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Premises Liability - Slips & Falls
Premises liability involves the responsibility of property owners
to maintain safe conditions for people coming on or about the
property. In South Carolina, property owners are legally bound to
provide a reasonably safe condition of property or, at minimum,
warnings that the conditions of the premises may be unsafe.
Negligent property owners must pay the victim damages that may
include medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of current and
potential wages, and other damages.
Every year in the United States thousands of people are injured when
they slip, trip or fall on the property of another such as a garage,
supermarket, etc. If the business or property owner knows of a
potentially dangerous condition, he or she must warn guests and mark
the area to prevent harm. If he or she does not, a victim may suffer
broken bones, soft tissue damage, and even brain injury or spinal
cord injury, and the property owner may be held liable.
The most common premises liability cases involve individuals who
slip, trip or fall because of a defect or hazard on another person’s
property. Joe Griffith Law Firm, LLC, handles cases
involving:
- Slippery sidewalks
- Potholes
- Oil or grease on floor of garage or ramp
- Tree roots
- Balcony and stairway collapse
- Poor lighting
- Water on floor
- Falling merchandise
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- Loose carpet
- Cords, string or wires on the ground
- Broken or cracked sidewalks
- Falls on escalators and elevators
- Unprovoked dog bites and attacks
- “Failure to warn” of a property’s
hazardous or unsafe condition
- Food or spilled liquids on supermarket floors
- Blocked aisles
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If an unsafe condition has caused you to fall or otherwise be
injured on someone’s
premises, you may be entitled to recover damages for your injury. If
the defect that caused your fall was more than trivial, and the
owner or person responsible for maintaining the property knew, or
should have known, of the condition, they may be responsible for
your injuries.
The first things you should do is document the condition of the
property in a way that will show the physical characteristics of the
height, width, depth, nature of the substance, etc. before someone
goes out and repairs the condition. Take pictures if you can. Many
times the owner of property, learning of an injury, will go out and
perform a repair. They do this for two reasons: to eliminate
evidence and to make sure no one else gets injured.
While many businesses and homeowners carry premises liability
insurance, it is often insufficient to fully pay any significant
damage compensation. To ensure that you receive the maximum
compensation available, consult with an attorney who handles
premises liability before talking with an insurance company.
Insurance is a business, and like any business, their own interests
and profit are their priority.
Not everyone who is injured is successful in their claim. It must be
proven to the court that the property owner failed in their duty to
maintain reasonably safe premises, that the owner failed to warn of
danger that they were aware existed, or that the owner should have
known the danger existed and made the victim aware of the risk.
If you have been injured on another party’s property, or if you are
the survivor of a loved one who has died in a property-related
mishap, please contact the Joe Griffith Law Firm, LLC today.
Call Joe Griffith Law Firm, LLC to help you
prepare a comprehensive, compelling case for your right to recover
compensation for any injuries you or your loved ones may have suffered
due to a slip and fall or other premises-related injury. JGLF will
investigate the facts, assess your claim, determine which parties
and insurance companies are to be held responsible, organize all of
the details of your case and pursue it vigorously in settlement
negotiations or at trial. Personal Injury Attorney Joe Griffith stands ready and capable to provide his
clients the highest caliber of professional service, with a personal
touch and a friendly attitude.
You can reach JGLF at 843-CALL-JOE (843-225-5563), or contact the firm via
the online form.
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