Fall victims should never just assume they slipped or tripped because they were clumsy, elderly, in a rush, or somehow did not see where they were stepping. Trip and fall hazards exist in more places than you might assume. Marc Brown can help you prove that you fell because of a spill, slippery surface, broken hand rail, or other hazard that the property owner should have remedied.
Property Owner Negligence
In order for a property or business owner to be held financially responsible for damages in a slip and fall, you must be able to establish the following:
- You were on the premises as an invitee or licensee (you were there legally)
- A hazard existed on the premises
- The owner had real or constructive knowledge that a hazard existed
- The owner had time to remedy the hazard, but did not do so sufficiently
- You fell because of the hazard
- You suffered damages
Where Did the Slip and Fall Happen?
As long as the slip and fall did not happen on your own property or at work, you can file a personal injury claim against the property owner (in certain cases of egregious negligence, you may still be able to file a personal injury claim even if the fall did happen at work). Some common examples of where slip and falls are most likely to occur include the following:
- Retail stores
- Grocery stores
- Coffee shops
- Public buildings
- Private residential homes
- Shared condominium or apartment property
- Schools
- Offices
- Sidewalks
- Parking lots
- Parking garages
Preserving Evidence of the Fall and the Hazard that Caused the Fall
One of the difficulties in a slip and fall claim is proving that you fell because of a specific hazard. Because people slip and fall all the time on their own accord due to rushing, not looking where they are going, having poor balance, or simply misstepping, it can be difficult to prove that you fell because of a slippery floor, for example. As such, the following steps should be taken to preserve evidence of your fall. Some of these steps can be accomplished right after the fall, if you are capable of doing so, and some can be done in the days afterwards.
- Notify the property owner of the fall
- Ask the property/business owner for any relevant surveillance footage
- Ask witnesses for statements and contact information
- Take pictures of the hazard that caused you to fall
- Seek medical attention right away
- Keep the shoes you were wearing at the time of the fall in a safe place, and do not wash or alter them
- Contact an attorney before speaking further with the property owner or their insurance company
Call South Carolina Slip and Fall Attorney Marc Brown
If you fell because of a property owner’s negligent maintenance of their premises, they owe you injury compensation in South Carolina for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages. Call South Carolina slip and fall attorney Marc Brown today at (803) 848-0008 to schedule a no-cost consultation.