Mt. Pleasant property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe and to protect patrons and other visitors from injuries. If you have been harmed as a result of a property owner’s failure to keep their establishment safe, a Mt. Pleasant premises liability lawyer can help you file a claim for compensation. A Mount Pleasant personal injury attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm can investigate your injuries, determine who was liable, file a claim, and work to get you the maximum compensation you deserve after a property owner failed to do what was necessary to keep you safe.
Types of Mt. Pleasant Premises Liability Cases
There is a wide range of premises liability accidents that can occur in Mt. Pleasant. If a property owner does not properly maintain their premises or fails to warn patrons or invitees of potential hazards, many accidents can happen. Common types of Mt. Pleasant premises liability cases include:
- Balcony or deck collapses
- Construction site injuries
- Dog bites
- Drowning accidents
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Fair ride accidents
- Inadequate security assaults or injuries
- Parking lot accidents
- Playground or park accidents
- Slip and falls
- Stairway accidents
The above accidents can be caused by a number of factors, including failure to warn, poor lighting or maintenance, defective railings, slippery surfaces, missing signs, inadequate security, or code violations. Most, if not all, of the factors that cause premises liability accidents are preventable. A property owner’s negligence can lead to devastating injuries for patrons and other visitors.
Common Injuries in Premises Liability Claims in Mt. Pleasant
When a property owner fails to keep their premises safe, severe injuries can result. These injuries can cause devastating physical and financial consequences for victims. Injuries that are commonly caused by the negligence of property owners include the following:
- Contusions
- Lacerations
- Strains and sprains
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Bite wounds
- Burns
- Electrocutions
- Amputation
- Drownings
- Death
If you or a loved one have been injured on someone else’s property because they did not keep their premises safe, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Reach out to a premises liability attorney in Mt. Pleasant as soon as possible. We can investigate your accident and determine whether you can file a personal injury claim for damages.
Important Factors in a Mt. Pleasant Premises Liability Case
There are certain factors that can affect a premises liability claim. For example, your status as an injured visitor can affect the owner’s obligation to keep their property safe. There are three statuses that a property visitor can have in Mt. Pleasant.
- Invitee: A person who is invited onto an owner’s property is owed the highest duty of care by the owner.
- Licensee: A person who enters a property with a license to do business is still owed a duty of care by the owner; however, that duty is lesser.
- Trespasser: A person who enters a property without an invitation from the owner or without a license to do so is owed a minimal duty of care by the owner.
- Child: A child guest is owed a higher duty of care by the property owner than an adult because of their decreased mental capacity.
A property owner owes invitees and licensees a reasonable duty of care to keep them safe. Other factors that can affect a premises liability claim in Mt. Pleasant include a duty to warn about hidden or latent dangerous conditions and the visitor’s mental capacity. If a property owner owes a visitor a duty to keep them safe from harm and violates that duty, a premises liability claim may be filed.
Damages You Can Collect in a Premises Liability Case in Mt. Pleasant
If a Mt. Pleasant premises liability attorney determines that you are eligible to file a claim against a negligent property owner, there are certain damages you can collect. The amount of these damages is dependent on a variety of factors, including the severity of your injuries and whether you played a part in your accident. Generally, the following damages are those you may be able to collect as a result of the injuries you suffered from a property owner’s failure to keep you safe while on their property:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are your monetary damages that can be easily calculated. They can include your medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and expenses for future treatment and home health services. They can also include your lost wages, loss of earning capacity, costs of obtaining substitute domestic services, and loss of retirement income.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are your non-monetary losses and can include your pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium. Non-economic damages are typically calculated in one of two ways, the first of which is the multiplier method, wherein your total economic damages are multiplied by a number between 1.5 and 5, depending on the severity of your injuries. The second method is the per diem method, wherein your damages are assigned a daily value that is multiplied by the number of days your recovery is expected to take.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are only awarded in rare instances. In South Carolina, you may be awarded punitive damages if the liable property owner acted willfully, wantonly, or recklessly. The amount of punitive damages you can be awarded depends on the owner’s degree of culpability, their ability to pay, the severity of harm you suffered, and whether they have shown similar reckless conduct in the past.
An experienced premises liability lawyer in Mt. Pleasant can fight to get you maximum compensation for your losses. At Shelly Leeke Law Firm, our team will handle your claim from start to finish. We will investigate your accident, determine your losses, establish liability, and negotiate with the insurance company to get you the highest amount of damages possible.
Retain a Skilled Premises Liability Attorney in Mt. Pleasant
Our skilled lawyers at Shelly Leeke Law Firm have comprehensive experience handling premises liability claims. We will review your accident and discuss your options for recovering damages for your injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation to talk about your next steps and how to protect your legal rights.
