Charleston Premises Liability Attorney

If you were injured on someone else’s property in Charleston or anywhere in South Carolina, the property owner or the party responsible for maintaining the property may be liable for your injuries. Premises liability is a broad legal concept that holds property owners and occupiers accountable when unsafe conditions on their property injure visitors, customers, or guests. This liability covers more than just slip and falls. It also covers negligent security that allows an assault to occur, defective building conditions, swimming pool accidents, elevator and escalator failures, animal attacks, and construction site hazards.

Charleston’s mix of historic downtown properties, active commercial corridors, high-density residential developments, and growing suburban communities creates a wide range of premises liability environments. Unaddressed property conditions in any of these settings can result in serious injuries with long-lasting physical, financial, and personal consequences.

Hughey Law Firm represents victims of premises liability throughout Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, and South Carolina.

Call (843) 881-8644 to schedule a free consultation, fill our contact form or connect through live chat to speak with our team.

Charleston Premises Liability Guide

• What Is a Premises Liability Claim in South Carolina?
• Common Causes of Premises Liability Accidents in Charleston
• Who Can Be Held Responsible?
• What Makes a Property Unsafe Under South Carolina Law?
• Steps to Take After a Premises Liability Accident
• What Damages Can You Recover?
• Charleston Premises Liability Attorneys Fighting for Injury Victims
• Why Choose Hughey Law Firm?
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Premises Liability Claim in South Carolina? 

A premises liability claim arises when someone is injured by a defective, dangerous, or negligently maintained condition on another party’s property. The property owner or the party responsible for maintaining the property may be held liable for these injuries if they knew or should have known about the hazardous condition but failed to address it or warn people on the property about it.

In South Carolina, premises liability cases are governed by the legal relationship between the injured person and the property owner. South Carolina law recognizes four classifications that affect the duty of care owed:

• Invitees are individuals who enter with the owner’s invitation, typically customers of a business. Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care, including a duty to actively inspect and correct hazardous conditions.
• Licensees are individuals who enter with the owner’s consent, such as social guests. Owners must warn licensees of known dangers, but they are not required to actively inspect for hazards.
• Adult trespassers are owed no duty of care beyond avoiding willful or wanton injury.
• Children are generally owed a higher standard of care, including protection from attractive nuisances, regardless of whether they were invited onto the property.

Common Causes of Premises Liability Accidents in Charleston 

Premises liability claims in Charleston arise from a variety of property types and hazard conditions. Common causes include:

• Slip and Fall Injuries
• Negligent security and assaults
• Swimming pool accidents
• Elevator and escalator failures
• Parking lot injuries
• Construction site hazards
• Flooding and water damage
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Stairwell and ramp accidents
• Amusement park accidents
• Dram shop and liquor liability
• Fires and toxic chemical exposure

Premises liability accidents in Charleston are often caused by deteriorating road surfaces, which consumer safety organizations have documented as some of the worst in the country. Other contributing factors include the concentration of pedestrian traffic through historic downtown areas with uneven surfaces and aging infrastructure, as well as the ongoing construction activity in the rapidly developing North Charleston, West Ashley, and Cainhoy Peninsula corridors.

Who Can Be Held Responsible? 

Depending on the nature of the property and the circumstances of the injury, premises liability cases in Charleston can involve multiple potentially responsible parties.

• Business owners who invite customers onto their property have the highest duty of care and are often defendants in commercial premises liability claims.
• Homeowners who invite guests onto their property are responsible for maintaining safe conditions and warning guests of known hazards.
• Property management companies that are contractually responsible for maintaining a property are liable when their negligence creates or allows dangerous conditions.
• Stores, malls, and restaurants are responsible for the conditions within their premises and adjacent controlled areas.
• Parent companies and corporate ownership entities may share liability when their operational decisions, including staffing and maintenance budgets, create conditions that cause injury.

Charleston Premises Liability Attorneys Fighting for Injury Victims 

Hughey Law Firm represents injury victims in premises liability cases of all kinds in Charleston and throughout South Carolina. Our attorneys are experienced in identifying all liable parties, including insurers in complex, multiparty claims, as well as coverage under homeowners’ umbrella policies. We collaborate with a network of independent experts, including accident reconstructionists, building safety specialists, and medical professionals, to determine the nature of the hazardous condition and the extent of the resulting injuries.

Previously, Nathan Hughey obtained a $1,625,000 premises liability settlement for a client injured by a dangerous property condition. This result does not guarantee any future outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated based on its unique facts and circumstances.

Why Choose Hughey Law Firm for Your Charleston Premises Liability Case?

• We provide full case management from start to finish. We handle every aspect of the claim, including the initial investigation, evidence preservation, expert retention, insurance negotiations, and litigation when necessary.
• We provide independent expert support. We collaborate with accident reconstructionists, flooring and building safety specialists, security experts, and medical professionals whose testimony supports the full scope of the claim.
• We have trial capability. When insurance companies decline to offer fair value, Hughey Law Firm takes premises liability cases to trial. This readiness influences how every case is valued and negotiated.
• There is no fee unless we recover. All premises liability cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we secure compensation for you.
• We serve all of South Carolina. From our Charleston office, we represent clients throughout the metro area, including North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Goose Creek, and other South Carolina communities.