What Is a Slip and Fall Lawyers in Charleston, SC Case?

Roden Law represents people hurt in slip, trip, and fall accidents across Charleston and the Lowcountry — Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island, and Daniel Island. A slip-and-fall is a premises liability claim, and the central question is notice: whether the property owner knew, or should have known, about the hazard and failed […]

— Reviewed by Graeham C. Gillin, Partner, COO at Roden Law

Key Takeaways

If you were injured in a slip & fall in Charleston, South Carolina, you generally have 3 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit (S.C. Code § 15-3-530). South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule — you can still recover as long as you are Modified — recover if less than 51% at fault, with your award reduced by your percentage of fault. There is no cap on compensatory damages in an ordinary South Carolina injury case. Roden Law represents Charleston injury victims on a contingency fee: the consultation is free and there is no fee unless we win.

Roden Law represents people hurt in slip, trip, and fall accidents across Charleston and the Lowcountry — Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island, and Daniel Island. A slip-and-fall is a premises liability claim, and the central question is notice: whether the property owner knew, or should have known, about the hazard and failed to fix or warn of it. We handle every case on a contingency fee basis: you pay nothing unless we win. Roden Law has recovered more than $300 million for injured clients across Georgia and South Carolina and holds a 4.9-star average from hundreds of client reviews. Our downtown office is at 127 King Street, Suite 200. Call (843) 790-8999 for a free, confidential case review.

Why Choose Roden Law for a Charleston Slip-and-Fall Claim

Charleston’s hotels, restaurants, and historic-district retail draw millions of visitors, and their operators — often national chains — carry aggressive insurers who deny notice and blame the guest. Slip-and-fall cases turn on evidence that vanishes fast: surveillance video that overwrites in days, incident reports the property never volunteers, and maintenance logs. What separates Roden Law is direct attorney involvement — you work with your attorney, not a rotating desk of case managers — and we move immediately to preserve that proof. Our King Street office is steps from the Charleston County courthouse.

  • No fee unless we win — free consultation and no out-of-pocket cost to start your claim.
  • We move fast on evidence — preservation letters go out immediately to stop video and logs from being erased.
  • We prove notice — the hardest part of a premises case, and the part insurers fight hardest.

Where Charleston Slip-and-Fall Injuries Happen

The Lowcountry falls our attorneys handle most often occur at:

  • Hotels and short-term rentals on and off the peninsula — wet lobby floors, pool decks, uneven historic steps, and poorly lit stairwells.
  • King Street and Market Street retail and restaurants — spills, cluttered entryways, and the uneven brick and cobblestone of the historic district.
  • Grocery and big-box stores in Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, and along Savannah Highway (US-17) — spills and freshly mopped floors without warning signs.
  • Parking garages and apartment complexes — potholes, unmarked curbs, broken stair treads, and loose railings.

South Carolina Premises Liability Law: What Charleston Victims Should Know

The Owner Must Have Had “Notice” of the Hazard

To recover, you generally must show the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to fix it or warn you. Proving how long a spill sat on the floor or how long a railing had been broken is the heart of a South Carolina premises case — and why fast evidence preservation matters.

3-Year Deadline and the 51% Bar

The statute of limitations is three years under S.C. Code § 15-3-530, and South Carolina’s 51% modified comparative fault rule lets you recover as long as you are not more than 50% responsible. South Carolina places no cap on compensatory damages in a standard premises case.

If a Government Property Is Involved, Different Rules Apply

If you fell on property owned by the City of Charleston, the county, SCDOT, MUSC, or public housing, your claim falls under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act, which caps damages (generally $300,000 per person / $600,000 per occurrence), bars punitive damages, and imposes shorter notice requirements. Identifying a government defendant early is critical.

Learn More About South Carolina Premises Claims

Free Case Review — No Fees Unless We Win Available 24/7 · Georgia & South Carolina
844-RESULTS

What to Do After A slip & fall in Charleston, SC

  1. Ensure safety and call 911. Move to a safe location if possible. Call emergency services to report the accident and request medical attention for anyone injured.
  2. Seek immediate medical attention. Even if injuries seem minor, get examined by a doctor. Some injuries — such as traumatic brain injuries or internal bleeding — may not show symptoms immediately.
  3. Document the scene. Take photos of all vehicles, injuries, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible damage. Collect names and contact information from witnesses.
  4. Exchange information with all parties. Get the other driver's name, insurance information, license plate number, and driver's license number. Do not admit fault or apologize.
  5. Report the accident to police. South Carolina law requires accident reports when there are injuries or significant property damage. Request a copy of the police report.
  6. Notify your insurance company. Report the accident to your insurer promptly. Provide factual information only — do not speculate about fault or the extent of your injuries.
  7. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney. An attorney can protect your rights, handle communications with insurance companies, and help you pursue the full compensation you deserve. Roden Law offers free consultations — call today.

South Carolina Personal Injury Law

Statute of Limitations 3 years (S.C. Code § 15-3-530)
Comparative Fault Modified — recover if less than 51% at fault

Filing a Personal Injury Case in Charleston

Filing a personal injury case in downtown Charleston means filing in the Charleston County Court of Common Pleas at 100 Broad Street, on the Tyler Odyssey-based South Carolina E-Filing system. Most cases are sent to mandatory mediation under SC ADR rules before reaching the jury trial roster, and a typical contested case takes 18–30 months from complaint to verdict.

Charleston’s peninsula geography concentrates risk on a few well-known corridors: the Crosstown (US-17 / Septima P. Clark Parkway), the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to Mount Pleasant, and the dense tourist grid around King and Market Streets, where rideshare drop-offs and carriage tours mix with out-of-state drivers. Charleston County logged more than 2,500 truck-related crashes in 2023, and the I-26/I-526 interchange just west of the peninsula recorded 354 collisions over a five-year period. Serious-injury patients from peninsula crashes are routed to MUSC Health (171 Ashley Ave) — the Lowcountry’s only Level I trauma center.

Under South Carolina law, you have 3 years to file under S.C. Code § 15-3-530, and you can recover only if you are less than 51% at fault. Shorter notice deadlines apply if SCDOT or the City of Charleston is a defendant under the SC Tort Claims Act.

Do I Have a Slip & fall Case in Charleston?

Slip-and-fall is governed by premises liability doctrine, which keys liability to the visitor’s status — invitee (highest duty), licensee (limited duty), or trespasser (minimal duty). In South Carolina, an invitee must prove the owner had actual or constructive knowledge of the hazard and that the plaintiff lacked equal knowledge, under *Wintersteen v. Food Lion, Inc.*, 344 S.C. 32 (2001). Hazard documentation (incident reports, surveillance video, prior cleaning logs) is decisive evidence in Charleston-area cases.

Types of Compensation in South Carolina Slip & fall Cases

No special statutory caps apply to slip-and-fall recoveries in South Carolina; damages follow the ordinary tort model — past and future medicals, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and disfigurement. South Carolina’s comparative-fault analysis (recovery barred at 51% fault under S.C. Code § 15-3-530’s sister apportionment statute) frequently turns on the open-and-obvious nature of the hazard, the plaintiff’s footwear, and distraction. Defendants commonly include the property owner, the property manager, the cleaning contractor, and any tenant in control of the affected area.

Free Case Review — No Fees Unless We Win Available 24/7 · Georgia & South Carolina
844-RESULTS

Roden Law Slip and Fall Lawyers in Charleston, SC Results at a Glance

$300M+ Recovered for injured clients across Georgia and South Carolina
4.9 / 5.0 Average client rating across hundreds of verified Google reviews from our six offices
5,000+ Cases successfully handled since 2013
62 years Combined attorney experience across 5 office locations

Source: Roden Law firm records and verified Google Business Profile reviews, updated July 2026.

Recent Case Results

Settlement $27,000,000 $27,000,000 Settlement | Truck Accident
Verdict $10,860,000 $10,860,000 Verdict | Product Liability
Recovery $9,800,000 $9,800,000 Recovery | Premises Liability

Results shown are gross settlement/verdict amounts before fees and costs. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

About the Author

Graeham C. Gillin, Partner, COO at Roden Law

Graeham C. Gillin

Partner, COO

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Our Charleston Office Today

If you were injured in Charleston and believe another party is at fault, contact us for a free, no-obligation review. Call (843) 790-8999 — no upfront cost.