Did you hear the story about the truck driver who suffered a slip and fall at a Wal-Mart and was awarded $10 million? Although most accidents don't garner this much money, personal injuries often occur that warrant payments for disability, pain and suffering.
It's like a scene from a bad movie: you're enjoying a spirited game of ping-pong at a local arcade and, as you dash after a long lob, you stub your toe on a leg of a nearby chair. Staggering backwards, you lean against a banister which, unfortunately, gives away and you careen down a long flight of stairs.
Maybe you are shopping at a local grocery store. As you reach to grab a can of your favorite soup on the top shelf, you slip in a puddle of water on the floor and fall against the shelves before you. Unfortunately, the shelves break, showering hundreds of soup cans on your head and body.
We all have to admit, accidents do happen. However, if you have been injured on the property of another, you may be entitled to compensation.
In South Carolina, laws regarding "premises liability" hold property owners and occupiers legally responsible for injuries that occur on their properties. There are many considerations that determine liability when you are injured on the property of another. When analyzing the situation or circumstances surrounding the event or condition that led to an injury, a number of questions are considered, including:
- Was the injured person lawfully on the property or a trespasser?
- What was the condition of the property at the time the person was injured?
- Did the owner, occupier or employee know or should have known about a dangerous condition on the property?
- Did the owner, occupier or employee cause the dangerous condition?
- Did the injured person somehow contribute to the situation that caused the injury?
These and many other questions must be answered before you can expect to receive monetary damages for your injuries. Through the use of a competent and experienced attorney, the maze of personal injury and premises liability law can be navigated, obtaining the best settlement possible for you and your loved ones.
