Slip and Fall Lawyer in Greenville

A slip and fall accident can lead to serious injuries and unexpected challenges. If unsafe conditions caused your fall in Greenville, the slip and fall lawyers at Ward and Smith are ready to help you hold the responsible parties accountable. Don’t let negligence go unchecked—call (919) 827-8475 for a free consultation and let us work to secure the compensation you deserve.

How to Handle a Slip and Fall Accident at a Retail Store

Slip and fall accidents happen fast. One moment you’re walking through a store, the next you’re on the ground with pain setting in. Whether it’s a slick floor, a loose rug, or a hidden hazard, the result can be both physically and financially overwhelming.

In Greenville, retail stores have a legal responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe for customers. If they fail to meet that duty and someone gets hurt, they may be held responsible. But knowing what to do immediately after the fall—and in the days following—can make all the difference in protecting your rights.

Prioritize Your Health and Safety First

Your well-being comes first. If you’ve fallen and feel injured, stay where you are if moving makes the pain worse. Ask someone nearby to get help. If it’s an emergency, call 911 or ask store employees to do so.

Even if your injuries seem minor, it’s a good idea to get checked out. Some conditions—like concussions, internal bruising, or joint injuries—can worsen over time. Documenting those injuries early on creates a medical record that may be important later.

Keep in mind that shock can mask pain. What feels like a bruise in the moment may turn out to be a fracture or soft tissue damage.

Report the Incident to Store Management

As soon as you are able, report the fall to the store manager or supervisor. Ask them to create an official accident report. Stick to the facts and avoid guessing about what caused the fall or how badly you’re hurt. Keep your explanation brief and direct.

Request a copy of the incident report if possible. If the store won’t give you a copy, write down the manager’s name and take note of when and where the report was made.

This step is critical. If you leave without saying anything, the store might later deny the incident happened or claim you didn’t appear injured at the time.

Document the Scene While You Can

If you are able to safely do so, gather as much evidence as possible before you leave the store. Use your phone to take photos or video of the exact spot where you fell. Include:

What caused the fall (a wet floor, uneven surface, debris, etc.)
Lack of warning signs or barriers
Lighting conditions in the area
Your injuries, if visible

Also, write down the time, date, and store location. If there were witnesses nearby, try to get their names and contact information. Their account could help support your version of events if a claim is filed.

In many cases, store surveillance footage may have captured the incident. That video could be important later, so your attorney may need to request it before the store deletes or overwrites the footage.

Seek Medical Care Right Away

Don’t wait to see a doctor. Even if you’re not in extreme pain, a full evaluation can help identify injuries that might not show up immediately. It also links your injuries directly to the fall, which can be important for a personal injury claim.

Be sure to follow all treatment recommendations. Attend follow-up appointments and keep records of all medical visits, prescriptions, and therapy. This documentation helps demonstrate the extent and cost of your injuries.

If you skip treatment or delay care, the store’s insurance company may argue your injuries aren’t serious or that something else caused them.

Avoid Making Statements to Insurance Adjusters

After a slip and fall, you might get a call from the store’s insurance company. They may sound friendly and ask you to give a recorded statement. It’s best not to speak with them until you’ve spoken with a personal injury attorney.

These adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you. Their goal is often to limit how much they pay. If you say something that minimizes your injuries or creates confusion about what happened, they may use it against you.

Politely decline to make any statements until you’ve had a chance to review your options with a lawyer.

Know What You Need to Prove

Not every slip and fall leads to a successful legal claim. To recover compensation, you’ll need to show that the store was negligent. This means proving that:

A dangerous condition existed on the property.
The store knew or should have known about it.
The store failed to fix the issue or warn customers in time.
That failure caused your injury.

For example, if a spill sat unattended for an hour with no warning sign, and you slipped, that could be a clear case of negligence. On the other hand, if another customer spilled something seconds before you walked by, the store might not have had a reasonable opportunity to clean it up.

An experienced attorney can help gather evidence, identify store policies, and work with experts if needed to prove fault.

Compensation May Cover More Than Medical Bills

If your claim is successful, you may be able to recover compensation for more than just your hospital visits. A slip and fall injury can impact your life in many ways. Damages may include:

Current and future medical expenses
Lost income from missed work
Reduced earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Permanent disability or scarring

Every case is different. That’s why it’s important to work with someone who understands premises liability law in Greenville and how it applies to retail accidents.

Let a Slip and Fall Attorney Fight for You

Slip and fall accidents can lead to serious consequences, but you don’t have to shoulder the burden alone. The slip and fall attorneys at Ward and Smith are here to hold negligent property owners accountable and help you recover what you deserve. Call us at (919) 827-8475 for a free consultation and let us guide you through this challenging time.