Slip and Fall Attorneys in St. Matthews SC
Our St. Matthews Slip And Fall Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm are familiar with litigating South Carolina personal injury cases and can often help victims recover substantially more compensation than they would be able to retain on their own, so it is highly advisable for anyone injured in an accident to discuss their options with one of our St. Matthews Slip And Fall Lawyers.
Accidental falls are some of the most common accidents causing injury. A slip and fall often result in a violent collision between your body and the ground, which can lead to serious injury for the healthiest among us, let alone the damage a slip and fall can cause for someone with existing health complications or co-morbidities.
It is important to speak with an attorney following a slip and fall, because, at the time of the accident, you may not realize the fall was the fault of somebody else. Whether you’ve slipped on a wet floor at a grocery store in St. Matthews, tripped over a raised sidewalk, or suffered from a slip and fall in any number of other ways, contact the St. Matthews Slip And Fall Lawyers at Strom Law Firm immediately.
Typical Causes of St. Matthews Slip and Fall Accidents
Property owners may have many issues with their property. Some factors that commonly contribute to slip and falls, and thus suggest negligence of another, include:
- Uneven or wet floors
- Worn down and torn carpet
- Failure to properly light a space
- Uncovered wiring
- Debris on the ground
- Faulty stairs
- Broken or raised pavement
- Absence of handrails
- Hidden or unclearly marked steps
Is my injury serious enough for a slip and fall case?
Seeking compensation for any injury, whether through an insurance claim or a lawsuit, can be difficult. Slip and falls often end up in litigation, which can be stressful and frustrating.
Slip, and falls can be tough cases to prove, but negligent property owners should not get away with failing to properly maintain their property simply because a lawsuit may be difficult. At Strom Law Firm, we offer a free initial consultation where we can discuss the specific facts of your case and decide the best path forward.
If you suffered a significant injury following a fall, requiring medical care, it is worth doing whatever you can to recover compensation for your expenses and troubles.
Premises Liability Analysis in Slip and Fall Cases
Under South Carolina law, a landowner owes certain duties to third parties dependent upon a third party’s status on the land:
- Invitees: Invitees enter the land of another individual at the express or implied invitation of the occupant of the land and for the benefit of the owner. An occupant or landowner owes a duty of reasonable care to an invitee, which carries the duty to warn of any “latent” or hidden defects or dangers. The owner must have actual or constructive notice of the defect to give rise to this duty. Constructive notice means that the occupant or owner has reason to believe that the condition exists, and the condition would be discovered with a reasonable inspection.
- Licensees: Licensees are allowed entry to a property by the consent of an owner or occupant. The duty of care owed to a licensee is not quite as strict as that owed to an invitee. Owners and occupants have a duty to warn licensees of conditions that are actually known by the owner or occupant.
- Trespassers: Trespassers enter land belonging to another without any invitation, right, or lawful authority. They enter exclusively for their own purposes. Trespassers are merely owed by the owner or the occupant a duty to not be harmed by willful or wanton conduct or conditions.
It is always a fact-specific inquiry to determine someone’s status on land at the time of an injury.
Injuries Often Suffered in Slip and Fall Accidents
- Shoulder Injuries– Shoulder damage is a common result of a slip and fall, given the way people naturally try to land on their side in a fall. Anybody that has suffered a shoulder injury knows that they can be painful, debilitating, and downright inconvenient. Many of those who suffer shoulder injuries never fully heal, resulting in chronic pain and disability. For significant shoulder injuries, surgery followed by a long course of physical therapy may be required. These procedures and follow-ups are time-consuming and expensive.
- Broken Hips and Dislocations– Broken hips and hip dislocations are other common injuries resulting from slip and falls. Hip injuries can be completely debilitating for those suffering from one. The CDC estimates that ~95% of hip injuries are caused by falls.
- Head Injury– Often, during a slip and fall, a victim’s head will strike the floor with the full momentum of the fall. Traumatic brain injury is yet another injury from a slip and fall that can alter a person’s life forever. When somebody falls backward, their momentum often causes their heels to swing over their head, leading to their head hitting the ground hard, with the full force of gravity.
- Back Injuries and Spinal Cord Damage– Slip and fall accidents can sometimes result in herniated discs, broken backs, and spinal cord damage. Anybody who has suffered a back injury knows that it can affect every aspect of your life. The back and spine are central to the entire body, and an injury to them renders many activities impossible for an injured party. Aside from the effect, a back injury has on your ability to perform certain actions, and back injuries are incredibly painful and sometimes permanent. If your injury requires back surgery, you will have a long and expensive road to recovery.
- Fractures, Sprains, and Strains– While fractures and sprains are not thought of as the most severe injuries, they can be painful and lead to short-term and long-term complications. Often, fractures or sprains can result in chronic pain, infection, and other issues in a slip and victim.
If you have had to pay the physical and financial costs of any of the above injuries or other slip and fall injuries, an experienced St. Matthews Slip And Fall Lawyer can help you seek the compensation you are owed.
Contact a St. Matthews Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
If you have suffered the unexpected devastation of slip and fall injuries, it is important to be compensated by the responsible party. Injuries from slip and falls should be taken seriously, and those that cause them should meet their obligations to keep their property safe. Strom Law Firm is experienced in representing victims of St. Matthews slip and falls and other accidents. A St. Matthews slip and fall lawyer is ready to meet with you in person at your convenience. You can also contact us online or by phone at 803-252-4800 to schedule a time to talk with a member of our team.
