Columbia Premises Liability Lawyer

When you visit a grocery store, apartment complex, or office building in Columbia, South Carolina, you expect to be safe. You trust that the property owner has taken care of broken stairs, wet floors, or security issues. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. Property owners sometimes cut corners on safety, and innocent people get hurt.

If you were injured on someone else’s property because of a dangerous condition, you should not have to pay for your medical bills and lost wages. You may have a premises liability claim. At The Super Lawyer, our Columbia premises liability lawyers help injury victims hold negligent property owners accountable. We handle the legal battle so you can focus on healing.

Understanding Premises Liability in South Carolina

Premises liability is a specific area of personal injury law. It holds property owners and occupiers responsible when they fail to keep their land or buildings reasonably safe for visitors. In South Carolina, owning property comes with a “duty of care.” This means the owner must take reasonable steps to fix hazards or warn visitors about them.

However, simply getting hurt on someone else’s property does not automatically mean you get compensation. You must prove that the owner was negligent. This usually means showing that the owner knew—or should have known—about the danger and did nothing to fix it.

Common Types of Premises Liability Cases We Handle

Dangerous conditions can happen anywhere, from a retail store in the Vista to a parking lot in Richland County. We handle a wide range of premises liability cases, including:

• Slip and Fall Accidents: These occur due to wet floors, spilled liquids, or icy walkways.
• Trip and Fall Accidents: These are often caused by torn carpet, uneven sidewalks, or clutter in aisles.
• Inadequate or Negligent Security: If a property lacks proper lighting or security guards, and you are the victim of an assault or crime, the owner may be liable.
• Dog Bites: Owners are generally responsible if their dog attacks a guest or someone legally on the property.
• Elevator and Escalator Accidents: Malfunctioning equipment can cause serious crushing or falling injuries.
• Swimming Pool Accidents: Lack of fencing, broken drains, or slippery decks can lead to drowning or injuries.
• Falling Objects: Merchandise falling from high shelves can cause severe head and neck injuries.
• Construction Site Accidents: Dangerous debris or lack of warning signs near work zones can harm passersby.

Who Is Liable for Your Injury?

Determining who is at fault is one of the first steps in a premises liability case. It is not always just the building owner. Depending on where the accident happened, liability might fall on:

• Property Owners: The individual or company that owns the land or building.
• Landlords and Tenants: In commercial leases, a business renting the space (like a grocery store) might be responsible for maintenance, not the building owner.
• Property Management Companies: Firms hired to maintain the premises may be at fault if they ignored repair requests.
• Security Companies: If a security firm failed to patrol an area as promised, they might share liability for an assault.

Proving Your Premises Liability Claim

To win a case in Columbia, your lawyer must prove four key legal elements:

1. Duty of Care: The defendant owned or controlled the property and owed you a duty to keep it safe.
2. Breach of Duty: The defendant failed to fix a hazard or warn you about it. This is often where we look for “notice”—did they know the floor was wet or the light was broken?
3. Causation: The dangerous condition directly caused your accident.
4. Damages: You suffered actual harm, such as physical injuries and financial losses.
5. Visitor Status: Your rights depend on why you were on the property. “Invitees” (customers) are owed the highest duty of care. “Licensees” (social guests) are owed a warning about known dangers. Trespassers generally have fewer rights, though there are exceptions for children.

Compensation Available for Injury Victims

A serious fall or accident can change your life. You may be unable to work while medical bills pile up. We fight to recover full compensation for your losses, which may include:

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• Medical Expenses: This covers emergency room visits, surgery, physical therapy, and future medical needs.
• Lost Wages: Reimbursement for the paychecks you missed while recovering.
• Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injury prevents you from returning to your old job or working at all.
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful Death: If a loved one passed away due to unsafe property conditions, families can pursue damages for funeral costs and loss of companionship.

How Comparative Negligence Affects Your Claim

Insurance companies often try to blame the victim. They might say you were looking at your phone or wearing unsafe shoes. South Carolina follows a “comparative negligence” rule. This means you can still get compensation even if you were partially at fault, as long as you were less than 51% responsible.

However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if a jury awards you $100,000 but decides you were 20% at fault, you would receive $80,000. Our goal is to use evidence to minimize any blame placed on you.

What to Do After Being Injured on Someone Else’s Property

Taking the right steps immediately after an accident can protect your right to compensation. If you are hurt:

1. Seek Medical Attention: Go to a doctor or hospital right away. Your health is the priority, and medical records serve as crucial evidence.
2. Report the Accident: Notify the manager, landlord, or owner immediately. Ask them to file an incident report and request a copy.
3. Gather Evidence: Take photos of the hazard (like the puddle or broken step) before it gets cleaned up. Get names and phone numbers of any witnesses.
4. Preserve Evidence: Keep the shoes and clothes you were wearing. Do not wash them if they have substance on them from the fall.
5. Do Not Sign Anything: Insurance adjusters may ask for a recorded statement or offer a quick settlement. Do not agree to anything without speaking to a lawyer first.
6. Contact a Lawyer: Call a Columbia premises liability attorney to investigate your case before evidence disappears.

South Carolina Statute of Limitations

You do not have unlimited time to take legal action. In South Carolina, the statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits is three years from the date of the accident. If you miss this deadline, the court will likely dismiss your case, and you will receive nothing.

Exceptions exist. If the injury occurred on government property (like a city sidewalk or public school), the deadline is often much shorter—sometimes just two years—and requires specific notice filings. It is vital to contact an attorney as soon as possible to ensure no deadlines are missed.

How Our Columbia Premises Liability Lawyers Can Help

Handling a claim on your own can be overwhelming, especially when you are in pain. Insurance companies have teams of lawyers working to pay you as little as possible. We level the playing field. Here is how we help:

• Thorough Investigation: We visit the scene, review surveillance video, and examine maintenance records to prove the owner was negligent.
• Expert Witnesses: We work with medical experts and safety engineers to explain how the accident happened and how it affects your future.
• Negotiation: We handle all communication with the insurance company to fight for a fair settlement.
• Trial Readiness: If the insurer refuses to be fair, we are prepared to file a lawsuit and represent you in Richland County courts.
• No Upfront Costs: We work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.