Whenever we step out of our homes, we need to take precautions. Those precautions include wearing seat belts, not texting and driving, and following the traffic rules. We also take precautions by simply walking from one place to another. That means wearing shoes with good treads and being aware of our surroundings. Despite all those precautions, accidents still happen.
If that accident results from the property owner’s negligence, it could become an insurance claim that you should discuss with a qualified Rock Hill slip and fall lawyer. At The Solomon Law Group, LLC, we understand how these types of accidents can be extremely painful and disruptive. That is why we are dedicated to helping the victims of these accidents to find a fast and fair resolution.
Who Is Responsible When Falls Result in Injuries in South Carolina?
Before your slip and fall lawyer can determine if there is a case, they have to establish if you had a right to be on the property in the first place. You can either be an invitee or a licensee. The easiest way to understand those two classifications is that an invitee is like a business customer, and a licensee is a social visitor. It would seem that it should be the other way around, but that is how the law refers to them.
The property owner owes the highest duty of care to an invitee. For instance, a customer expects that when they enter a store, it will be safe. The store owner and their employees have to constantly ensure the aisles are free of hazards. They also have to anticipate potential dangers and warn the customers, such as placing a “slippery when wet” sign.
When a property owner invites a licensee to their home for a party or visit, they are responsible for warning the visitor of potential hazards like a broken porch step or slippery wax floors. However, they don’t have to anticipate a problem.
The one category where the owner doesn’t owe any duty of care is a trespasser. If someone comes into a property uninvited and hurts themselves, they cannot sue for damages. The exception to the trespasser rule is with children. If they enter a property uninvited and are injured, the owner can be held liable. That is why different South Carolina municipalities have rules and regulations regarding backyard swimming pool enclosures.
Proving Premises Liability Negligence in York County
When an experienced Rock Hill slip and fall lawyer takes on a case, they need to establish negligence on the part of the property owner and their representatives. To prove negligence, it must be shown that you failed to follow safety rules and that caused your injury. For instance, the South Carolina government has established specific rules for food safety. If the premises owner breaks those rules and the patrons get sick, that is negligence.
Another duty of your Rock Hill slip and fall attorney is to assign liability to all those parties who might be involved. For instance, someone can own a commercial space that they rent out to a business. However, unless there is a contract that indemnifies them against liability, they could be held at-fault along with the business owner and their staff.
Are You Being Reasonable?
Accidents happen. It’s hard to imagine any of us getting through life without at least one serious tumble resulting in a fall. However, when slip and fall accidents in Rock Hill occur, you have to decide if you’re being reasonable with your desire to remedy that situation.
For instance, if you pull up to a grocery store just as it starts to rain and go into the store before the workers put out mats and you fall, is it reasonable to blame the store staff? On the other hand, if that same owner stacks a display of soda cases so high that it falls down onto a customer, that would be negligence.
Common Types of Fall Injuries
Rock Hill slip and fall accidents may cause a range of injuries, ranging from minor to severe. In some cases, these types of accidents may prove fatal. Some common injuries include:
- Slipped or herniated discs
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Muscle strain or damage
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
Working With the Right Kind of Rock Hill Slip and Fall Lawyer
The Solomon Law Group, LLC, has years of experience handling slip and fall accidents in Rock Hill and across all of South Carolina. We know how to compile the right evidence to establish liability. Whether you are fully recovered from your injuries or are still dealing with pain and suffering, we want to hear from you.
Call our offices today to set up a free case evaluation with a Rock Hill slip and fall lawyer to discuss what happened.
