.1808011022550.jpg)
At our firm, we believe property owners should be held responsible for negligently failing to protect visitors. Whether you slipped on a wet floor, fell down a flight of stairs, or were injured by another dangerous condition on someone else’s property, we will help you seek justice from those responsible.
Proving Negligence in a Premises Liability Claim
If you have been injured on someone else’s property, you will need to prove 3 things:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care
- The defendant breached that duty of care by negligence or omission
- This breach of duty of care directly caused your injuries
Property owners, tenants, leaseholders, landlords, easement holders, and others responsible for maintaining a property may be held liable for your injuries. Evidence, such as pictures of the hazardous condition, medical records, witness statements, and other documentation, help to support your claim. Property owners must remove any hazardous conditions that could harm visitors, or they must at least provide adequate warning of dangerous conditions to guests.
Classifications of Guests Under South Carolina Laws
South Carolina recognizes 4 types of visitors on a property:
- Invitees. Invitees are people who enter a property for business reasons, such as a customer at a store or a guest at a hotel. Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees.
- Licensees. Licensees are people who enter a property for social reasons, such as friends or family members. Property owners also owe a duty of care to social guests.
- Adult trespassers. Adult trespassers are people who enter a property without permission. They have no legal right to be there. Property owners generally do not owe any duty of care to trespassers, but they may still be held liable for setting traps or purposefully harming trespassers.
- Children. Property owners owe a duty of care to children, even if the children are trespassing. For example, if a property owner fails to cover a pool and a child trespasses and is injured, the property owner may be held liable.
Steps to Take If You Are Injured on Someone Else’s Property
If you are injured on someone else’s property, it is important to gather evidence and write down everything you know about the incident. Furthermore, you should get the contact information of any witnesses, and seek medical attention immediately. Even if you don’t feel injured, it is still important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Some underlying injuries may not show symptoms for hours or days after the accident. Seeing a doctor can ensure you receive treatment for any underlying injuries. You can also use your medical record to show the nature, cause, and extent of your injuries.
Call Lawton Law Firm Today at (843) 960-3223 for Aggressive Representation
At Lawton Law Firm, we are backed by a track record of successful case results. With more than 3 decades of legal experience and a passion for justice, we fight diligently on behalf of our clients. If you have been injured on someone else’s property, our Mt. Pleasant premises liability attorney will investigate the incident to determine who is responsible. We will help you file the necessary documents, gather evidence, and walk you through the legal process.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.