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Slip and falls are a leading cause of serious injuries, making up 21.3 percent of emergency room visits. If you slipped and fell and on another’s property, you might benefit from the advice and counsel of a local personal injury attorney. The time and effort necessary to bring a successful personal injury claim can feel overwhelming, but a York County slip and fall lawyer could provide support and help steer your case in the right direction.
An Overview of Slip and Fall Incidents
Slip and fall injuries in York County are often caused by the negligence of a property owner. If someone slips and falls on a property owned and operated by another person, company, or government institution, they may be able to recover compensation for their losses.
Issues of premises liability arise when property owners are negligent with respect to their maintenance of the property, which results in a dangerous condition. Hazardous materials, exposed wires, and wet surfaces are all examples of dangerous conditions that if left unfixed could expose property owners to liability.
Types of Visitors
In slip and fall cases in York County, a defendant may only be held liable if they owe a duty of care to the plaintiff, breach that duty of care, and the breach results in harm to the plaintiff. A defendant property owner’s duty of care differs depending on the type of visitor on their property. Typically, visitors could be separated into four categories:
- Adult trespassers
- Child trespassers
- Licensees
- Invitees
Adult trespassers are owed no duty of care by a property owner. These are people who enter the defendant’s property without permission. However, children who trespass are still owed a duty of care. Property owners who have reason to expect that children might trespass must protect them from potentially harmful artificial conditions on the property.
Property owners have a duty to warn social guests, also known as licensees, of dangerous conditions that are not obvious to them on the property. Invitees, visitors that enter the property for the benefit of the property owner, such as a patron or shopper, are afforded the highest protection. Property owners have a duty to take reasonable care to keep the premises safe and protect invitees from unreasonable risk of harm.
Filing a Case for Slip and Fall Injuries in York County
A slip and fall victim in York County may file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages against the defendant. However, they must meet a strict filing deadline known as the statute of limitations. If a plaintiff fails to file their case on time, they lose the right to bring their lawsuit in court. South Carolina Code §15-3-530 gives personal injury plaintiffs three years from the date of the slip and fall injury to file their case.
Contact a York County Slip and Fall Attorney Today
Suffering from a slip and fall injury could be overwhelming physically, mentally, and financially. Slip and fall-related injuries could cause you to miss work and impact your ability to earn wages and pay your bills.
You do not need to pursue your right to compensation on your own. A York County slip and fall lawyer could help assist you on your road to legal and financial recovery. The journey could be less confusing and less stressful with an experienced attorney leading the way. Call Schiller & Hamilton to discuss your legal options.