When life gets turned upside down by a slip-and-fall accident, it can be hard to know how to pick up the pieces and move forward. Making sense of legal intricacies is about more than technicalities; it is about trying to restore normalcy again. Slip-and-falls are rarely just fluke incidents; there is almost always some type of negligence behind them.
From an untreated spill creating a slick floor to uneven walking surfaces to snow and ice not being properly cleared, these dangers can result in terrible injuries when basic precautions are not taken. An Orangeburg personal injury lawyer can help prove your case if you have the proper evidence. Contact Shelly Leeke Law Firm today to speak with an Orangeburg slip-and-fall accident lawyer.
What Circumstances Constitute a Slip-and-Fall Injury
Slip-and-fall incidents frequently happen due to unsafe conditions like wet floors or uneven surfaces. These accidents can happen in various places, including public areas like a local grocery or retail store, workplaces, and private properties. It is important to note whether proper warnings were in place, as this affects the interpretation of the incident.
Property owners are responsible for maintaining safe environments at all times. Their failure to address hazards can lead to accidents. When an injury occurs under such circumstances, it may be due to negligence on their part.
Weather conditions, especially ice and snow, significantly contribute to slip-and-fall accidents. Assessing these factors is crucial in understanding the context of the incident. Such environmental aspects often play a key role in determining liability alongside an Orangeburg slip-and-fall accident attorney.
Common Injuries from a Slip-and-Fall
Slip-and-falls can result in various injuries, ranging from minor to catastrophic. Sprains, strains, scrapes, or cuts are common. More serious injuries like broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord damage, or traumatic brain injuries can also occur, depending on the nature of the fall.
In some cases, pre-existing medical conditions may exacerbate slip-and-fall injuries. What starts as muscle soreness could develop into chronic back pain over time. Seemingly minor injuries may have complications that are not immediately apparent.
Long-term effects of serious slip-and-fall injuries can be life-altering. They can impact your ability to work and perform routine daily tasks. That demonstrates the need to hold responsible parties legally accountable when negligence leads to such preventable accidents.
Common Places Slip and Falls Happen
Slip-and-fall accidents can happen in all manner of properties when hazards exist without intervention. Business owners, landlords, and public entities alike must address the risks their spaces may pose to visitors. Identifying danger zones early is key to avoiding preventable harm through proactive measures.
- Retail stores
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Workplaces
- Rental homes and apartments
- Public sidewalks
- Parking garages
- Schools
Though locations vary, the responsibility to provide reasonably safe access remains steady across different properties. It is the property owner’s or management team’s responsibility to ensure safety. They are liable if you get injured and neglect their duty of fixing any hazards.
Steps to Take After a Slip-and-Fall Injury
If you suffer any injury from a fall, medical care should be the first priority. This is for treatment and to document what happened. Equally important is reporting details to whoever owns or manages the property to create an official record.
Do not just assume a report will be filed. Be proactive and request a copy for your own records. This kind of evidence, along with photographs of the scene and written statements from witnesses, will be vital later.
Get witnesses’ personal contact information and written accounts of what they observed. Having other perspectives to back up and validate your experience can make all the difference in seeking fair recovery down the road with a slip-and-fall accident attorney in Orangeburg. Call Shelly Leeke Law Firm.
Deadline to File Your Slip-and-Fall in South Carolina
South Carolina sets a specific time limit of three years from the date of the accident for filing such claims. This timeframe is critical to adhere to. Missing it can lead to the inability of your right to seek compensation.
It is essential to be aware of when the incident occurred to track this deadline accurately. Missing this deadline generally means you cannot legally pursue compensation for your injuries. It does not reset if, for example, a new symptom or condition develops in the future from the original incident.
Any long-term effects of the accident must still be addressed within the original three-year window. However, a small number of exceptions may extend or pause the clock if particular legal criteria are met, such as being under the age of 18.
Pinpointing Liability
Slip-and-falls can involve complex property arrangements with owners, landlords, tenants, maintenance crews, and similar. Reviewing contracts, duties, and actions helps determine who controlled and should have maintained the area’s safety. Commercial terms may split oversight obligations between the proprietor and occupant.
If hazards were actually known or reasonably knowable, then neglected, stronger causation may exist. Determining if decision-makers had actual knowledge of an existing danger or pattern of incidents can help prove negligence. Eyewitnesses can also attest whether hazards were visible or reported but left unaddressed before an incident, which can help your slip-and-fall accident lawyer in Orangeburg with your case.
Nuanced exploration aims to account for all important factors that left risks unaddressed. Rental contracts, repair logs, and hazard reports may provide paper trails revealing failures to reasonably maintain safe premises. Photo evidence can also document property conditions clearly implicating overlooked dangers.
Get Legal Help with Your Orangeburg Slip-And-Fall Accident
A slip-and-fall injury can be a complex case. Having an Orangeburg slip-and-fall accident lawyer like Shelly Leeke on your side can be helpful. This is especially true when the property owner tries to blame you for the incident and says they were not at fault.
Having legal representation can make a difference as an attorney is experienced with legal jargon and the local court. Contact us for a free consultation so you can have someone in your corner during the process. We will see if we can help you determine the next step for you to get the most out of your case.
