Slip & Fall Lawyers in North Carolina
Helping Victims of Unsafe Property Conditions
Though they often get a bad reputation as “frivolous,” slip and fall accidents can actually result in severe bodily injury and emotional trauma. At Lanier Law Group, P.A., we understand just how serious these cases can be, which is why our dedicated North Carolina slip and fall lawyers work tirelessly to pursue maximum financial compensation for injured victims. If you slipped and fell due to unsafe or negligent property conditions and suffered injuries, harm, and other damages as a result, reach out to our legal team. We can help you determine if you have grounds for legal action and, if so, will put all our experience, resources, and skill behind you.
Common Causes of Slip & Fall Accidents
In some cases, a slip and fall may be the result of general clumsiness or a genuinely blameless accident. However, it is far too often that slip and falls are caused by the negligence of property owners. Under premises liability law, property owners have a responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe for anyone who lawfully enters the property. When property owners fail to address, fix, or warn of dangerous property conditions, others can slip, trip, fall, and be seriously hurt.
Examples of dangerous property conditions that often lead to slip and fall accidents include:
- Wet, slippery floors
- Torn or ripped carpeting
- Uneven floors
- Defective sidewalks
- Open trenches, holes, and ditches
- Uneven pavement or asphalt
- Spilled merchandise
- Unmarked hazards
- Cluttered and obstructed walkways
- Inadequate signage
- Poor, insufficient lighting
- Unsafe stairs/steps
- Lack of or broken hand rails
Any of these and other conditions can cause a person to slip and fall, leading to serious injuries and lasting damages. Our North Carolina slip and fall attorneys can help you seek fair compensation for your damages.
Common Slip & Fall Injuries
Anyone can slip and fall as a result of dangerous property conditions—and anyone can suffer devastating, even catastrophic injuries as a result. While some slip and fall accidents result in only minor injuries, others cause lasting harm to victims. If you slip and fall, it’s important that you seek medical attention right away, even if you believe you aren’t seriously injured. Some injuries may take hours or days to appear.
Slip and fall accidents commonly result in:
- Bruises, cuts, scrapes, and other superficial injuries
- Broken bones, especially broken wrists and ankles
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and brain injuries
- Muscle strains and tears
- Nerve damage
- Dislocated knees, shoulders, and other joints
Our North Carolina slip and fall lawyers can help you seek fair compensation for all your damages, including the cost of medical treatment, lost income/wages, disability, pain and suffering, and more.
North Carolina’s Premises Liability Laws for Slip & Fall Accidents
In North Carolina, slip and fall accidents fall under the broader category of premises liability law, which holds property owners responsible for maintaining safe conditions for lawful visitors. However, the law also has specific rules regarding the duty of care property owners owe to different types of visitors, the timeframe for filing a claim, and how fault is determined. Below is an overview of North Carolina’s premises liability laws as they apply to slip and fall accidents.
Duty of Care for Different Types of Visitors
North Carolina law divides visitors into three main categories—invitees, licensees, and trespassers—and property owners owe different levels of care depending on the visitor’s status.
- Invitees: These are individuals who enter a property for the benefit of the property owner, such as customers at a store or tenants in an apartment complex. Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care. This includes regularly inspecting the property for hazards and addressing dangerous conditions as soon as possible. Failure to do so can result in liability if an invitee slips and falls.
- Licensees: These are individuals who are on the property for their own benefit, such as social guests or someone visiting a friend. Property owners must warn licensees of any known dangers but are not required to actively inspect the property for hazards. If a licensee slips and falls due to a hazard the property owner knew about and failed to warn the visitor, the owner could be held liable.
- Trespassers: Property owners generally do not owe a duty of care to trespassers. However, there are exceptions, particularly for child trespassers. Under the “attractive nuisance doctrine,” property owners may be liable for injuries if a child is drawn to a hazardous condition, such as an unfenced swimming pool or construction site. In such cases, the property owner may be required to secure the area to prevent accidents.
Statute of Limitations for Slip & Fall Claims
In North Carolina, the statute of limitations for filing a slip and fall lawsuit is three years from the date of the accident. This means that if you’ve been injured in a slip and fall, you must file your claim within this three-year window, or you may lose your right to seek compensation. It’s important to begin the legal process as soon as possible, as delays can make it more difficult to gather necessary evidence and build a strong case.
Contributory Negligence in Slip & Fall Cases
North Carolina follows the strict doctrine of contributory negligence, which can have a significant impact on slip and fall claims. Under this rule, if the injured party is found to be even 1% at fault for their accident, they may be barred from recovering any compensation.
For example, if you were distracted by your phone and slipped on a wet floor, the property owner may argue that you share some responsibility for the fall. This makes it critical to have experienced legal representation to counter any claims that you were partially at fault for the accident. An attorney can help gather evidence that shows the property owner’s negligence was the primary cause of your injuries.
Proving Liability in a North Carolina Slip & Fall Case
To hold a property owner liable for a slip and fall accident, you must prove several key elements:
- Duty of Care: The property owner owed you a duty of care as an invitee or licensee.
- Breach of Duty: The property owner failed to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition or did not warn of known hazards.
- Causation: The hazardous condition directly caused your slip and fall accident.
- Damages: You suffered measurable damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering, as a result of the fall.
Contact Our Slip & Fall Lawyers in North Carolina for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident and suffered significant damages as a result, Lanier Law Group, P.A. can help. We have the experience, skill, and resources required to navigate the legal process on your behalf. Plus, with multiple offices located throughout North Carolina we are well-equipped to serve clients across the state. Our North Carolina slip and fall attorneys can be found in Asheville, Burlington, Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Piedmont Triad, Greenville, Raleigh, and Wilmington.
We answer our phones around the clock, and we also offer weekend appointments and consultations. There are also no upfront fees when you choose to work with us and, if we don’t recover compensation in your case, you don’t pay.
