What to Do After a Slip and Fall at a Store in South Carolina

After earning his JD from Charleston School of Law and gaining admission into the South Carolina Bar in 2012, Stephen Krzyston joined the Richland County Public Defender office as an assistant public defender. He worked there for six years before going into private practice. Today, Stephen Krzyston is an attorney at Cavanaugh & Thickens, providing representation to clients who have suffered personal injuries such as slips and falls at stores.

Slips and falls are responsible for more than a million hospital visits every year in the United States, according to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI). As many as 5 percent of all people who fall sustain fractures, mostly hip fractures, resulting in high medical bills and days out of work. In the worst cases, a slip and fall can cause death.

If you have suffered a slip and fall at a store in South Carolina, first seek medical attention. Next, request an incident report from the store and fill it. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration requires all businesses to keep a copy on hand. Speak to the store supervisor to get one and fill it conclusively. The report should specify the cause of the fall, which could be spills, lack of handrails, loose rugs, loose flooring, or poor lighting. Collect evidence of these. Take pictures or videos of the spot where you fell and gather the names and contacts of witnesses. This evidence will be beneficial when you file a lawsuit later on.

Finally, contact a personal injury attorney. Your slip and fall may have been caused by someone’s negligence entitling you to compensation. It is important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible because South Carolina law gives injured persons a limited time in which to sue private entities for injury, death, or damage to property.