Slip and Fall Accidents Lawyers in Columbia

Obtaining Maximum Compensation for Slip and Fall Accident Victims Injured Due to Negligence

South Carolina law dictates that property owners are legally responsible for maintaining their premises safe and free of potential hazards. However, some property owners fail in their legal obligations, and as a result, individuals suffer slip and fall injuries.

However, slip and fall accident cases can be challenging to prove and must meet specific legal criteria. For this reason, it is always in an injury victim’s best interests to hire an experienced Columbia slip and fall accident lawyer to defend their legal rights.

Suppose you or a family member have suffered fall injuries due to the property owner’s negligence. In that case, you may be entitled to try and recover compensation that will pay for your lost income, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

However, an insurance company is quick to blame the victim for causing their injuries or contributing to the accident. Insurers often look for loopholes to try to deny slip-and-fall accident claims, leaving victims to deal with an unforeseen financial crisis.

Our law firm is dedicated to helping slip and fall victims receive the fair treatment and justice they deserve.

Contact The Law Office of Joshua P. Golson, LLC, located in Columbia, South Carolina, and ask to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your legal rights and how we may be able to assist you in recovering compensation.

What Factors Contribute to Slip and Fall Accidents?

Fall accidents occur for various reasons. However, when they occur on someone else’s property, they can often be attributed to dangerous conditions and owner negligence. When people think of slip-and-fall accidents, they immediately think of wet floors. If a property owner or manager fails to warn individuals of wet surfaces, they could be liable for their injuries.

Although wet floors are often the source of fall injuries, there are several other frequently cited reasons that individuals suffer slip and fall accidents, including:

• Loose tiles or floor tiles
• Loose mats or rugs
• Loose or frayed carpet
• Uneven sidewalks
• Missing or broken steps
• Missing or broken handrails
• Poor lighting
• Other tripping hazards.

Black ice in parking lots and sidewalks is another slip-and-fall hazard that can lead to severe injuries. Property owners and management are legally obligated to keep the outside of the premises safe from fall hazards just as they do on the inside. Failure to remove ice often leads to severe injuries that can be life-threatening.

If you have experienced a fall injury on another person’s property, you must seek medical attention immediately to protect your health and future ability to file a premises liability claim. Take several photos and videos to document the accident scene, as evidence can quickly disappear. Next, report the injury to the property owner or manager on duty. Be sure to request a copy of the injury report for your records. Finally, contact an experienced Columbia slip and fall accident lawyer to evaluate your case.

What are the Most Common Injuries Sustained in Slip and Fall Accidents?

Slip and fall accidents can result in devastating injuries for victims. Depending on the injured party’s age and the conditions that led to the accident, a victim could suffer significant harm that could impair them for life.

Slip and fall injuries can range from slight bruising to significant head or traumatic brain injuries. Other personal injuries that often result from slip and fall accidents include:

• Cuts and bruises
• Broken bones and fractures
• Soft tissue injuries, including severe whiplash
• Knee injuries
• Back injuries, including herniated discs
• Dislocated shoulders

Spinal Cord Injuries

One of the most life-changing injuries that can result from a slip-and-fall accident involves spinal cord injuries. When an injured victim’s spinal cord makes a sudden impact with a hard surface, they stand a greater chance of experiencing a back injury.

Additionally, when an older person suffers a slip and fall injury, they are at greater risk of sustaining serious injuries. Finally, if the slip and fall occurred due to falling from stairs or a steep incline, the chances of suffering spinal cord injury significantly increase.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

The other type of injury that can negatively impact a fall victim is a traumatic brain injury TBI). Traumatic brain injuries can result in concussions or diffuse axonal injuries that impair the victim’s ability to breathe, talk, swallow, or perform more complex cognitive functions.

Typically, a more severe TBI may leave a victim in a persistent vegetative state where they require specialized nursing care.

Our highly trained slip and fall lawyers in Columbia represent clients injured on private property and are dedicated to holding the negligent party accountable for their actions. If you have been injured due to another’s carelessness, contact our slip-and-fall attorneys today to learn how we may assist you.

What Kind of Compensation Can Slip and Fall Accident Victims Recover in South Carolina?

South Carolina personal injury law allows accident victims to pursue compensation for their injuries. One of the main concerns of any injury victim is how they are going to pay their medical bills, especially if they are unable to return to work.

With the help of a fall lawyer, injury victims can file a claim to try and recover economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages repay the fall accident victim for the expenses they have paid due to injury. Some common economic damages include:

• Medical expenses such as physical therapy and rehabilitation costs.
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning potential

For fall accident victims who have suffered catastrophic injuries, such as spinal cord or head injuries, they may most likely require ongoing skilled nursing care. Ongoing care can quickly become cost-prohibitive for families as they struggle to pay mounting medical bills.

One of the most considerable advantages of hiring a slip-and-fall lawyer is that they can professionally evaluate the case, including the victim’s present and future medical needs. For these reasons, it is best to hire an experienced slip-and-fall attorney who can request economic damages to cover the costs of future medical care.

Non Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are based on the unique circumstances of the slip and fall accident. However, some of the most frequently awarded damages include:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of consortium
• Permanent disfigurement and scarring

It should be noted that not every slip-and-fall accident case is the same. The factors involved vary from case to case. When awarding non-economic damages, some of the issues that will be considered include the severity of the injuries and the lasting impact they will have on the victim.

Therefore, any settlement that may be reached will also vary. As a result, if you have been injured in a Columbia slip and fall, contact our South Carolina injury attorney, who can help you recover fair compensation for your injuries.

How Long Do I Have to File a Premises Liability Claim in South Carolina?

The South Carolina statute of limitations allows slip-and-fall accident victims to file a claim up to three years after the accident occurred. Although three years may seem like a long time, it can quickly pass.

Instead, anyone injured in a slip-and-fall case must act quickly to ensure their ability to file a claim. The statute of limitations ensures the integrity of evidence because, over time, witnesses’ memories may fade or be unavailable to provide information.

If you or a family member have sustained a personal injury due to a slip and fall accident, you must contact a fall lawyer today who can explain your legal rights. A fall accident attorney can begin the legal process of filing a premises liability claim so that you do not exceed the time allowed by the South Carolina statute of limitations.

If you wait too long to file a claim, the court can avoid hearing your case, and you could lose all legal ability to seek compensation for your injuries.

The Law Office of Joshua P. Golson, LLC has experienced slip-and-fall lawyers who will explain your rights and assist you with your premises liability case.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring an Experienced Lawyer to Handle My Slip and Fall Claim?

Many injured victims hesitate at the thought of filing a personal injury claim after suffering a slip and fall accident. Nevertheless, negligent property owners must be held responsible for failing to protect individuals from hazards.

An experienced Columbia slip and fall lawyer can evaluate your case, determine liability issues, and work to help clients obtain a financial recovery that will adequately provide for the damages they have suffered.

Professional Evaluations

One of the main tasks of personal injury attorneys is to professionally evaluate cases to determine what legal steps must be taken to obtain compensation for victims. South Carolina personal injury law can be overly complex due to the state’s comparative negligence laws. Therefore, anyone who has been injured in a slip and fall case must hire an attorney who has comprehensive experience and can provide an accurate legal assessment to clients.

Ability to Develop Effective Legal Strategies

Another considerable advantage of hiring an experienced slip-and-fall accident lawyer is they can develop innovative legal strategies on their client’s behalf. Insurance providers often try to argue that the victim is to blame for the accident or shares a degree of fault to avoid paying claims. However, liability lawyers are familiar with the tactics that insurers often try to use when dealing with injured victims. Personal injury attorneys will fight to ensure the insurance company does not bully their clients into unfair settlements.

Act as a Legal Liaison With the Insurance Company

Unfortunately, many insurance providers will try to offer slip-and-fall victims quick settlements that are rarely in their best interests. Although a quick settlement may seem very appealing, especially to accident victims who are unable to work, they are rarely structured to meet the injured party’s future needs. Instead, a slip-and-fall accident attorney will act as a legal liaison with the insurance company to ensure that the client can focus on recovery and not worry about dealing with frustrating legal issues.

Why Should I Hire Your Columbia Slip and Fall Lawyers to Help Me With My Injury Claim?

The Law Office of Joshua P. Golson, LLC is passionately committed to helping those who have suffered personal injuries in fall cases. We recognize this can be one of the most overwhelming experiences you may ever have to deal with, and we are committed to helping you seek the justice you deserve.

Unlike other law firms that treat their clients like numbers, our legal team is committed to building long-lasting attorney-client relationships. We take pride in our true care for our clients and treat each individual and their families with the respect and integrity they deserve.

If we agree to take your case, we will conduct an independent investigation to build and strengthen your claim, which may include:

• Obtaining video surveillance
• Bystander videos
• Eyewitness statements
• Accident reconstruction

If you have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident caused by a property owner’s negligence, you need a law firm that will stand up for your rights and is fearless about standing up to insurance companies.

Our experienced Columbia slip and fall attorneys will work diligently to ensure you recover a fair settlement that will hold the negligent party accountable and give you the peace of mind you deserve.

Contact our Columbia, South Carolina law offices at 803-882-3814 and ask to schedule a free no-obligation consultation to learn what legal options are available and how we can assist you.