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Last Modified on May 05, 2026
Slip and fall accidents shouldn’t happen during your average shopping excursion, restaurant outing, or hotel stay. However, poorly maintained walkways, rainy conditions, negligent employees, and other hazards can cause injuries that leave you hurt, both physically and financially. In these situations, it’s important to know what to do if you slip and fall at a business in Charlotte, NC.
Contact Medical Professionals Immediately
Your health should be your number one concern following a slip and fall accident. Embarrassment and minor injury are two common reasons people avoid seeking medical treatment, but many symptoms can develop hours or days later. Head trauma, internal bleeding, and torn ligaments are common injuries that may not be noticeable on scene.
Call 911 if you feel you have been seriously injured, or ask someone to assist if you are unable to do so yourself. Otherwise, visit an urgent care facility, emergency room, or see your primary care doctor as soon as possible.
Allowing too much time to pass before visiting a doctor can hurt both your health and your slip and fall claim. Insurance companies may posit that failure to seek prompt medical treatment is evidence that your injuries were caused by another event or weren’t as serious as presented.
Falls are one of the most common causes of injuries, especially among older people. According to the CDC, about 37% of people who fall reported having an injury that required medical attention or limited their activity for at least one day, even though not all falls result in injuries.
Approximately three million visits to the emergency room occur each year as a result of falls among the elderly. One in ten falls results in an injury that requires an older adult to seek medical attention or limit their physical activity for a day or more.
Notify the Business of Your Injury
It’s important to report your slip and fall accident to the property manager, owner, or supervisor. Internal reporting procedures vary by business, but most restaurants, stores, and hotels document the accident through internal paperwork. Request a copy of the report if you do not receive one automatically.
When talking to business employees or management, be cautious with your words. It’s okay to give your account of what happened, but avoid speculation or potentially incriminating statements. For instance, saying you were distracted or claiming to be fine can come back to haunt you later.
Document the Accident
Conditions causing slip and fall accidents don’t always remain after an incident. Store employees may clean up spills, change lighting, or repair uneven flooring within hours or days. Document the incident as quickly as possible.
Photos should include the hazard that caused you to fall. This may be water on the floor, damaged flooring, loose carpeting, insufficient lighting, ice, uneven sidewalks, or something else. If possible, take additional photographs of the surrounding area, warning signs, your shoes, and your injuries.
Speak with any witnesses who were nearby and request their contact information. A witness who sees you fall can provide a statement to corroborate your story if the property owner or manager denies responsibility.
Understand Premises Liability
Slip and fall accidents fall under premises liability laws in North Carolina. Property owners and businesses have a duty of care to keep their premises safe for visitors. This duty requires property owners to fix hazards, provide adequate security, and warn visitors of known dangers. You must be prepared to show how the property owner failed in this duty; learn more about how to prove negligence in a North Carolina personal injury case.
Negligent parties also have the ability to limit recovery by arguing that the statute of limitations has passed. In North Carolina, injured parties have three years to file a claim. If you fail to file a claim within three years of the accident, you could be barred from recovering financial compensation at all.
Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer
Minor falls might not require the assistance of a Charlotte slip and fall attorney. However, some injuries create a financial struggle that can last a lifetime. Serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and injuries that limit mobility, may require additional documentation.
Clients may hire a personal injury lawyer to learn about state slip and fall laws, insurance practices, and how these factors impact their situation. Most slip and fall cases in Charlotte fall under the jurisdiction of the Mecklenburg County court system. The Mecklenburg County Courthouse is one of the most recognized judicial buildings for civil matters in Charlotte.
FAQs
Can You File a Claim for a Slip and Fall Without Injury?
Typically, you must have sustained some sort of injury in order to obtain compensation with a slip and fall claim. If you fall down but do not sustain any bodily harm or incur any medical bills or other financial losses, you might not have much of a case. Keep in mind that sometimes symptoms do not show up until later.
How Much Is Pain and Suffering Worth in North Carolina?
The type and amount of pain and suffering compensation awarded to injury victims in North Carolina vary based on the severity of the injury and how it impacts the victim’s day-to-day activities. Considerations may include time spent receiving medical treatment, enduring physical pain and emotional trauma, time needed to recover, and whether the injury resulted in permanent scarring or limitations.
What Three Conditions Must Be Met for a Person to Have Standing to File a Claim?
Generally speaking, a plaintiff must prove they sustained injury or harm, that it was caused by or is linked to the defendant’s actions or negligence, and the court can provide relief for damages sustained. When it comes to slip and falls, this can typically be proven by showing the property owner’s negligence due to an unsafe condition on the property.
How Much Are Most Slip and Fall Settlements?
Slip and fall settlements vary from one another. This depends on what injuries were incurred in the accident, the medical bills that were accrued, and who was at fault. A settlement’s amount is impacted by factors like the seriousness of the injury, recovery period, income that can’t be earned, projected medical expenses, and whether the property owner was obviously careless. To understand these dynamics better, you can explore how much a personal injury case is worth in North Carolina.
Cases with permanent injuries or contested liability will be drastically different than a minor slip and fall claim.
Contact Butler, Quinn & Hochman, PLLC
If you were injured on a business premises in a slip and fall, Butler, Quinn & Hochman, PLLC can help you in the legal process. Contact us today for more information.
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