Slip and Fall Accidents
We know accidents can happen anywhere and anytime.
Have you been injured at a business, office, local park and other public place? Or have you been injured at a private home? If there were not adequate warning signs or the conditions were dangerous then you have a case for holding the party involved responsible and liable under South Carolina law.
The attorneys at McCravy, Newlon, Sturkie & Clardy Law Firm help people after slip and fall accidents in places such as around a swimming pool, porch, stairs or walk way. We also help people in the case of dog bites or any other injuries caused by property owners’ negligence.
We can help you get the compensation necessary to pay the costs of:
- medical bills.
- lost wages.
- or losses due to your accident.
Holding Building Owners Liable For Your Slip And Fall Injuries
Falling on a slippery floor or broken sidewalk is embarrassing. All you want to do is get up and hope that no one saw it happen, but for almost 9 million people each year, slip and fall injuries result in a visit to a hospital emergency department for medical treatment.
Holding property owners liable for dangerous and hazardous conditions
If you slip and fall on property owned by another person or business, you might be entitled to sue the owner to recover damages. Slip and fall lawyers know that the condition of the property at the location and at the time at which you fell are critical to holding the property owner responsible.
Slip and fall cases are categorized as premises liability accidents under the law. As a general rule, there must be a dangerous or hazardous condition that caused you to lose your footing and fall down. Some of the common conditions that arise in premises liability cases in which a person slipped and fell include:
. Debris on the floor
. Wet floors
. Slippery floor surfaces, such as highly polished tiles
. Uneven floor surfaces
. Icy sidewalks or parking areas
. Cracked and broken floor tiles or floor boards
. Broken concrete walkways or stairs
. Loose or missing handrails
. Loose or torn rugs and carpets
. Boxes or displays extending into store aisles
Property owners must have notice of the condition
Premises liability laws hold property owners responsible for failing to take reasonable measures to correct a condition that might pose a hazard to members of the public. The law recognizes that it would be unreasonable to expect repairs or maintenance to be performed by an owner who is not aware of a particular condition.
Businesses and others who invite members of the public to enter onto their property have a duty to remove or remedy any condition that might be dangerous or that could cause injury, but this duty is only imposed if those in control of the property have notice of the condition. For example, if you call in a supermarket aisle because liquid fell onto the floor from a broken bottle, a slip and fall attorney handling the case on your behalf would want to know if store employees knew of the spill. Notice of the condition is an important element in lawsuit to recover compensation for slip and fall injuries.
Proving notice of hazardous conditions
Proving that the owner of property had notice of a condition is not as difficult as you might think. Actual notice, where someone reported the condition to the owner, is not necessary in all slip and fall cases.
Property owners can be held liable for hazards based upon the length of time that the condition existed even if they do not have actual notice. Sometimes, what a property owner should or could have known by conducting periodic inspections can be used to establish liability in a slip and fall accident case.
Slip and fall lawyers can help
Recovering damages for your slip and fall injuries depends on the facts and circumstances of the accident. A slip and fall attorney with knowledge of the laws in your state can assist you.