Slip and Fall Lawyers Augusta
When you’re dealing with the aftermath of a slip and fall accident in Georgia or South Carolina, M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers is here to help. Our compassionate team will advocate for your rights, answer your questions, and guide you through your personal injury claim with care and expertise.
Schedule your free consultation today. Fill out the form, or call 706-981-9286 to share your story and explore your legal options.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Slip and fall accidents leave you with more than physical injuries. You’re also facing medical bills, time off work, and questions about what to do next.
M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers will stand beside you during this difficult time. We’ll help you understand your rights and fight to hold negligent property owners accountable.
With deep roots in the Augusta community, we’ve seen how slip and fall injuries can turn lives upside down. Whether you fell on a wet floor at a local grocery store or tripped on uneven pavement in a parking lot, we’re committed to securing maximum compensation for your injuries while you focus on healing.
Injured in a slip and fall on someone else’s property? Reach out today for a free consultation.
We understand the challenges our clients are facing, and we know how to secure results on their behalf.
We charge our clients nothing until we secure them a financial recovery.
Not only is our practice based in Augusta, GA, but so are we. We live right where our clients are.
Your Rights After a Slip and Fall Accident in Georgia and South Carolina
You have important legal rights after a slip and fall injury. Both Georgia and South Carolina law says property owners must maintain safe premises for visitors. When they fail and someone gets hurt, they can be held liable for the resulting damages.
As a slip and fall victim, you can seek compensation for:
- Medical expenses (emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, ongoing treatment)
- Lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
At M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers, we protect these rights regardless of where your accident occurred. Our team knows the nuances of Georgia and South Carolina premises liability laws and will advocate fiercely for full compensation and hold negligent owners accountable.
Do I Have a Slip and Fall Claim?
Several key factors must be present to validate your legal claim:
- A dangerous condition existed (wet floor, broken stairway, icy walkway, uneven surface)
- The property owner knew or should have known about the hazard
- The owner failed to fix the problem or warn visitors adequately
- You were exercising reasonable care at the time
- You weren’t trespassing or ignoring clear warnings
M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers has extensive experience evaluating slip and fall cases and determining whether you have grounds for a claim. We know how to gather evidence, identify responsible parties, and build a compelling case. Our team has handled personal injury cases involving everything from wet floors in retail stores to icy parking lots and poorly maintained walkways.
Do I Need an Attorney After My Fall?
You don’t need legal representation for every bump or bruise. But hiring an experienced attorney is necessary when you’re dealing with serious injuries, significant medical bills, or a property owner who refuses to take responsibility.
Property owners and their insurance companies often try to shift blame onto the victim, claiming the hazard was ‘open and obvious.’ Insurers representing property owners are skilled at minimizing payouts. They often pressure personal injury victims into accepting lowball settlements before they fully grasp the extent of their injuries.
An attorney who knows premises liability law can level the playing field. Our team will:
- Handle all communication with insurance companies
- Protect you from making statements that could harm your case
- Make certain any settlement offer reflects the full value of your damages
- Counter the tactics insurance adjusters use to devalue premises liability claims
- Investigate the accident thoroughly to gather all available evidence
- Consult with medical experts to understand the long-term impact of your injuries
Having legal representation sends a clear message that you’re serious about pursuing fair compensation. Property owners are far more likely to make reasonable offers when they know you have a knowledgeable advocate in your corner who isn’t afraid to take the case to trial if necessary.
Meet M. Austin Jackson
M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers brings years of dedicated experience to premises liability cases throughout the Augusta area and beyond. We’ve represented clients injured on wet floors, uneven surfaces, poorly lit stairways, icy parking lots, and countless other hazardous conditions.
What sets us apart is our deep knowledge of both Georgia and South Carolina premises liability laws, combined with our commitment to the local community we serve. Augusta is our home, and when our neighbors get hurt due to someone else’s negligence, we take it personally. We’ve secured meaningful compensation for victims who suffered everything from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries.
We’re not afraid to stand up to large property owners or their insurance companies, and we’ll work tirelessly to defend your legal rights and protect your path to fair compensation.
What to Do After Your Slip and Fall
The steps you take immediately after a slip and fall accident can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. Here’s what you should do:
- Seek medical attention right away. Even if your injuries seem minor, some conditions like concussions or internal bleeding may not show symptoms immediately.
- Document everything you can. If you’re able, take photos of the hazardous condition that caused your fall, including the surrounding area. Capture different angles and lighting conditions. Look for spilled liquids, debris, poor lighting, missing handrails, or uneven surfaces.
- Identify witnesses. If anyone saw your fall, get their names and contact information. Witness statements can be invaluable in proving what happened and establishing that the dangerous condition existed before your fall.
- Report the incident. Notify the property owner, manager, or appropriate staff member about your fall. Ask for a copy of any accident report.
- Preserve evidence. Keep the shoes you were wearing and take photos of them. Don’t throw away torn clothing or other items that might help document the accident.
- Avoid giving detailed statements. Be cautious about giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters without first consulting an attorney. What you say can be used to minimize or deny your claim.
- Contact an experienced slip and fall attorney. The sooner you speak with a lawyer, the better. An attorney can help preserve crucial evidence and begin building a strong case before important details are lost or forgotten.
Why Choose M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers?
If you’re looking for a local law firm with a friendly approach that genuinely cares about you and your story, we’d love to hear from you.
- We have more than a decade of personal injury law expertise.
- We have a record of success and have recovered millions for our clients, including several multi-million dollar cases.
- We have extensive experience representing our Georgia and South Carolina neighbors who have been injured in automobile collisions.
- We live where we work and are deeply rooted in the Aiken-Augusta community, so we know state laws and local courts like the back of our hand.
- We don’t get paid unless you receive a financial recovery.
Common Slip and Fall Injuries
Premises liability accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, many more serious than people realize:
- Fractures and broken bones, particularly in the wrists, arms, ankles, and hips. Hip fractures are especially serious for elderly victims and can lead to long-term mobility issues and complications. Many hip fracture victims never fully regain their independence.
- Head injuries happen when someone strikes their head on the ground or nearby objects. These can cause concussions, traumatic brain injuries, or skull fractures with lasting cognitive and physical effects.
- Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, chronic pain, and the need for extensive ongoing medical care. These injuries often need lifelong medical treatment and can completely change how someone lives their daily life.
- Soft tissue injuries like sprains, strains, and torn ligaments can be extremely painful and may require months of physical therapy. Some victims never fully regain their previous range of motion or strength, affecting their ability to work and enjoy activities they once loved.
- Cuts, lacerations, and bruising range from minor scrapes to deep wounds requiring stitches or surgery. In severe cases, these injuries can lead to permanent scarring or disfigurement.
Slip and fall injuries often require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and time away from work. Understanding the full scope of your injuries and their long-term impact is necessary when seeking fair compensation.
Dealing with the Insurance Company After Your Accident
After a slip and fall accident, you’ll likely have to deal with the property owner’s insurance company. Insurance adjusters work for the insurer, not for you. Their goal is to minimize payouts or find reasons to deny your claim entirely.
Common insurance company tactics include:
- Trying to get you to give a recorded statement that can be used against you
- Arguing that you were partially at fault for not watching where you were going
- Claiming the hazard was ‘open and obvious’ and you should have avoided it
- Pressuring you to settle quickly before you understand the full extent of your injuries
- Making early settlement offers far below what your personal injury case is worth
- Requesting access to your medical records to find pre-existing conditions they can blame
At M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers, we handle all insurance company communications, countering adjuster tactics and protecting you from inadequate settlement offers. Our personal injury law firm knows how to properly value your slip and fall claim, considering all current and future damages. We build a strong case supported by evidence, medical records, and expert testimony.
Our Slip and Fall Client Stories
& Case Results
Camden suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of his daycare’s negligence. We helped Camden’s family recover a $325,000 settlement to provide the best possible care for Camden and a sense of justice.
Hear Camden’s StoryWhen Lalisa tripped and broke her ankle on her apartment’s deteriorating staircase, management refused responsibility despite her repeated complaints about the dangerous crater blocking her path. We proved the landlord’s negligence directly caused her injuries and lost work, securing a $295,000 settlement.
Read Lalisa’s StoryImproper maintenance at a residence left our client with permanent scarring. We helped them gain a sense of justice and recover a $171,000 settlement for their injuries.
Read Their StoryTypes of Slip and Fall Cases We Handle
- Wet floor accidents
- Icy sidewalks and parking lots
- Uneven surfaces and trip hazards
- Poor lighting incidents
- Defective stairs and handrails
- Falls at retail stores, restaurants, hotels, and commercial properties
Begin Your Path to Compensation
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, you don’t have to face this challenging time alone. The experienced team at M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers will be your advocate, listening to your needs and keeping you informed every step of the way.
These accidents happen in seconds, but the injuries that result can affect you for months or even years. We’ll thoroughly investigate what happened, identify all responsible parties, and build a compelling case that demonstrates the property owner’s failure to maintain safe premises.
Our commitment to compassionate, client-focused advocacy means we treat every case with the attention and dedication it deserves. Medical bills and lost wages create real financial stress, which is why we work on a contingency fee basis. You don’t pay us unless we recover compensation for you.
Don’t let a negligent property owner avoid responsibility for your injuries. Contact M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers today at 706-981-9286 to schedule a free consultation. We’ll answer your questions honestly and help you know what to expect as your case moves forward.
Augusta is our home, and we’re always here to help our neighbors during difficult times.
FAQs on Slip and Fall Accidents in Augusta
First, seek medical attention even if you think your injuries are minor. Some conditions don’t show symptoms right away, and prompt medical care creates important documentation.
If possible, take photos of the hazardous condition and the surrounding area. Get contact information from any witnesses, and report the incident to the property owner or manager. Preserve evidence like the shoes and clothing you were wearing, and contact an experienced premises liability lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your rights.
You’ll need to show that a dangerous condition existed on the property, that the owner knew or should have known about it, and that they failed to fix the problem or warn visitors.
You’ll also need to demonstrate that you were exercising reasonable care and that the hazardous condition caused your injuries. This typically requires gathering evidence like photos, witness statements, maintenance records, and sometimes expert testimony. An experienced attorney knows how to collect and present this evidence effectively.
You can seek compensation for all damages resulting from your fall, including medical expenses for emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, medication, and rehabilitation. You may also recover lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working, as well as compensation for future lost earning capacity if you can’t return to your previous job.
Additionally, you can seek damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disability or disfigurement, and reduced quality of life. In some cases, if the property owner’s conduct was particularly reckless, punitive damages may also be available.
In Georgia, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a slip and fall claim. In South Carolina, you have three years. However, there are exceptions to these timeframes depending on the specific circumstances of your case.
Don’t wait until the deadline approaches, as evidence and memories fade over time. Contacting an attorney early ensures that important evidence is preserved and your case is filed within the required timeframe.
Be very cautious about giving statements to insurance adjusters, especially recorded statements, without first consulting an attorney. Insurance companies often use these statements to find inconsistencies or get you to say something that can be used to minimize or deny your claim.
You have a right to speak with an attorney before providing detailed information to an insurer. At M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers, we handle all communications with insurance companies on your behalf, protecting you from tactics designed to devalue your case.
The absence of warning signs can actually strengthen your case. Property owners have a duty to either fix dangerous property conditions or provide adequate warnings to visitors. If a hazard existed and no warning signs were posted, this demonstrates the property owner’s failure to meet their legal obligations.
But property owners may argue that the condition was ‘open and obvious’ and didn’t require warning signs. An experienced attorney can counter these arguments by examining factors like lighting conditions, whether the hazard was visible from the approach angle, and whether a reasonable person would have noticed it under the circumstances.
Like many states, Georgia employs the doctrine of modified comparative negligence, which means you can still recover compensation as long as you’re less than 50% at fault for the accident.
South Carolina uses a similar standard. If you were somewhat distracted, but the property owner’s negligence was the primary cause of your fall, you may still have a valid claim. Your compensation would be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found to be 20% responsible, your recovery would be reduced by 20%.
An experienced attorney can help minimize any comparative fault arguments and focus on the property owner’s failure to maintain safe premises.
Property owners often argue that hazards were ‘open and obvious’ as a defense against slip and fall claims, but this doesn’t automatically prevent you from recovering compensation. The law recognizes that even obvious hazards can cause injuries, particularly when property owners could have easily fixed them or provided adequate warnings.
What seems obvious in retrospect may not have been apparent in the moment, especially considering factors like lighting, weather conditions, what else was competing for your attention, and your approach angle. An attorney can evaluate whether this defense applies in your specific situation and develop strategies to overcome it.