Charleston Slip and Fall Lawyer
Slip and fall accidents can potentially leave you with painful injuries that require considerable time to heal. When a proprietor or homeowner does not take sufficient steps to safeguard you from these possible injuries, let your Charleston slip and fall lawyers at The Joel Bieber Firm help you obtain compensation.
Careless property owners deserve to pay for their negligent choices, and a dedicated Charleston slip and fall lawyer can assist with this goal. A slip and fall lawsuit can be the means for you to obtain compensation for injuries you suffer.
We fight efficiently and aggressively to help you get the maximum amount of damages for your case as quickly as possible.
Where Slip and Fall Accidents Happen in Charleston
Slips and falls do not happen only in specific places or certain seasons. Instead, a slip and fall can occur in nearly any location and at any time of year. Slip and fall dangers exist:
Around Pools and Bodies of Water
Water is an obvious slip hazard, so it should not be surprising that pools, boardwalks, and anywhere close to water can contain a slip hazard. Just because you can expect water to be present in certain locations does not mean you deserve to slip and fall, though.
Depending on the type of property, a property owner may have a legal duty to warn about spilled water or clean up a puddle so that you do not slip. The circumstances will determine what steps the property owner should take to keep visitors and guests safe.
In Parking Lots and on Sidewalks During Inclement Weather
Snow and ice impact roads, sidewalks, and parking lots alike. Just because your car does not slide on the roadway does not mean parking lots and sidewalks are safe to travel on foot. Businesses must take reasonable steps to keep their indoor and outdoor walkways clear and safe for guests.
Poorly Lit Stairways and Walkways
Adequate lighting helps you see obstacles and uneven surfaces that can cause you to lose your footing. When stairways and walkways lack adequate lighting, it becomes difficult to see and avoid these dangers.
No matter where your slip and fall occurs, know that The Joel Bieber Firm and our experienced Charleston slip and fall lawyers have the resources to thoroughly investigate your claim and pursue recovery for you.
Injuries Common to Slip and Fall Accidents
A slip and fall can lead to various injuries, some of which can be severe. The risk of severe injury is especially high for older adults.
One of the most serious injuries that can follow a slip and fall accident is a traumatic brain injury. This injury happens as a result of hitting your head on the ground or floor or some object following a slip and fall. Severe traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, can cause significant and permanent impairment of functioning.
Broken bones are also common in slip and fall cases. If you brace yourself with your hand while falling, you may injure or break the bones in your wrist and arm. If you land on your bottom or side, harm may result in your hip joint. Landing on your back can damage your neck and spine.
Sprains and strains can happen as a result of slips and falls, too. While these may need nothing more than ice and rest to heal, they can still be painful. And like other possible slip and fall injuries, they can prevent you from returning to work until the injury fully heals.
Duties Property Owners Owe to Guests
West Virginia law imposes certain obligations on property owners. These obligations depend on whether the property is open to others and whether the property owner is actively inviting people to come onto the property.
Responsibility Toward Invitees
An invitee is someone whom the property owner invites onto the property for business purposes, such as a business customer. For these individuals, the property owner or manager must take reasonable steps to seek out and correct dangerous conditions that might lead to a slip and fall.
For example, a business owner may have to pay damages to you if they failed to clean up a spilled product or cleaner in a store aisle. Even if the owner tries to claim they did not know about or see the spill, they may still be liable if they failed to take reasonable measures to inspect the property.
Responsibility Toward Licensees
A licensee is a social guest who receives an invitation to come onto a property for personal, non-business reasons. Dinner guests or neighbors invited to participate in a barbeque are examples of social guests.
When it comes to social guests, property owners’ duty requires them to warn the social guests of any hidden danger of which the owner knows.
Unlike invitees, a property owner does not owe licensees any obligation to search their property or discover hazardous conditions.
Responsibility Toward Trespassers
A property owner has no obligation toward a trespasser or someone who does not have permission to be on the property. An exception is made for trespassing children, however.
If the property owner has something on their property that could attract a child’s interest and attention, such as a pool, they must take reasonable steps to protect vulnerable children from accessing the danger.
How an Experienced Charleston Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help You
If you slipped and fell while shopping or while visiting someone’s property, you may have a claim for damages. Speak with The Joel Bieber Firm and our Charleston slip and fall lawyers immediately. Ask for your free case evaluation so we can go over the facts of your case with you and advise you as to your legal rights and how to assert them.