Greenville Slip and Fall Attorney

Slip and fall accidents are among the most common causes of personal injuries. They can happen anywhere and often when least expected.

Whether it’s a wet floor at the grocery store, uneven pavement at a shopping center, or an icy sidewalk outside a business, the consequences of a fall can be serious. Injuries from these incidents can range from minor bruises to severe, life-altering conditions.

If you’ve been injured in one of these types of accidents in South Carolina, a skilled Greenville slip and fall lawyer can help you navigate the complex legal process and pursue the compensation you deserve. Reach out to us at The Solomon Law Group, LLC to discuss your legal options during a free initial consultation.

What Qualifies as a Slip and Fall Injury?

Slip and fall cases fall under the wider category of premises liability law, which allows injury victims to hold property owners and occupiers (like commercial tenants) responsible for keeping conditions safe on their premises. When they don’t and someone gets hurt as a result, the property owner can be held liable for the damages.

A slip and fall accident typically happens when someone slips, trips, or falls due to a dangerous condition on someone else’s property.

Some common conditions that give way to slip and fall injuries can include:

• Floors that are wet
• Damaged or loose carpeting
• Uneven sidewalks
• Poor lighting
• Cluttered walkways

While some falls result in only minor injuries, others can lead to serious complications such as broken bones, spinal cord injuries, or traumatic brain injuries.

To be a valid claim, it’s not enough that you slipped, fell, or were injured on someone else’s property.

You’ll also have to show that it happened because the Greenville County property owner was negligent in some way, meaning they either knew about or should have known about, the unsafe condition and yet failed to take reasonable steps to resolve it or warn people about it.

Common Injuries Resulting From Falls

Slip and fall accidents in Greenville can lead to a wide range of injuries, many of which may have long-term or even life-long effects on your health and well-being.

Some common injuries include:

• Fractures: Broken bones, particularly in the wrist, arm, or hip, commonly result from slip and fall accidents as the victim tries to catch themselves as they stumble to the ground. Older people are especially vulnerable to hip fractures, which can lead to serious health complications and disability.
• Head Injuries: Falls can result in traumatic brain injuries, ranging from concussions to more severe damage to the brain. Even a mild head injury can have lasting negative effects on cognitive function and quality of life.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Falling, especially from height, can damage the spinal cord, leading to partial or complete paralysis. This type of injury often requires major treatment, including surgery, as well as extensive rehabilitation.
• Soft Tissue Injuries: Soft tissue injuries include sprains, strains, and tears to muscles, ligaments, and tendons are also common injuries in Greenville slip and fall accidents. These can be painful and may limit mobility necessary to perform daily life tasks for extended lengths of time.
• Cuts and Bruises: While cuts and bruises are often considered minor injuries, they can still require medical attention, especially if they are deep, located near vital organs, or become infected.

If you’ve suffered any of these injuries in a slip and fall accident, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you think that your injuries are minor, they may be more extensive than you think, or they may worsen over time.

Just be sure to preserve any medical records for those visits and to have them handy when reaching out to a Greenville slip and fall lawyer for a free consultation, if possible. These medical records will be crucial in helping them decide if you have a valid claim and in recovering compensation for your losses.

Steps To Take After Slipping and Falling in Greenville

If you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall accident in upstate SC, there are several steps you should take to protect your legal rights, including your right to fair compensation:

• Seek Medical Attention: Your health should be your top priority. Again, even if your injuries seem minor, it’s vital to see a doctor for a thorough evaluation. Delaying medical treatment may not only worsen your condition but also weaken your legal position.
• Report the Incident: You should notify the property owner, manager, or supervisor about your accident as quickly as possible. Ask them to file a written report detailing the accident and request a copy for your own records.
• Document the Scene: If you can, take plenty of photos of the scene of the accident, including the hazardous condition that caused your fall (for example, a broken section of pavement that caused you to trip). Also, write down the date, time, and exact location of the incident.
• Get Witness Information: If anyone witnessed your fall, ask for their contact information, including full names, phone numbers, and addresses (both physical and email). Their testimony as to what they saw could be crucial in supporting your case.
• Keep All Records: Save all of your medical bills, receipts, and any other documentation related to your injuries and treatment. These records are necessary to help establish the full extent of both your economic and noneconomic losses.
• Consult With a Greenville Slip and Fall Attorney: Slip and fall cases can be challenging to prove, and property owners often put up strong legal defenses. Choosing the right injury attorney can be the most important step you take toward achieving a successful outcome in your case. They can help you gather evidence, build a strong case, and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.

How a Greenville Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, working with a skilled lawyer can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. Here are some of the ways a slip and fall attorney in the upstate region of SC can help:

• Investigating the Accident: Your lawyer will conduct an in-depth investigation into what caused your accident to determine who was at fault. This can involve gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and consulting with experts.
• Proving Negligence: Proving negligence in a slip and fall case can be a difficult task, but an experienced Greenville slip and fall attorney will know what evidence they need to build a strong case. They’ll work to show that the property owner was aware of the dangerous condition and yet failed to take the appropriate action to prevent an injury.
• Negotiating With Insurance Companies: Insurance companies often try to minimize or deny claims or offer quick “lowball” settlements to protect their bottom line. Your slip and fall lawyer will have the experience to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to make sure that you get the maximum fair compensation for your injuries.
• Representing You in Court: Sometimes, a fair settlement just can’t be reached. When this happens, your legal representative will be prepared to take your case to court in Greenville County. They’ll fight for your rights and the compensation that you deserve.

Compensation in Upstate SC Slip and Fall Cases

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident in Greenville or its surrounding areas, you may be entitled to compensation to cover your losses. Damages that you can recover typically fall into two categories: economic and noneconomic damages.

• Economic damages are the financial (monetary) losses you’ve suffered as a result of your accident. They can include medical bills, lost wages, transportation costs, and the cost of any required rehabilitation or therapy. If your injuries are so severe that they’ll prevent you from returning to work, you may also be eligible for compensation for future lost earnings.
• Noneconomic damages compensate you for the pain and suffering that you’ve experienced due to your injuries. They can include compensation for things like emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium if your injuries have affected your relationship with your spouse.

The Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Cases in South Carolina

It’s important to act quickly if you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident. South Carolina’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases, including slip and fall claims like those discussed above, is typically only three years from the date of the accident.

In other words, you have three years to file a lawsuit against the property owner, or you may lose your right to be compensated for your losses. There are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if the property where the accident occurred is owned by a government entity, shorter deadlines may apply.

A qualified Greenville slip and fall lawyer can help you understand the specific time limits that apply to your case and ensure that your claim is filed on time.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident in the upstate or elsewhere in South Carolina, The Solomon Law Group, LLC can help you seek the justice and compensation you need to get on with your life.

Contact us today for a free consultation.