Slip and Fall Accidents in Mount Pleasant: When Can You Sue a Property Owner?

Mount Pleasant is home to some of the busiest shopping centers, restaurants, and commercial properties in the Charleston area. From Towne Centre to Mount Pleasant Towne Center, Belle Hall Shopping Center, and the restaurants lining Coleman Boulevard, thousands of visitors walk through commercial spaces every day. When property owners fail to maintain safe conditions, slip and fall accidents can cause serious, life-changing injuries.

Common Locations for Slip and Fall Accidents in Mount Pleasant

Slip and fall accidents in Mount Pleasant happen most frequently in places with high foot traffic and property owners who cut corners on maintenance. Grocery stores like Publix, Harris Teeter, and Whole Foods see frequent spills in produce sections and near refrigerated cases. Restaurants along Shem Creek and Coleman Boulevard often have wet floors from rain tracked inside or spills that go uncleaned.

Parking lots throughout Mount Pleasant present their own hazards. Uneven pavement, potholes, poor lighting, and inadequate drainage create tripping hazards that property owners are required to address. Shopping centers with outdoor walkways become particularly dangerous during rainstorms when water pools on surfaces.

Other common locations include medical offices, apartment complexes, hotels, public sidewalks, and construction zones. Each of these settings involves a property owner or manager who has a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions for visitors.

Proving a Premises Liability Claim in South Carolina

Not every slip and fall results in a valid legal claim. To recover compensation in South Carolina, you must prove several elements. First, the property owner owed you a duty of care. If you were lawfully on the property as a customer, visitor, or guest, you are classified as an invitee, and the property owner owes you the highest duty of care.

Second, you must prove the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. This is often the most contested element. Evidence like surveillance footage showing how long a spill existed before your fall, maintenance logs showing missed inspections, or prior complaints about the same hazard can establish that the property owner had notice.

Third, you must prove the property owner failed to take reasonable steps to fix the hazard or warn you about it. A wet floor with no warning signs, a broken stairway railing that was reported weeks earlier, or a parking lot pothole that went unrepaired all demonstrate negligence.

Finally, you must prove the dangerous condition directly caused your injuries. Medical records, witness testimony, and incident reports connect your fall to your injuries.

Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents

Falls might seem minor, but they frequently cause severe injuries, especially for older adults. Common injuries from Mount Pleasant slip and fall accidents include:

• Broken hips and pelvis fractures — These injuries often require surgery and extended rehabilitation, and can permanently affect mobility
• Traumatic brain injuries — Hitting your head during a fall can cause concussions, brain bleeding, and long-term cognitive problems
• Spinal cord injuries — Falls that impact the back or neck can cause herniated discs, compression fractures, or even paralysis
• Wrist and shoulder fractures — Attempting to break your fall often results in broken wrists, torn rotator cuffs, or dislocated shoulders
• Knee injuries — Torn ligaments, meniscus tears, and kneecap fractures are common when the leg twists during a fall

These injuries frequently require surgery, physical therapy, and ongoing medical care. They can prevent you from working, limit your independence, and cause chronic pain that affects every aspect of your life.

What to Do After a Slip and Fall in Mount Pleasant

The steps you take after a fall are critical to your ability to recover compensation. Report the incident to the property owner or manager immediately and ask them to create a written incident report. Request a copy of this report before you leave.

Take photos and video of the exact location where you fell, including whatever caused the fall — a wet floor, torn carpet, uneven surface, poor lighting, or missing handrail. Photograph your injuries as well. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.

Seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries seem minor. Many fall injuries worsen over time, and a gap in medical treatment gives insurance companies ammunition to argue your injuries weren’t serious or weren’t caused by the fall.

Do not give a recorded statement to the property owner’s insurance company without consulting an attorney. These statements are used to find inconsistencies and minimize your claim.

How Insurance Companies Fight Slip and Fall Claims

Property owners’ insurance companies aggressively fight premises liability claims. Their most common defense is blaming you for the fall. They’ll argue you weren’t watching where you were going, you were wearing inappropriate footwear, or you ignored warning signs. South Carolina’s comparative negligence rules mean they only need to prove you were more than 50% at fault to eliminate your claim entirely.

They’ll also challenge whether the property owner had notice of the hazard, dispute the severity of your injuries, or argue your injuries were pre-existing. Having experienced legal representation levels the playing field against these tactics.

Contact Crantford Meehan About Your Mount Pleasant Slip and Fall

Crantford Meehan has fought for injured people across the Charleston area since 1995. Our Charleston office is just across the bridge from Mount Pleasant, and we handle premises liability cases throughout Charleston County. We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win your case.

If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall at a Mount Pleasant business, shopping center, restaurant, or other property, contact us today or call (843) 376-4030 for a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Mount Pleasant?

South Carolina gives you three years from the date of the fall to file a lawsuit. However, evidence like surveillance footage is often deleted within weeks or months. Contacting an attorney quickly is essential to preserving this critical evidence.

What if I fell at a government-owned property in Mount Pleasant?

Claims against government entities in South Carolina have different rules and shorter deadlines under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act. These claims must be filed within two years and are subject to damage caps. An experienced attorney can navigate these additional requirements.

Can I sue if I fell in a Mount Pleasant parking lot?

Yes. Parking lot owners and the businesses they serve have a duty to maintain safe conditions, including proper lighting, drainage, surface maintenance, and prompt repair of potholes or uneven pavement.