Lexington Slip & Fall Lawyer
One of the most common accidents–so common, in fact, that most people can say that they’ve experienced a minor version of it–is a slip and fall. Whether from pure clumsiness or a hazardous walking area (or another danger), a slip and fall can lead to serious injuries. If you’ve been involved in a slip and fall accident, have suffered serious harm, and believe that someone else is to blame for the incident, our Lexington slip & fall lawyers may be able to help. Call us today to learn more.
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
As stated above, there are two primary causes of slip and falls: clumsiness and dangerous circumstances. When a hazardous condition exists and this condition is the proximate cause of the slip and fall, the responsible party may be held liable for damages that result. Examples of hazardous conditions that contribute to slip and fall accidents include:
- Broken stairs;
- Broken elevators and escalators;
- Torn carpet;
- Spills of food, drink, and other substances;
- Lack of handrails;
- Depressions in walking areas and potholes;
- Falling objects; and
- Unmarked hazards.
Who’s Liable for My Injuries?
A slip and fall can be innocuous, but it can also be a serious accident, leading to broken bones, internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and more. These injuries can be both painful and costly, and may affect an individual long-term.
Property owners have a duty to maintain their properties in a reasonably safe condition – this means keeping the property free from any hazards and remedying any known hazards in a reasonable amount of time. For example, if a retail store manager notices a spill on aisle five, they need to make sure the spill is cleaned within a reasonable amount of time. If the spill goes uncleaned and a customer slips and falls, the store is breaching its duty to the customer.
When a property owner breaches their duty of care and someone who is on the property legally is harmed as a result, the property owner can be held liable. In order to win your claim, you’ll need to prove that the property owner knew or should have known of the hazard, yet failed to fix it or provide proper warning of it.
Note that special rules apply to trespassers and child trespassers. If you were trespassing or your child was trespassing at the time of injury, be sure to consult with an experienced premises liability lawyer.
Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Claims in Lexington
Following a slip and fall accident, it’s important that you provide the property owner with notice of the incident and that you seek medical care as soon as possible. In addition, you need to talk to a lawyer and start the claims process – you only have three years from the date of your injury to file a claim per South Carolina’s statute of limitations.
Call Our Lexington Slip & Fall Lawyers Today
For a free consultation with our Lexington slip and fall lawyers, please call The Stanley Law Group today or send us a message telling us more about how we can help you. We are ready to start building your case today.
