The short answer: If you’re hurt on someone else’s property, receive medical care, report the injury to the owner or manager, and document the hazard that caused it before it’s repaired or cleaned up. A premises liability case lets you seek compensation when a property owner’s negligence causes your injury. In South Carolina, you generally have three years from the date of the injury to file.

An injury on someone else’s property can leave you with medical bills, missed work, and questions about who’s responsible. When a property owner ignores a hazard they should have handled, South Carolina law may allow you to recover compensation. Here’s how these claims work and what you can do to protect yours. Our attorneys at Jordan Law Center offer free consultations to individuals injured across the Greenville area.

In this article, our Greenville personal injury lawyer discusses:

– What is a premises liability case?

– What duty does a property owner owe to visitors?

– What hazards commonly lead to a premises liability claim?

– What do you have to prove in a premises liability case?

– What should you do after an injury on someone else’s property?

– How does South Carolina’s comparative negligence rule affect your claim?

– Frequently asked questions about premises liability in Greenville

– Talk to a Greenville premises liability attorney

What Is A Premises Liability Case?

A premises liability case is a claim that holds a property owner responsible for an injury caused by an unsafe condition on their property. The idea is straightforward: individuals who control property have the legal duty to keep it reasonably safe for those they allow onto it. When property owner negligence leads to a preventable injury, the owner, business, or manager in control of the space can be held accountable. These claims cover homes, stores, restaurants, apartment complexes, parking lots, and other properties.

What Duty Does A Property Owner Owe To Visitors?

A property owner’s duty depends on why you were on the property. South Carolina, like most states, sorts visitors into three categories:

– Invitees: Individuals invited onto the property for the owner’s benefit, such as store customers. Owners owe them the highest duty, including inspecting for hazards and either fixing them or warning about them.

– Licensees: Social guests and others present with permission. Owners must warn them of known dangers that aren’t obvious.

– Trespassers: Individuals on property without permission. Owners generally owe them only a duty not to cause willful harm.

Where you fall in these categories affects how strong your claim is, which is one reason it helps to talk with a slip-and-fall lawyer in Greenville about your specific situation.

What Hazards Commonly Lead To A Premises Liability Claim?

Most premises liability claims trace back to a hazard the owner could have corrected. Common examples include:

– Wet or slippery floors without warning signs.

– Poor lighting in stairwells, hallways, or parking areas.

– Broken stairs and loose or missing handrails.

– Uneven walkways, torn carpet, or cracked sidewalks.

– Insufficient security that allows foreseeable harm.

Not every injury on someone’s property leads to a valid claim. The question is whether the owner acted reasonably.

What Do You Have To Prove In A Premises Liability Case?

You generally have to show the property owner knew, or should have known, about the hazard and then failed to address it in a reasonable time. Proving that a spilled liquid sat on the floor for an hour is very different from proving it appeared seconds before you fell. You also have to show the hazard caused your injury and that you suffered actual damages, such as medical bills or lost wages. Evidence, such as photos, incident reports, and witness accounts, often makes the difference.

What Should You Do After An Injury On Someone Else’s Property?

Take these steps as soon as you’re able.

Receive medical care. A prompt exam protects your health and creates a record connecting the injury to the incident.
Report the injury. Tell the owner, manager, or landlord and ask for a written incident report.
Document the scene. Photograph the hazard, the surrounding area, and your injuries before anything is repaired or cleaned.
Identify witnesses. Obtain names and contact information from anyone who saw what happened.
Keep records. Save medical bills, receipts, and anything you receive from the property owner or their insurer.

The sooner you gather this information, the harder it is for an insurer to dispute what happened.

If a property owner’s insurer has already reached out about your fall, consider talking with our attorneys before you give a recorded statement. Call Jordan Law Center at 864-808-1810.

How Does South Carolina’s Comparative Negligence Rule Affect Your Claim?

South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar. You can recover compensation as long as you’re less than 51% at fault, though your percentage of fault reduces your recovery. Property owners and their insurers know this, so they often argue you were partly responsible, such as claiming you weren’t watching where you were walking. If you’re found 20% at fault, for example, your compensation drops by 20%.

Timing matters too. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530, you generally have three years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Evidence fades long before then, so it helps to act early.

Frequently Asked Questions About Premises Liability In Greenville

How much does it cost to talk to a premises liability lawyer?

Our consultations are free. You can ask questions about your injury and your options at no cost and with no obligation to hire us.

What compensation can I recover?

Depending on your case, you may recover money for medical bills, lost wages, future care, and pain and suffering. Every case is different, and the value depends on the specific facts.

What if I were partly at fault for my fall?

You may still have a claim. Because South Carolina uses a 51% bar, you can recover as long as you’re less than 51% responsible, though your percentage of fault reduces your recovery.

How long do I have to file a premises liability case in South Carolina?

Most personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the injury. Some situations can change that window, so it’s best to confirm the deadline that applies to your case early.

Talk To A Greenville Premises Liability Attorney

Premises liability claims turn on evidence and details, and the property owner’s insurer starts building its defense quickly. Our attorneys at Jordan Law Center take a hands-on, methodical approach to these cases, and we’re prepared to litigate when the evidence supports it. We serve Greenville and the surrounding South Carolina areas from our office at 622 Wade Hampton Boulevard.

Injured on someone else’s property in Greenville? Call Jordan Law Center at 864-808-1810 for a free consultation to talk through your concerns and your options.

“Jordan Law has been working with my family and I for over a year due to a car wreck. They have been very helpful and informative throughout the whole process. They have kept us up-to-date in a timely matter and have always remained professional and kind!”

“If I could give this company 10 stars I would in a heart beat!! Melissa and William were the nicest people for me and my family. I handed them a very difficult accident case and after 4 long months of arguing with insurance companies I was given more money.”

“Will and the team handled our case in the most utmost professional and yet sensitive manner. They had a sense of urgency for us , yet never rushed anything. They provided us with step by step details and updates of our case, coordinated all info in a very timely manner and negotiated on or behalf for a end result we were very satisfied with. We would highly recommend Will Jordan and his firm.”

What to Do When a Property Owner’s Negligence Injures You