Mt. Pleasant Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers

Slip and fall accidents have the potential to cause serious injuries. When someone else is to blame for your slip and fall accident, they may owe you a substantial amount of financial compensation. First, you need to deal with a skeptical insurance company that has its own financial interests at play in your case. The best step that you can take to protect your own rights and to work toward compensation is to contact an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer to represent you in the legal process. 

Where Do Slip and Fall Accidents Occur in Mt. Pleasant?

Slip and fall accidents could happen anytime that you are on the property of another person. Common places for accidents include: 

• Grocery stores
• Sidewalks, both on residential and public property
• Parking lots
• Retail establishments
• Restaurants and entertainment venues
• Apartment complexes 
• Shopping centers

Common Injuries in a Slip and Fall Accident

Slip and fall accidents can result in far more serious injuries than you may think at first. A fall is not just a fall. You can be left with serious life-changing injuries that can remain with you for an extended period of time. Common slip and fall accident injuries can include:

• Broken bones and fractures
• Cuts and lacerations
• Head and neck injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal injuries

Who Is Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident in Mt. Pleasant?

The person or entity that is in control of the property is the one who is held accountable for a slip and fall accident. In many cases, this is the owner of the property. However, the true owner of the property may not be the one who has the day-to-day control. 

For example, a store owner may have leased the property from its legal owner. In this case, you would typically hold the store owner accountable. There may be circumstances under which the legal owner could also be held liable. Your slip and fall accident lawyer would investigate your unique facts to determine who you can sue.

What Do I Do After I Have Been Hurt in a Slip and Fall Accident in Mt. Pleasant?

You must act simultaneously to take care of your health and to preserve and protect your legal right to financial compensation. Accordingly, you should do the following when you have been injured in a slip and fall accident:

• Report the injury immediately to the property owner, so they are aware of it and can perform their own investigation
• Report the injury to law enforcement, so a police officer can write an accident report that you may use in your claim
• Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries and follow up on all recommended medical care
• Contact an experienced slip and fall accident lawyer to represent you in the legal process

What Evidence May Prove My Slip and Fall Accident Case?

As the claimant in a slip and fall case, you must meet your own burden of proof before you can even receive a settlement offer. You must show that someone else was negligent by a “preponderance of the evidence,” meaning that it is more likely than not that the facts you allege are true. You need to provide evidence of negligence with your claim or lawsuit to be eligible for compensation.

You may rely on the following sources of evidence to prove your case: 

• Witness testimony from people who saw either your fall or the conditions in the area beforehand
• Pictures of the scene of your fall that can reveal the dangerous condition
• Video camera footage of the accident
• Any police report of the accident
• Maintenance logs that could show that the property was not inspected, or a dangerous condition was not remedied
• Testimony from an accident reconstruction expert

How Much Is My Slip and Fall Case Worth?

The value of your case depends on both the extent of your injuries and the amount of insurance coverage and assets that the responsible party has. If you are suing a business, there is a greater chance that they will have more insurance coverage to pay for your injuries. Nonetheless, you also have the obligation to not only prove liability, but you must also demonstrate how you have suffered damages.

Your slip and fall accident compensation consists of the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life

What Difficulties Will I Face in a Slip and Fall Case?

Insurance companies see a lot of slip and fall cases just like yours. They know that if they pay every single one of them to the full extent that the accident victim is due, it will cost them a lot of money. Accordingly, insurance companies may be aggressive about denying slip and fall claims, putting the onus on you to conclusively prove your case. They may also understand your true injuries in an attempt to offer you less money.

Another challenge that you face is that the evidence that you may need to prove your case is often in the hands of the responsible party. For example, there may be video footage of your accident, or maintenance logs that could show that the property was not inspected. You do not have immediate access to these sources of evidence, making it potentially more difficult for your lawyer to investigate. However, your lawyer can obtain this evidence in the discovery phase of your case should you file a lawsuit. 

Why You Need a Mt. Pleasant Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer

The insurance company is not going to treat you fairly in a slip and fall case. They may deny your claim entirely, or they could make you low settlement offers. You need an advocate who can fight on your behalf and stand up to the insurance company. An experienced slip and fall accident lawyer can investigate what happened and file a claim or lawsuit on your behalf.

Contact the Mt. Pleasant Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers at Rogers, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman LLC if You Need Legal Help

If you have been injured in an incident that occurred on the property of another, speak to the Mt. Pleasant slip and fall accident lawyers at Rogers, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman LLC. For a free consultation, contact us online or call today at 843-727-6500. With office locations in Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Aiken, and Columbia, South Carolina, we serve clients throughout South Carolina.