Frequently Asked Questions
About Slip & Fall AccidentsThere is no set value. Compensation depends on the severity of the injuries, the necessary medical treatment, time missed from work, and the long-term impact on the victim’s life. An attorney can evaluate your case’s specific facts to provide a realistic assessment.
Yes. In most cases, South Carolina’s statute of limitations for slip-and-fall claims is three years from the date of the accident. Missing this deadline generally eliminates your right to pursue compensation, so it is important to contact an attorney promptly.
You must show that a hazardous condition existed, that the property owner or business knew or should have known about it, and that they failed to address or adequately warn you about it in a timely manner. Establishing how long the hazard existed before your fall often becomes the central issue in these cases.
Depending on who was responsible for the condition that caused the fall, liability may fall on the property owner, a business owner, a tenant, a property management company, or a maintenance contractor. An experienced attorney can identify all potentially liable parties in your specific situation.
Settlement timelines vary based on the severity of the injuries, the complexity of the liability investigation, and how much negotiation is required. Cases involving serious injuries often take longer because your attorney may recommend waiting until your medical prognosis is clear before finalizing a claim.
In the immediate aftermath, your health insurance or the property’s medical payments coverage may cover initial treatment. Ultimately, if the property owner or business is found liable for your injuries, their insurance carrier is responsible for reimbursing your medical expenses as part of your settlement or verdict.
Yes. Initial settlement offers from insurance companies are often lower than a claim’s actual value, especially before the full extent of your injuries and future medical needs is known. An attorney can evaluate whether an offer reflects the true value of your claim before you accept it.
You suffered injuries in a Charleston slip and fall accident. What next? The steps you take in the immediate aftermath of a slip and fall accident can go a long way toward providing both physical and financial protection following your injury.
Report your injury to the premises owner. If you suffered injuries at a business, the business may have a specific procedure it needs to go through to create a record of the accident. The record will serve as evidence of when the accident took place, which can later make it easy for you to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim.
Create your own record of the accident. As soon as possible after your accident, take the time to sit down and create a record of the accident. You may want to take photos of the accident scene, including any clear signs of what led to your fall. If, for example, you suffered injuries when the stairs down to the beach collapsed beneath you, you might want to snap photos of the stairs. Ask for contact information from any witnesses to the accident.
As soon as you can, write down or record your account of what happened. Your memory may prove clearer in the immediate aftermath of the accident, which can make it easier for you to create an accurate view of exactly what led to your accident and your injuries.
Seek medical attention. Charleston offers several opportunities to seek medical attention, including MEDcare Urgent Care, Health First Urgent Care, and Access Urgent as well as Roper Hospital, MUSC Health University Medical Center, and a Children’s Hospital, where children can receive treatment for serious injuries. If you feel any pain or see any sign of injury after a fall, or if you have underlying health conditions that could make a fall more dangerous to you, always seek medical attention immediately.
Your doctor may uncover injuries that you did not even recognize in the immediate aftermath of the accident, including injuries like broken bones or even traumatic brain injury. Failure to seek treatment for those injuries could worsen your symptoms and leave you with more severe long-term impacts than you initially anticipated.
Contact an attorney. Do not try to handle a Charleston slip and fall accident claim on your own. Instead, get in touch with an experienced Charleston premises liability attorney. An attorney can help you decide on your next steps, give you vital advice, and make it easier for you to recover the compensation you deserve.
Yes. Homeowners owe a duty of care to visitors on their property. If a dangerous condition on a residential property caused your fall, you may be able to pursue a claim against the homeowner through their insurance policy.
They commonly occur in grocery stores, big-box retail stores, restaurants, apartment complexes, and parking lots, where wet floors, cluttered aisles, poor lighting, and uneven surfaces are common hazards.



