Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer in Rock Hill

Understanding Slip and Fall Injuries in Rock Hill, SC

The National Floor Safety Institute identifies falls as the number one cause of emergency room visits nationwide, and indicates that slip and fall accidents are responsible for 12 percent of all falls. Slips and falls are the leading cause of missed work days and workers’ compensation claims. Slip and fall accidents can be caused by anything that makes you lose your footing, such as:

• Wet or slick floors
• Loose rugs
• Ripped carpet
• Inadequate light
• Uneven floors or sidewalks
• Broken pavement
• Stray items
• Cords or wires
• Ice and snow

When a property owner knows about a slip and fall hazard but does nothing to warn guests or customers about the danger or to clean it up, they are liable for any resulting accident.

Proving a Slip and Fall Claim: Legal Requirements

To prove a slip and fall claim in South Carolina, you must establish:

• The property owner owed you a duty of care to prevent or warn you about foreseeable hazards.
• The owner failed to meet their duty of care, which could mean failing to clean up a spill, post a warning sign, replace a loose step, or remove ice. Anything the property owner failed to do to prevent the accident could breach their duty of care.
• Your injuries would not have happened if the property owner had not failed to meet their duty of care.
• You suffered losses as a result.

In South Carolina, a property owner is liable for injuries to invitees or licensees on their property. An invitee is a person who has permission to do business with the property owner on the property. A licensee is a person who has permission to be there for some other reason. For instance, a person visiting a store to shop is an invitee, while a social guest or a person asking for directions is a licensee. 

A property owner must ensure that the premises are safe for invitees and warn them of any possible hazards. However, the property owner is only obligated to warn licensees of known hazards, for example, by posting a sign. Proving that the property owner breached their duty of care to you depends on why you were on the property in the first place.

Available Compensation for Slip and Fall Victims in Rock Hill

What compensation is available for slip and fall accident victims in Rock Hill, South Carolina? 

You can seek compensation for:

• Medical costs, such as your emergency room bills, medications, bills for physical therapy, and ongoing care
• Lost wages and other compensation, such as commissions and bonuses
• Other forms of lost income, such as raises or promotions, you have been unable to pursue because of your injury
• Pain and suffering caused by your injury
• Emotional distress you’ve experienced since the accident

What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident

Here are the steps you should take after a slip and fall accident in Rock Hill, South Carolina:

• Go to the emergency room or your doctor immediately, even if you don’t think you are badly hurt. Many injuries are more severe than they initially seem to be.
• Tell the manager or property owner about the accident. Ask them to write an injury report and give you a copy.
• Take photographs or video of the spot where you fell and the hazard that caused it. If you don’t take photos immediately, the property owner will have a chance to clean the hazard by the time you return.
• Talk to anyone who saw you fall, and ask them for their contact information.
• Contact a Rock Hill slip and fall attorney immediately.

If possible, it’s vital to talk to a slip and fall accident lawyer before you talk to the insurance company. Insurance adjusters often seem sympathetic, but are trained to ask questions that could give them an excuse not to pay your claim. Your lawyer will know what to say to the insurance adjuster, so they should handle all communications with the insurance company. 

Call Ted A. Greve & Associates Today

Insurance companies often try to quickly wrap up a claim with a lowball offer that won’t cover your losses. Hiring a skilled personal injury lawyer with slip and fall accident experience is the best way to convince the property owner’s insurance company to take you seriously.

Here are some of the services a lawyer for slip and fall accidents can provide for you:

• Investigating the facts about the accident
• Examining your medical records with the help of experts and specialists
• Filing your claim with the property owner’s insurance carrier
• Handling communications with the insurance company for you
• Negotiating for a reasonable settlement that will cover all your losses
• Filing a lawsuit on your behalf if needed
• Representing you in court and fighting for your right to full compensation

If you’re wondering whether you can afford to hire a slip and fall lawyer, you should know that Ted A. Greve & Associates works strictly on contingency. That means you don’t owe us anything for our services until we collect compensation for you. If we cannot collect compensation in your case for any reason, you owe us nothing. Contact a Rock Hill personal injury lawyer at Ted A. Greve & Associates today if you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident.