Slip and Fall Accident

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Even though you’ve likely seen these type of accidents as the punchline of a joke or sitcom, slip and fall accidents are no laughing matter. They can cause serious injury and long-term disability. In fact, according to the National Floor Safety Institute, slip and falls account for more than one million hospital emergency room visits every single year. While some of these injuries are relatively minor and won’t result in lasting damage, 20-30% of all slip and fall accidents will result in moderate to severe injuries.

Unfortunately, slip and fall injury claims are some of the most difficult personal injury cases in South Carolina. This is because the burden of proof lies with the accident victim. In order to win your case, your South Carolina slip and fall accident lawyer must clearly establish beyond a reasonable doubt that:

  • The property owner knew of the safety hazard or should have anticipated the hazard
  • The property owner’s negligence caused the hazard
  • The property owner ignored the safety hazard or failed to fix the hazard in a reasonable amount of time
  • You sustained injuries as a result of the property owner’s negligence
Photo of a Slip and Fall Accident Injury in Rock Hill

Immediately After a Slip and Fall Accident

When you’ve fallen on another person’s property, in a department store, or in a business, you may initially feel embarrassed. During this time, injured accident victims often downplay their own injuries. They may simply wish to leave the store to return home, believing they are relatively injured. As such, an incident report is never filed and your injuries and accident are never documented. When this occurs, seeking compensation from the store, property owner, or business can become increasingly more difficult. After all, without evidence or an incident report, it may be jsut your word versus theirs. As such, it is important to take the following steps after a slip and fall accident to protect your right to file a claim:

  • Remain Calm
  • Call a Manager
  • Fill Out an Incident Report
  • Seek Medical Help
  • Document Evidence
    • Take Pictures of Hazard
    • Motorcyclists hit while parked on the shoulder
    • Gather Eyewitness Contact Info
    • Write Your Own Account
    • Get Incident Report Copy
  • Call an Attorney

What If I Am Partly To Blame?

Property owners and insurance companies will attempt to reduce their own liabilities by arguing that you are partly to blame for the accident. This is a common tactic used even if there is little evidence to support their claims. If you are partly to blame for the slip and fall accident, South Carolina’s comparative negligence rule means that you will still be able to seek compensation for your injuries. However, it is important to know that your compensation will be reduced by the amount of fault you bear.

For example: Jon was found to be 10% responsible for his slip and fall accident because he was on his phone at the time of the fall. He was awarded $10,000 for his injuries, however because he was found to be partly to blame for the accident, he only received $9,000 in damages.

As you can see, having an experienced and skilled South Carolina slip and fall accident lawyer on your side can be invaluable. Without a lawyer you may be assigned more fault for the accident than you should be and you may be prevented from receiving the money you need to fully recover.

Contact Our Rock Hill, South Carolina Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers Today

If you or someone you love has been injured in a slip and fall accident in Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Lancaster, or anywhere in the state of South Carolina, we can help. At the Law Offices of F. Craig Wilkerson, our Rock Hill slip and fall accident attorneys know how to investigate all aspects of a slip and fall accident to determine if a landlord or property owner is to blame.

Call us today at (803) 324-7200 (Rock Hill), (803) 289-7202 (Lancaster), (803) 396-5200 (Fort Mill), or fill out our confidential contact form. With offices conveniently located in Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and Lancaster, we are here when you need us. Call us today for a free consultation.