Slip and Fall Injury

A slip and fall isn’t just embarrassing. Depending on how you land, it could also be debilitating. Furthermore, broken bones, sprains and strains, traumatic brain injuries, and facial injuries can happen when you fall. Additionally, a slip-and-fall accident may not be your fault, even if you feel self-conscious about it. Property owners and managers are responsible for ensuring their premises are safe for visitors. A Greenville slip and fall injury lawyer from Maxey McFarland Law can help you get justice after a slip and fall injury.

If you were injured because the property owner was negligent, you likely have grounds to file a claim for compensation. Quality legal representation for premises liability lawsuits makes a difference in a slip and fall case. Don’t let the property owner or their insurance company steamroll you into settling for a pittance. Get the money you deserve with the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Why Do Slip and Fall Accidents Happen?

There are many reasons someone could slip and fall on someone else’s property, such as:

• Wet or slippery surfaces
• Uneven flooring
• Poorly maintained premises
• Lack of railings on a ramp or stairs
• Slick ice or snow  
• Loose floorboards
• Loose or crumbled rugs or carpeting
• Spilled food or liquids
• Cords strewn across the floor
• Inadequate lighting
• Broken stairs
• Obstructed walkways

This list isn’t exhaustive. Moreover, just about any location could have a slip hazard. Additionally, it’s the duty of a property owner to promptly fix, clean, shovel, or otherwise rectify the dangerous condition. Furthermore, they must warn visitors about the hazard.

Slip and Fall Injuries Can Have a Significant Impact

Bruised pride after a slip and fall injury is the least of your problems. Suddenly falling on a hard floor or concrete hurts, and you may need weeks of medical care to recover. Depending on how bad your head injuries really are, you could even become disabled.

Your physical injuries could include broken bones or hairline fractures. Depending on how you fall, you could break one or both wrists or hips, making it hard to care for yourself, work, or tend to your family. Spinal and spinal cord injuries back, neck, and back injuries are also common slip and fall damages. You could suffer a painful herniated disc, which may require spinal surgery to repair. Or, you may have permanent damage and chronic pain from the back injury.

The medical bills from the accident may be piling up. If you need specialist care or surgery, your medical costs could easily reach the tens of thousands of dollars. The premises owner whose negligence created the conditions for the accident to occur should be liable for the losses you suffered. The financial burden that arises due to lack of income, as a result of having to miss work, coupled with the influx of other medical expenses and bills from treatment for your injury, can create added stress. Additionally, these factors make it even more difficult to recover.

Slip and fall victims don’t just suffer physically. You could develop depression or anxiety after the fall, especially if your physical injuries are disabling. Fear, worry, and stress are all common emotional and psychological injuries after a fall.

Legal Responsibilities of Property Owners in Greenville, SC

Property owners have a legal duty of care to maintain safe, accessible property for visitors who have the right to be on their property. If the owner or manager fails to keep the premises in good repair, then they may be held legally liable for any injury a visitor or guest suffers if they slip and fall.

It’s incumbent upon your Greenville personal injury lawyer to prove that the property owner was negligent, thus establishing liability for your losses. Proving negligence and showing how that negligence caused injury is the crux of personal injury cases.

The Legal Process for Slip and Fall Claims in Greenville, SC

Your case starts with contacting a reputable personal injury law firm, like Maxey McFarland Law. Afterward, we’ll then commence our investigation, interview witnesses, and meticulously analyze any security footage or other video footage of the accident.

We’ll use your medical records as evidence of liability and to properly value your case. We consider not just what your expenses are today but also what you may need in the future. Our legal team drafts and files the initial lawsuit and any accompanying motions needed to move the case along. We’ll represent you in hearings and advise you as needed.

If your case goes to mediation, we can help you negotiate a compromise you can live with. If your case goes to court, we can prepare you to testify and explain what will happen at trial. We are your support system and your advocate.

What Kind of Compensation Can I Get from a Slip and Fall Case?

You’re entitled to demand compensation for the following losses after a slip and fall accident caused by the conditions on someone else’s property, including, but not limited to:

• Past, present, and future medical care,
• Lost wages from time missed at work and loss of earning potential
• Property damage, like a broken watch or phone dropped in the fall
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma and anguish
• Diminished quality of life
• Loss of companionship and consortium
• Modifications to your home or vehicle if you’re disabled from the fall
• Durable medical devices and assistive technology
• Prescription medications
• Travel to and from doctor’s appointments
• We’ll build a case to seek the maximum amount of compensation available in your case.

In some cases, we may seek punitive damages, as well. Punitive damages are a form of economic punishment for egregiously negligent property owners who knowingly permit unsafe conditions to persist. Punitive damages are assessed on a case-by-case basis. They’re only available in court and could be awarded by a jury if it feels the premises owner had an exceptional disregard for the safety of others.

Why You Need a Greenville Slip and Fall Injury lawyer

You may be entitled to a settlement to cover your accident-related losses, but getting that money may not be easy. Insurance companies look closely at slip and fall claims and may try to pin the blame on you, claiming you’re just clumsy.

A Greenville slip and fall injury lawyer can use fine points of South Carolina liability laws, premises liability laws, and personal injury laws to prove that the property owner or manager was negligent. They can also gather evidence to build your case. Furthermore, a lawyer may have access to resources you do not, such as a private investigator, to examine the scene and the property safety records. The lawyer may interview witnesses or analyze photo or video footage of the property and scene.

Your medical records play an important role in a fall injury lawyer building your case, too. A Greenville slip and fall lawyer can draw the connections between your injuries and the accident. This supports your claim for medical care and proves the owner’s liability for your injuries.

How the Maxey McFarland Law Slip and Fall Lawyers Can Help You

Maxey McFarland Law is a local law firm with deep roots in the Greenville community. We take pride in taking care of our injured friends and neighbors, and we’re here to help you seek justice.

We begin by offering a complimentary initial consultation, where we present your legal options and advice tailored to your situation. You’ll have the knowledge and information to make the right decisions for your case. We can work with you to build your insurance claim, using our experience with similar cases to argue for maximum compensation.

We can handle all the legal matters associated with pursuing your case, including communicating with the other party and their insurer. You can refer all communications from the property owner’s lawyer or insurance company to us.

Many slip and fall cases are settled out of court, in mediation or negotiations. We can represent you. Our attorneys are trained negotiators, and we don’t back down. If we need to take your case to court to achieve victory, we’ll argue your case before a judge or jury.

You Have Concerns – We Have Answers

We’re often asked what happens if you think you’re partly to blame for severe injuries from the slip and fall accident. You can still pursue compensation through the legal system, even if you share part of the blame. We can build a case that minimizes your fault and proves the property owner’s liability. In Maxey McFarland Law, though, if you’re more than fifty percent at fault for your injuries, you will be barred from getting any compensation at all.

What if you’re injured on private property, like at a friend’s house or a party? We don’t like to think about taking legal action against someone we know and like. But, sometimes, it’s the only way to get your medical care covered. If this happens to you, we will approach it with consideration and compassion for the situation. In many cases, the property or liability insurance claim or owner’s homeowner’s insurance may cover your medical treatment and other expenses.

Were You Hurt in a Slip and Fall Accident? Our Greenville Slip and Fall Lawyer Wants to Hear Your Story

Do you need help recovering compensation after a slip-and-fall accident? Don’t know how to file a lawsuit against a property owner? Contact one of our Greenville slip and fall attorneys today for a free consultation and initial free case review.