Slip-and-fall accidents can occur on the job without warning. Anyone can be a victim of a slip-and-fall accident at work. The injuries you sustain could be severe depending on how the fall occurred.
If you were injured in a slip-and-fall accident at work, get help from a workplace slip-and-fall lawyer in South Carolina at Jebaily Law Firm. We have extensive experience helping injured workers get back on their feet while we pursue the benefits and compensation they need to cover their medical expenses and lost income in slip-and-fall claims.
Contact us now for a free consultation with an experienced workplace fall accident lawyer.
Why You Should Choose Our Firm for Your Workplace Fall Case
Jebaily Law Firm is committed to helping injured workers pursue the benefits they need because of a work injury. Our attorneys handle workers’ comp cases as well as personal injury claims if a third party is liable for your injuries. Because slip-and-fall cases can require the skills of an experienced workers’ compensation and personal injury lawyer, you will be in good hands with the slip-and-fall injury attorneys at our firm.
Common Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents at Work
South Carolina employers must provide a safe work environment for their employees. Yet, sometimes their efforts fall short, or they ignore this duty, and workers could suffer slip-and-fall injuries.
Some common causes of slip-and-fall accidents at work include:
- Poor maintenance practices – Wet floors and uneven surfaces are workplace hazards that put employees at risk for slip-and-fall accidents. Slippery floors, loose floorboards, or uneven, buckled concrete increase the risk of a fall at work claim.
- Hazardous conditions – A work area with loose cables and wires is a dangerous tripping hazard, especially if the worker is focused on performing their job duties. Likewise, cluttered walkways or items left in common areas can cause falls when the worker is not expecting something to be there. Even more extreme hazards may arise if cables and cluttered walkways occur on higher levels during construction.
- Structural issues – If your workplace is poorly lit, it may be difficult to maneuver around the work area and notice possible slip-and-fall hazards. If your employer fails to keep the necessary handrails in good repair, you could reach out for broken support and fall if it comes loose.
Types of Injuries from Slip-and-Fall Accidents
Slip-and-fall accidents can cause injuries ranging from relatively minor to severe, requiring anything from a minimum of care to surgery or lifelong treatment. Some common types of injuries sustained in slip-and-fall accidents include:
- Fractures – Workers can easily suffer broken bones in a fall, which could require surgical repair.
- Soft-tissue injuries – Even if you don’t break a bone in a fall, you can still sustain serious soft-tissue injuries to your ligaments and tendons. Symptoms of these injuries include pain and swelling.
- Sprains – If you try to catch yourself when falling, you can sprain or strain your wrist, resulting in a debilitating injury that interferes with daily activities, such as typing or cooking. An ankle sprain is another injury employees frequently suffer in slip-and-fall accidents.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) – An employee can suffer a minor concussion or a life-altering TBI in a falling accident. If you hit your head in a slip-and-fall accident, you should be evaluated for a brain injury.
- Knee injuries – If you twist as you fall, you can suffer severe knee injuries, including ACL or MCL tears. These injuries typically require surgery to repair, and you will likely need physical therapy to rehabilitate the knee joint.
- Chronic pain – Unfortunately, many workers who slip and fall at work suffer from chronic pain in the aftermath of the accident. Ongoing pain not only affects your ability to work but may also prevent you from participating in activities you enjoyed before the accident. For many, chronic pain also alters their mobility.
SC Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Workplace Fall Accidents
If you suffered a fall at work in South Carolina and your employer has workers’ compensation insurance, we can pursue the slip and fall at work compensation you deserve. One of the benefits of filing a workers’ compensation claim is that you need not prove anyone was at fault for the accident. If you were injured at work while doing your job, you should be entitled to benefits.
The South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) oversees workers’ compensation in the state. Our attorneys can advise you concerning what benefits you may be entitled to in your workers’ comp claim, which may include:
- Medical benefits – Workers’ comp covers the cost of necessary medical treatment for your workplace injuries.
- Partial wage-replacement benefits – Workers’ comp can replace some of your income if you are off work due to injuries. Specifically, if you are totally unable to work, you can receive wage replacement benefits at a rate of two-thirds (66 2/3 percent) of your average weekly wage. However, they cannot exceed the maximum weekly compensation rate set by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. Total disability benefits can be paid for up to 500 weeks.
- Partial disability or disfigurement – If you suffer injuries that result in permanent impairment, you can receive benefits based on the extent of your injury.
Potential Third-Party Claims After Slip-and-Fall Accidents at Work
You may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit related to the workplace slip-and-fall accident if someone other than your employer caused it. For example, if you slip and fall while working at a client’s building due to a dangerous condition on the premises, you might be entitled to file a lawsuit against the property owner.
A third-party lawsuit could provide compensation in addition to any workers’ comp benefits you’re owed. Workers’ comp benefits are limited to medical expenses and lost wages up to a certain limit. You can pursue additional forms of compensation in a civil lawsuit, including money for pain and suffering and the full extent of your lost wages.
Whether you can file a third-party liability claim with a workers’ comp claim is a fact-sensitive inquiry that requires analysis from an experienced attorney. Because our attorneys handle personal injury matters and workers’ comp cases, we are well-equipped to seek compensation for you from every available source.
How Our Lawyers Help People After Workplace Slip-and-Fall Accidents
You do not have to face a workplace slip-and-fall accident alone. At Jebaily Law Firm, we understand the stress and anxiety you may feel when a workplace injury leaves you unable to earn an income.
Contact us today to speak to a South Carolina lawyer in a free consultation about your potential slip-and-fall case.
FAQs
Slip-and-Fall FAQs
Will My Slip-and-Fall Case Go to Court or Settle Out of Court?
Whether your case settles or goes to court depends on factors like the strength of the available evidence, whether the other party is disputing their liability, the amount of money potentially at stake, and the quality of your legal representation. While a settlement might offer a faster resolution to your case, it might be in your interest to proceed to a trial if your evidence is strong and you stand to recover more compensation.
Can I File a Trip-and-Fall Claim for Injuries on a Rental Property?
Rental property owners have a responsibility to keep their properties reasonably well-maintained and to alert tenants and visitors to any known hazards. If your trip-and-fall accident took place on a common area of a rental property – as opposed to within the space you are renting, for example – you may have a valid claim against the property owner, landlord, or maintenance company.
What Role Do Witnesses Play in a Slip-and-Fall Case?
Witnesses can be very valuable in supporting a slip-and-fall claim against a property owner. If other people can confirm the presence of hazardous conditions, how long those conditions existed, the lack of warning signs, and other key facts, they could help persuade insurers or the court to hold the property owner accountable.
Can Footwear or Clothing Impact My Trip-and-Fall Claim?
A property owner may try to cite your shoes or clothing as having contributed to your trip-and-fall accident, or even claim that your attire was fully the cause of the incident. Depending on the strength of the evidence in their favor, this could reduce your compensation or prevent you from financial recovery entirely. It is important to have a South Carolina slip-and-fall accident attorney who can push back against unfair attempts to blame you for your injuries.
How Quickly Should I Start My Slip-and-Fall Claim Process?
Reach out to our slip-and-fall injury lawyers as soon as you have sought emergency medical treatment for your injuries. An attorney from Jebaily Law Firm can begin investigating the accident immediately. At the same time, the evidence is fresh and can help protect you from insurance companies, which may try to get you to accept a lowball settlement offer before you fully understand your situation and your rights.
What if I Didn’t Realize I Was Injured Until Days After the Fall?
If you felt okay after the accident, you may not have gone to the doctor. That is okay, but don’t wait any longer to get checked out. Having a record of your injuries and treatment is going to be one of the most important elements of your claim, and you need to be able to show that you sought treatment as soon as you realized you were hurt.
What Documents Should I Bring to a Trip-and-Fall Consultation?
For your initial consultation with our South Carolina trip-and-fall injury lawyers, gather any documentation you have that is related to the incident. That might include receipts or bills from medical providers, documentation of work you missed due to your injuries, receipts for out-of-pocket expenses you incurred as a result of the accident, and emails or notes of any conversations you had with insurance companies. If the property owner prepared an official report of the incident, get a copy of that as well. In short, anything you have that could help your attorney prepare your claim is worth bringing to your consultation.