accident at someone else’s house or business due to negligence, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit to recover reasonable compensation for your losses. Slip and fall cases assist badly wounded individuals in recouping the costs of medical bills, lost wages, and other suffering, deformity, emotional distress, or permanent physical handicap caused by the property owner’s negligence.
Getting Compensation for Your Accident
By filing a slip and fall accident lawsuit, you could hold a negligent property owner accountable for any losses that you suffered in the accident. You can recover two categories of damages in your claim. The first category is economic damages, which involves the financial hardships that you suffered due to the accident.
Below are some of the most common economic damages in slip and fall claims:
- The cost of past and future medical care
- Lost wages and loss of future earnings
- Property damage that occurred in the slip and fall
- Disability accommodations like wheelchairs
- Specialized treatment like rehabilitation or physical therapy
The second category of damages is non-economic damages, which refers to the pain and suffering that you experienced because of the accident. These damages may be physical or emotional in nature, and may include the following:
- Chronic pain
- Permanent disability
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
How to Prove Liability in a South Carolina Slip and Fall Accident
Negligence law governs slip and fall lawsuits. There will be no liability if the property owner was not negligent, and you would be unable to pursue a slip and fall claim. Victims in slip and fall accidents must show that one of the following is true:
- The property owners did not keep the property in good repair.
- The property owners established unsafe conditions that resulted in the harm.
- The property owners were aware of the dangerous premises or hazardous hazard but failed to notify visitors or renters.
It is also crucial to establish if the dangerous state was permanent or only transient. In cases where the ailment was just temporary, it may be difficult to prove your case due to the amount of time it lasted. It will be difficult to prove culpability if the individual who fell is unable to determine what caused them to fall. Take a picture of what caused you to fall if you are able after falling or slipping. A photograph of the incident that caused your injuries could help you establish culpability.
South Carolina Statute of Limitations
If you believe that you qualify for a slip and fall lawsuit, speak to an attorney at Mickelsen Dalton as soon as you can. The state of South Carolina imposes a deadline known as the statute of limitations for these claims. If you fail to file in time, the court will almost certainly dismiss your claim, preventing you from recovering fair compensation.
The statute of limitations for slip and fall claims is three years from the date of your accident. There are certain exceptions, but they are not common. To determine your filing deadline, speak to a South Carolina slip and fall lawyer immediately.
Contacting a South Carolina Slip and Fall Attorney
If you have been seriously injured in a slip and fall, having experienced legal counsel and representation can aid you in obtaining proper compensation from a negligent property owner.
The South Carolina slip and fall attorneys at Mickelsen Dalton are here for you when you decide it is necessary to hire an attorney after your injury. It is important to promptly take action against the liable party. Contact us today to discuss all legal recourse and let us help you. Please call us at (843) 804-0428 (South Carolina) or (678) 641-9054 (Georgia). You can also contact us via the web or email. We are here for you at all hours of the day.