If you suffered an injury after a slip and fall, you likely have many questions concerning your legal rights. For example, you may wonder who will pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Unfortunately, slip and fall claims in Walterboro can be highly complex. Not only must a plaintiff prove that the fall happened on another’s property, but they must also demonstrate that the owner failed to protect them.
Fortunately, a Walterboro slip and fall lawyer may be able to help. Our dedicated personal injury attorneys at Whetstone Perkins & Fuld could work diligently to explain your legal rights, investigate the case of your fall, and demand proper compensation from at-fault property owners.
Determining a Visitor’s Rights under the Law
While all property owners must protect visitors who come onto their land, the extent of this duty will change depending on why the guest was visiting. State law separates visitors in slip and fall cases into three categories. Determining a landowner’s responsibility under these classifications is the first step in pursuing a civil claim for damages.
Trespassers
Trespassers enter or remain on a person’s land without the owner’s permission. Trespassers can only prevail in a claim if they can prove that the owner knew about the visitor’s presence and failed to fix a known hazard.
Licensees
Licensees are people who enter a property owner’s land for a social purpose. Landowners must take care to warn these guests about known dangers and hazards.
Invitees
These individuals enter a person’s property with permission for business purposes, such as buying clothes. Landowners here must take reasonable steps to identify and clear any hazard they knew or should have known about.
A seasoned attorney in Walterboro could establish a visitor’s rights under the law and demonstrate how a landowner failed to provide adequate protection against a slip and fall injury.
Recovering Adequate Compensation in a Slip and Fall Claim
Proving that a property owner was responsible for an incident that resulted in your injury is only part of a successful claim. For example, you must also be prepared to demonstrate how the incident has affected your life. Generally, a civil case cannot progress unless you suffer an injury that requires medical treatment. Common examples of slip and trip injuries include:
- Strains or sprains of ligaments
- Separated knees, hips, or ankles
- Severe cuts
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
While you may be able to recover payments for medical bills and lost wages related to their harm, they are not the only potential source of compensation. For example, since most physical injuries also inflict emotional trauma on a victim, you could pursue damages for emotional trauma and pain and suffering.
Statute of Limitations
A civil suit is only valid if you act within the time limits to file your case. Pursuant to South Carolina Code § 15-3-530, you have three years following a slipping accident to demand compensation. A hardworking lawyer in Walterboro could work on filing claims within the appropriate timeframe that demand payments for your losses.
Let a Walterboro Slip and Fall Attorney Take the Lead
Pursuing a claim for damages following a slip and fall injury can be surprisingly difficult. A plaintiff must prove that an at-fault party failed to keep them safe and justify their actions leading up to the fall. In some cases, insurance companies may argue that your carelessness contributed to the fall or that the landowner owes you a duty of protection.
Therefore, hiring a Walterboro slip and fall lawyer could provide essential support. Our attorneys will work to protect your legal rights and demand proper payments while you focus on your recovery. Contact a Walterboro slip and fall attorney at Whetstone Perkins & Fuld to get started on your case.
