Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Charleston

Charleston’s unique combination of historic architecture, coastal weather, and booming tourism creates hazardous conditions that property owners are legally obligated to address. South Carolina premises liability law (Section 27-1-10 et seq.) holds property owners responsible for maintaining reasonably safe conditions and warning visitors of known dangers. When they fail in that duty, injured victims have the right to pursue compensation.

Our attorneys handle slip and fall cases arising from a wide range of dangerous conditions throughout the Charleston area:

Wet and slippery floors — Grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, and retail establishments throughout Charleston frequently fail to clean up spills, mop residue, or leaks in a timely manner. Locations like Charleston Place, Tanger Outlets, and major retailers along Sam Rittenberg Boulevard see these incidents regularly.
Uneven sidewalks and walkways — Charleston’s historic downtown is full of uneven brick sidewalks, cracked concrete, and raised pavers that create tripping hazards for pedestrians and tourists along King Street, Meeting Street, and the Market area.
Inadequate lighting — Poorly lit parking lots, stairwells, and walkways at apartment complexes, hotels, and commercial properties make it impossible for visitors to see and avoid hazards.
Broken or missing handrails — Stairways in older Charleston buildings, rental properties, and commercial establishments often have defective or absent handrails that contribute to serious falls.
Parking lot hazards — Potholes, crumbling asphalt, unmarked curbs, and poor drainage in parking lots at shopping centers, medical offices, and restaurants throughout Charleston County cause preventable fall injuries.
Weather-related hazards — Charleston’s frequent rain creates slippery conditions at building entrances and on outdoor walkways. Property owners must provide adequate drainage, non-slip surfaces, and floor mats to prevent injuries.
Construction debris and obstacles — With Charleston’s ongoing development boom, construction zones often create unmarked hazards in walkways, sidewalks, and public areas.

We represent slip and fall victims injured in downtown Charleston, West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island, Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island, North Charleston, Park Circle, and throughout Charleston County. If you fell on someone else’s property and were injured, call Crantford Meehan at (843) 376-4030.

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Compensation You Can Recover After a Slip and Fall in Charleston

Slip and fall accidents are not minor incidents. They frequently cause broken hips, wrist fractures, head injuries, herniated discs, torn ligaments, and spinal cord damage — particularly for older adults. South Carolina law allows injured victims to recover full compensation for their losses:

Medical Bills and Future Treatment

Emergency room visits, orthopedic surgery, physical therapy, chiropractic care, diagnostic imaging, prescription pain medication, assistive devices, and ongoing rehabilitation. Many slip and fall victims require hip or knee replacement surgery, and your claim must account for all future medical costs.

Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity

If your fall injuries keep you out of work — whether for weeks or permanently — you deserve compensation for every dollar of lost income. Serious falls that result in chronic back injuries or mobility limitations can permanently affect your career trajectory and earning potential.

Pain and Suffering

Chronic pain from fractures, nerve damage, or disc injuries can persist for years after a fall. South Carolina does not cap non-economic damages in premises liability cases, so you can pursue full compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, anxiety, and depression caused by your injuries.

Home Modifications and Assistive Care

Severe fall injuries sometimes require wheelchair ramps, bathroom modifications, in-home nursing assistance, or long-term care facility placement. These costs can be recovered as part of your damages.

Wrongful Death

Falls are the leading cause of injury death for adults over 65. If a loved one died as a result of a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property in Charleston, you may have a wrongful death claim under South Carolina Code Section 15-51-10.

Property owners and their insurance companies fight hard to deny slip and fall claims. They’ll say you weren’t paying attention, that the hazard was “open and obvious,” or that they didn’t know about the dangerous condition. Our attorneys know these tactics inside and out. Call (843) 376-4030 to fight back.

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Why Crantford Meehan Wins Slip and Fall Cases

Premises liability cases are among the most aggressively defended claims in personal injury law. Property owners and their insurers invest heavily in denying responsibility, and they’ll use every tactic available to avoid paying fair compensation. That’s why you need attorneys who know how to prove these cases.

At Crantford Meehan, we conduct thorough investigations that include obtaining surveillance footage before it’s deleted, documenting the hazardous condition with expert photography, reviewing maintenance logs and inspection records, interviewing employees and witnesses, and working with safety engineers who can testify about industry standards. We’ve handled slip and fall cases against major retailers, restaurant chains, property management companies, hotels, and government entities throughout the Lowcountry. Our preparation and persistence consistently produce results that our clients deserve. Call (843) 376-4030.

What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident in Charleston

1. Report the Incident Immediately

Notify the property owner, store manager, or landlord about your fall and insist they create a written incident report. Ask for a copy. If they refuse, document the date and time you reported the fall and the name of the person you spoke with.

2. Document the Hazard

Take photos and videos of whatever caused your fall — the wet floor, broken step, uneven surface, poor lighting, or missing handrail. Photograph the area from multiple angles. This evidence is critical because property owners often fix hazards immediately after someone is injured, destroying the proof.

3. Get Witness Information

If anyone saw you fall, get their names and phone numbers. Witness testimony can be decisive in premises liability cases, especially when the property owner claims the hazard didn’t exist or that you were at fault.

4. Seek Medical Treatment Right Away

Even if you think your injuries are minor, see a doctor within 24 hours. Fall injuries like fractures, torn rotator cuffs, herniated discs, and traumatic brain injuries often worsen in the days after the incident. Medical records that document your injuries starting from the day of the fall are essential evidence in your case.

5. Do Not Sign Anything from the Property Owner or Their Insurance

Property owners and their insurers may ask you to sign an incident report, release, or settlement agreement. Do not sign anything without having an attorney review it first. These documents often contain language that waives your legal rights.

6. Call Crantford Meehan

Time is critical in slip and fall cases. Surveillance footage gets recorded over, witnesses forget details, and property conditions change. Contact our slip and fall attorneys at (843) 376-4030 as soon as possible so we can preserve evidence and begin building your case.

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“Helped me through the hardest time in my life “

Crantford Meehan has helped me extremely through the hardest time in my life and has gotten me such an AMAZING recovery after my accident. I highly recommend them to any and everyone I know. Even after my own mother got into an auto accident, they have helped us both successfully move forward with our lives...

Harleigh Tenio
My ‘go to’ for legal help.

Attorney William Crantford has been great! He is my “go to” for legal help.

David Childress
Mr. Meehan was very professional.

Mr. Meehan was very professional. He made sure to address all of the questions and concerns that I had while working with him. I would absolutely recommend Crantford Meehan to anyone looking for an attorney who works hard to get you the best possible outcome.

Nikki M.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Claims in Charleston

How do I prove the property owner was negligent?

To win a slip and fall case in South Carolina, you must show that the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to fix it or warn visitors. This can be proven through maintenance records, employee testimony, surveillance footage, prior complaints about the same hazard, and expert analysis. Our attorneys know exactly what evidence to gather and how to present it effectively.

What if the property owner says the hazard was “open and obvious”?

This is one of the most common defenses in slip and fall cases. Property owners argue that the hazard was visible and you should have avoided it. However, South Carolina courts recognize that even visible hazards can be unreasonably dangerous, especially when the property owner could have easily fixed the problem. Distraction, poor lighting, and the way a property is designed can all contribute to making an “obvious” hazard unavoidable in practice.

What if I was partially at fault for my fall?

South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence law (Section 15-38-15) allows you to recover compensation as long as you are less than 51% responsible for the accident. Your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 30% at fault and your damages are $200,000, you would recover $140,000. Insurance companies inflate fault percentages to reduce payouts — our attorneys fight to keep your fault percentage as low as possible.

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

The statute of limitations for premises liability claims in South Carolina is three years from the date of the injury (Section 15-3-530). If you’re filing against a government entity (city, county, or state property), you may need to provide notice much sooner. Don’t wait — contact an attorney as quickly as possible to protect your rights.

What does it cost to hire a slip and fall attorney?

Crantford Meehan handles all slip and fall cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. There is no financial risk to hiring our firm. Call (843) 376-4030 for a free case evaluation.

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