Slip and fall accidents can occur just about anywhere, from grocery stores to parking lots, apartment complexes, or public sidewalks. The injuries you suffer in these accidents can be life-changing. If you were injured because a property owner did not maintain a safe environment, you may be entitled to compensation. A Jacksonville, NC, slip and fall accident lawyer can help you understand your rights, help you build a strong claim, and keep you protected.

At Christina Rivenbark & Associates, we fight for the rights of the injured across Jacksonville and the surrounding communities. With experience at the Onslow County Courthouse, our legal team is firmly grounded in the local justice system and passionate about strong, strategic advocacy. We put a personal touch with a deep understanding of North Carolina liability laws and work with clients to pursue the compensation and accountability they deserve.
Slip and fall accidents are a type of premises liability case. Property owners, occupants, or businesses may be held accountable for injuries caused by unsafe conditions. Some of the most common causes of slip and fall cases include:
Slip and falls are one of the most common personal injury claims filed, but they are also some of the most hotly contested by insurance companies and property owners. Slip and fall laws in North Carolina require an injured person to prove that the property owner knew or should have known about the unsafe condition.
In other words, the hazard was there long enough to be noticed, or the owner caused the unsafe condition. Slip and fall accidents are often a matter of evidence, which is why it is so important to take photos, get the names of witnesses, and seek medical treatment immediately.
Several North Carolina statutes directly affect slip and fall cases. For example, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 establishes a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including slip and fall accidents, and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-53 sets a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims caused by dangerous property conditions.
Slip-and-falls are quite common, especially with the older citizen population 65 and older. Over 14 million seniors fall each year, affecting 1 in 4 older adults. Older adults experienced medical treatment or one-day activity restriction for 37% of their falls, despite many falls not resulting in injuries.
After you slip and fall, you should take specific steps if you want to increase your chances of recovering compensation for your injuries. You should receive medical treatment as soon as possible after your accident, even if you believe your injuries are minor. Your medical records from your doctor’s visit after the accident are a crucial part of any slip and fall claim.
Report the accident to the owner or manager of the property, and request a copy of the written accident report. If you can, take photographs of the dangerous condition that caused your fall, along with your injuries. Also, take photos of the area around the accident scene. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident, and keep copies of all medical records and bills, as well as written communications.
If you suffered a slip and fall injury, it is in your greatest interest to hire a slip and fall accident lawyer. They know how to prove negligence, fight back against insurance company tricks, and make sure your rights are protected under North Carolina’s strict contributory negligence rule.
Your Jacksonville slip and fall accident attorney can collect important evidence, secure video surveillance before it is destroyed, and work with accident reconstruction professionals to show how the property owner’s negligence led to your slip and fall accident.
The attorney can also communicate with the insurance company on your behalf and make sure to calculate the full value of your damages, including future medical expenses and loss of earning capacity. You stand a much better chance of getting maximum compensation with a lawyer on your side.
Slip and fall claims in North Carolina are a type of premises liability claim. This means that a slip and fall victim must show that a property owner negligently failed to reasonably maintain the premises. To win a slip and fall case, the victim must demonstrate that the property owner had knowledge of the dangerous condition that caused the fall and that the owner failed to repair the dangerous condition or adequately warn the victim of the condition.
The four elements required to prove negligence are that the property owner owed you a legal duty of care, the property owner breached that duty of care, the breach of that duty was the direct cause of your injury, and you suffered actual damages, like medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering. Evidence to support each of these four elements is required for a successful slip and fall case.
Slip and fall settlements can vary greatly depending on the specifics of the case. Settlement amounts depend on the severity of injuries, medical costs, and lost wages, while accounting for pain and suffering and long-term effects. Less severe injuries may lead to smaller settlements, whereas more serious injuries, such as fractures or head injuries, can result in higher compensation. Each case is unique.
Yes, you can be compensated if your slip and fall injury in Jacksonville, NC, was the result of a property owner’s negligence. The recovery can include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term rehabilitation. To recover, you must show that the property owner did not maintain safe conditions. Since North Carolina is a contributory negligence state, having an attorney significantly increases your chances of recovery.
If you have suffered injury from a slip and fall, an attorney at Christina Rivenbark & Associates can help you. Contact us today to get started.