If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, the Columbia slip and fall lawyers at the Goings Law Firm, LLC have the experience and resources to help you. We know how challenging it can be to hold individuals and companies accountable for a slip and fall injury that has occurred on their premises, and we don’t want you to face this process alone. Our legal team is here to help you through the process.
At the Goings Law Firm, LLC, our Columbia slip and fall lawyers have years of experience fighting for personal injury plaintiffs and, in that time, we have garnered a great number of awards and accolades that set us apart from other slip and fall attorneys. We have received the 2017 Legal Elite award from the Columbia Business Monthly, as well as the 2016 Legal Elite of the Midlands award. Our firm is also a Best Lawyers member and an American Board of Trial Advocates member. We were rated as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2013, 2014, and 2015 and received a 10.0 Super Lawyer rating by Avvo.com. Martindale-Hubbell gave us their highest-level rating of “AV”, and National Trial Lawyers named us in their Top 100 and Top 40 Under 40. For more on our awards and accolades, please visit goingslawfirm.com/about/.
For years, our firm has been a fixture in the Columbia community. The people we represent are not just our clients. They are our neighbors and our friends. Furthermore, our results speak for themselves as we have recovered millions on behalf of clients. Check out our results at goingslawfirm.com/results/.
At the Goings Law Firm, LLC, we take our role in the community very seriously and will fight to get you the financial compensation you deserve. Call us now at (803) 350-9230 for a free consultation.
Do I Need a Columbia Slip and Fall Lawyer?
If you suffered an injury in a slip and fall incident, you may qualify for compensation for your injuries. South Carolina premises liability law, commonly known as slip and fall law, allows injured individuals to bring causes of action against negligent owners of residential or commercial properties.
According to the Supreme Court of South Carolina, there are three elements that a premises liability plaintiff must prove in order to establish the negligence of a property owner. A plaintiff must first demonstrate that a duty of care was owed to the plaintiff by the defendant. Second, the defendant breached that duty of care by a negligent act or omission. Lastly, the damages suffered were reasonably caused by the breach of the duty of care. See Hurst v. East Coast Hockey League, Inc., 371 S.C. 33, 37, 637 S.E.2d 560, 562 (2006).
Now, all of this may sound like a lot of legal mumbo-jumbo, which is why it’s vital that you have an attorney on your side—someone who can understand this terminology. Essentially, if a property owner knows of or negligently creates an unsafe condition on their property, they may bear liability for any personal injuries caused by that condition.
Property owners have a responsibility to maintain safe premises for visitors. They must anticipate and protect against any open and obvious dangers. If they fail to do so, consequently, they may be held liable in a premises liability lawsuit. Moreover, overlooking such precautions could result in legal repercussions.
Why Should I Choose the Goings Law Firm, LLC?
If you’ve suffered an injury in Columbia, consequently, you have many fall accident attorneys you can choose from to assist you with your slip and fall claim. There are several things that you should consider in your search for the attorney that will work best for you: their record of success, solid and positive testimonials, and a hard-working and dedicated team. The Goings Law Firm, LLC has all three of these things.
Record of Success: many of our clients have received multimillion-dollar settlements in the aftermath of their accidents. Others received amounts exceeding five and six digits.
Positive Testimonials: Nearly every one of our testimonials mentions recommending the Goings Law Firm, LLC to those in need of a fall accident attorney. A few words come up several times: exceptional, knowledgeable, and professional.
Dedicated Team: Each of the fall accident lawyers at the Goings Law Firm, LLC—Jessica L. O’Neill Gooding, Robert F. Goings, and Christian E. Boesl—have their own lists of accolades and accomplishments, and they have over 30 years of combined experience.
Types of Slip and Fall Injuries
Some of the most common injuries we see in slip and fall cases are those involving fractured or broken bones. According to the CDC, more than 95 percent of fractures to the hip are the result of a fall. Consequently, hip fractures are especially costly because they usually require hospitalization and surgery. In addition to hip injuries, a few of the more common injuries we see include:
- Head injuries: One of the most dangerous injuries for victims of slip and fall injuries is injuries to the head. Even a seemingly minor injury to your head can be a medical emergency. According to the CDC, these serious injuries are so dangerous because they can cause traumatic brain injury. The CDC defines a traumatic brain injury as “a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.” See https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/index.html. If you fall and hit your head, you should see a doctor right away.
- Spinal injuries: Injuries to the spinal cord can also be extremely dangerous. In addition, these injuries often involve some of the most costly procedures and rehabilitation. Injuries to the spine can even result in paralysis. Again, if you believe you may have injured your spine, it is important to seek medical help immediately.
- Cuts, scrapes, or abrasions: Often, injuries such as cuts, scrapes, or abrasions are less serious than those involving fractures or broken bones. These injuries mostly require very limited treatment, such as staples or stitches, but they are nonetheless important to document in a slip and fall injury. With the ever-increasing costs of medical expenses, even superficial injuries can add up.
You may be injured in a slip and fall accident in various ways; consequently, if you’ve been injured due to another party’s negligence, it’s essential to contact our firm. Slip and fall accidents often occur due to:
- Slippery floors
- Changes in flooring type or elevation
- Ice or snow
- Uneven pavement
- Loose gravel
- Staircases that have narrow treads, are too steep, or lack handrails
- Debris in walkways or foreign objects in pedestrian areas
- Curbs
- Potholes or holes in flooring
Slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere at any time, but people commonly report these car accidents in grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, and workplaces across the U.S.
What Forms of Compensation Might I Be Entitled To?
Furthermore, a person who sustains an injury in a slip and fall incident may be eligible for various types of compensation. One of the most common forms of victim fair compensation is damages related to medical expenses. The slip and fall injury victim may have future medical expenses entitlement, in addition to those they have already incurred.
Lost wages are another form of recovering compensation that a premises liability plaintiff may receive. Injured in a slip and fall accident? You can pursue damages for lost wages if you’re unable to work. They can also pursue damages for vocational training if they need to switch careers.
Additionally, in 1991, the Supreme Court of South Carolina adopted the “comparative negligence doctrine,” thus leading to far-reaching consequences for slip and fall cases. Before making this decision, negligent property owners completely prevented plaintiffs from recovering any damages if they found the plaintiffs negligent to any degree. The contributory negligence doctrine, an outdated concept, played a major role in determining the outcomes of slip and fall cases. Since the decision was made, the rate of success in cases of this kind has significantly increased. Additionally, in South Carolina, a slip and fall plaintiff can recover compensation as long as their own negligence is not greater than that of the at-fault party. The plaintiff’s compensation will be reduced in proportion to their share of the fault.
Contact a Columbia Slip and Fall Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious slip and fall injury on a property or premises owned by another, it is imperative that you seek help from a premises liability lawyer who has the experience and resources that you need. Your health and financial future are priorities to the lawyers at the Goings Law Firm, LLC in Columbia. Our team stands ready to help guide you through the legal process to pursue compensation. Call (803) 350-9230 to speak with a slip and fall lawyer in Columbia today.
