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McGuire Law

Columbia Slip and Fall Personal Injury Attorney

A slip and fall accident at Columbiana Centre, on a downtown Columbia, South Carolina sidewalk, or in any Richland or Lexington County business changes your life in an instant—what should have been a routine shopping trip, work visit, or errand becomes broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and months of recovery fighting property owners who deny responsibility.

Injured in a Fall? Evidence Is Being Destroyed - Call Now
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Available 24/7 - Immediate Response for Fall Injury Victims

Attorney Matt McGuire

Columbia's combination of aging infrastructure, unpredictable weather creating ice and water hazards, neglected commercial properties along Two Notch Road and Garners Ferry, and businesses prioritizing profits over safety creates dangerous conditions that cause thousands of preventable falls annually. South Carolina premises liability law requires property owners to maintain safe conditions and warn visitors of known hazards, yet landlords, retailers, restaurants, and commercial properties throughout Columbia routinely ignore spills, broken pavement, inadequate lighting, and dangerous conditions until someone gets seriously hurt.

Matt McGuire has represented slip and fall victims in Columbia for over three decades, holding accountable negligent property owners from Harbison Boulevard shopping centers to Vista district restaurants, Five Points establishments to commercial buildings throughout downtown. Call (888) 499-5738 now for 24/7/365 representation.

The Legal Expertise of McGuire Law

Premises liability cases demand rapid evidence preservation, thorough investigation of property owner negligence, and aggressive pursuit of accountability before surveillance footage disappears and hazards are quietly repaired.

Premises Liability Mastery

Over 30 years holding negligent property owners accountable for dangerous conditions—wet floors, broken pavement, inadequate lighting, and hazards that cause serious injuries.

Rapid Evidence Preservation

Immediate demand letters to property owners preserving surveillance footage before automatic deletion, securing incident reports and maintenance records critical to proving negligence.

Expert Investigation Network

Retaining safety engineers, lighting experts, and building code specialists who inspect accident scenes and establish property owner violations creating dangerous conditions.

Insurance Negotiation Experience

Decades of experience defeating insurance company tactics—blame-shifting, injury minimization, and lowball offers designed to deny fair compensation to fall victims.

Trial-Ready Litigation

When property owners refuse fair settlements, we're prepared to take cases to trial in Richland and Lexington County courts where juries hold negligent owners accountable.

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Types of Fall Cases We Handle

Property owner negligence takes many forms throughout Columbia—from wet grocery store floors to icy parking lots to broken stairs in apartment buildings. We pursue every avenue of recovery.

Wet Floor Accidents

Spills in Columbia grocery stores, restaurants, and retail locations where hazards aren't cleaned promptly or warning signs aren't posted despite known dangers.

Ice and Snow Falls

Parking lots, sidewalks, and building entrances throughout Columbia during winter weather when property owners fail to salt, sand, or clear walkways.

Broken Pavement and Potholes

Shopping center parking lots at Village at Sandhill, Columbiana Centre, or Harbison causing trip and fall injuries from neglected surfaces.

Inadequate Lighting

Parking garages, stairwells, or outdoor walkways near USC campus, downtown Columbia, or apartment complexes creating dangerous conditions after dark.

Stairway Accidents

Missing handrails, uneven steps, inadequate lighting, or building code violations in Columbia buildings and businesses causing serious falls.

Elevator and Escalator Injuries

Malfunctions at malls, office buildings, or garages throughout Richland and Lexington Counties causing sudden falls and serious injuries.

Surveillance Footage Deletion

Most businesses automatically delete surveillance footage within 7-30 days. Immediate legal action is required to preserve this critical evidence of hazardous conditions.

McGuire Law's Core Values

When a preventable fall leaves you facing mounting medical bills and lost wages, you deserve an attorney who treats your case with the urgency and dedication it requires.

Victim-First Advocacy

Your recovery comes first. We handle insurance battles, evidence preservation, and legal strategy while you focus on healing from your injuries.

No Upfront Costs

Contingency fee representation means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation—allowing injured victims to pursue justice without financial barriers.

Aggressive Investigation

Launching immediate investigations before property owners can repair hazards, delete footage, or claim conditions never existed.

Medical Care Coordination

Connecting clients with top Columbia specialists while negotiating medical liens, ensuring necessary treatment without upfront costs.

Maximum Recovery Focus

Fighting for full compensation including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future care needs—not quick settlements that shortchange victims.

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Immediate Post-Injury Action Steps

What you do in the minutes and hours after a fall directly determines whether you can prove property owner negligence and recover full compensation.

Seek Emergency Medical Care

Get treatment at Prisma Health Richland, Lexington Medical Center, or Providence Hospital immediately—documenting injuries and establishing causation.

Report the Accident

Notify property owners or managers in writing before leaving, obtaining copies of incident reports with manager signatures and contact information.

Photograph the Hazard

Document the exact area where you fell from multiple angles—showing lighting conditions, lack of warnings, spills, or surface defects before they're cleaned.

Document Your Injuries

Photograph visible injuries including bruises, swelling, lacerations, or deformities immediately and throughout recovery showing progression.

Preserve Your Clothing

Keep the shoes and clothing you wore—these become evidence showing tread patterns, lack of defects, or conditions at time of fall.

Collect Witness Information

Get contact details from other customers, employees, or passersby who saw your fall or observed dangerous conditions before the accident.

Call Within Days, Not Months

The McGuire Law Difference

Slip and fall cases are won or lost in the first days after accidents. Matt McGuire's immediate response and aggressive investigation make the difference between successful recovery and denied claims.

Three Decades of Premises Liability Experience

Matt McGuire has represented slip and fall victims throughout Columbia for over 30 years, recovering millions from negligent property owners, retailers, and businesses.

Former Prosecutor Insight

As a former Assistant Attorney General and Assistant Solicitor, Matt understands how defendants build their cases—and where those defenses are vulnerable to attack.

Same-Day Evidence Preservation

We send preservation letters to property owners within hours of engagement, preventing surveillance footage deletion and evidence destruction that dooms many claims.

Expert Witness Network

Safety engineers, lighting specialists, and building code experts who inspect accident scenes and testify establishing property owner negligence in court.

Trial-Tested Results

When property owners refuse fair settlements, we take cases to trial. Our courtroom experience and preparation often motivate reasonable settlements before trial.

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Insurance Company Tactics

Property owners and their insurers use predictable strategies to deny slip and fall claims. Matt McGuire anticipates these tactics and builds cases that overcome them.

Common Defense Tactics

  • Blaming you for texting, not watching, or wearing inappropriate shoes
  • Claiming hazards didn't exist or weren't dangerous
  • Arguing they had no notice of the condition
  • Minimizing injuries as pre-existing or exaggerated

Our Countermeasures

  • Surveillance footage proving hazardous conditions existed
  • Maintenance records showing inspection failures
  • Prior complaints establishing constructive notice
  • Medical expert testimony on injury causation

Recorded Statement Warning

Insurance adjusters will call asking for recorded statements. Never give one without legal representation—these statements are used to deny or minimize your claim.

Liability Determination

Proving property owner negligence requires establishing they knew or should have known about dangerous conditions and failed to remedy them or warn visitors.

Knowledge of Hazards

Proving property owners knew or should have known about dangerous conditions through inspection protocols, prior complaints, or obvious visibility of hazards.

Mode and Manner Analysis

Examining how substances got on floors, how long hazards existed, and whether reasonable inspection would have discovered problems before your fall.

Building Code Violations

Missing handrails, inadequate lighting, improper stair dimensions, or other regulatory violations creating negligence per se claims against property owners.

Maintenance Records

Frequency of property inspections, employee training documentation, hazard remediation logs, and safety protocols showing failures in reasonable care.

Comparative Fault in South Carolina

South Carolina's modified comparative negligence law affects slip and fall recoveries—understanding these rules is critical to maximizing compensation.

50% Bar Rule

Modified comparative negligence in South Carolina bars recovery entirely if you are found more than 50% at fault for your own injuries.

Proportional Reduction

Damage awards decrease proportionally to your fault—if 20% responsible and damages are $100,000, recovery is reduced to $80,000.

Open and Obvious Defense

Property owners argue hazards were clearly visible and you should have avoided them—we counter with evidence of distraction or concealment.

Invitee Status Protection

Business invitees receive the highest duty of care under South Carolina law—property owners must inspect for and remedy hidden dangers.

Damages Available

Slip and fall injuries create immediate medical expenses and long-term consequences requiring full compensation for all current and future losses.

Medical Expenses

Emergency care, hospitalizations, surgeries, physical therapy, pain management, and all future treatment costs related to your fall injuries.

Lost Wages

Missed work during recovery, reduced earning capacity from permanent disabilities, or inability to return to previous physical employment.

Pain and Suffering

Physical pain, emotional distress, loss of life enjoyment, and diminished quality of life from injuries caused by property owner negligence.

Permanent Disability

Spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or orthopedic damage creating lifetime limitations, mobility restrictions, or chronic pain conditions.

Scarring and Disfigurement

Facial injuries, surgical scars, or visible permanent damage affecting appearance and self-esteem requiring additional compensation.

Future Medical Care

Anticipated surgeries, joint replacements, ongoing pain management, or assistive devices required for life after serious fall injuries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fall injury victims have urgent questions about their rights, evidence preservation, and what to expect from the legal process. Here are direct answers.

How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit?

South Carolina has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, but evidence disappears within days. Contact an attorney immediately to preserve surveillance footage and other critical evidence.

What if there was a "wet floor" sign posted?

Warning signs don't automatically eliminate property owner liability. If the hazard was unreasonably dangerous, inadequately marked, or the sign was poorly positioned, you may still have a valid claim.

Can I sue if I was partially at fault?

Yes, under South Carolina's comparative negligence law. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover if you're 50% or less responsible.

What if I didn't report the fall immediately?

Not reporting immediately doesn't bar your claim, but it makes proving the hazard existed more difficult. Contact an attorney who can help gather alternative evidence.

Should I give a recorded statement to the insurance company?

Never give recorded statements without legal representation. Insurance adjusters use these statements to find reasons to deny or minimize your claim.

How much is my slip and fall case worth?

Case value depends on injury severity, medical expenses, lost wages, permanent impairment, and liability strength. Matt McGuire evaluates cases individually to maximize recovery.

What if the business says they have no insurance?

Most businesses have commercial liability coverage. Property owners may also be liable. We investigate all potential sources of recovery for your injuries.

Do I need an attorney for a slip and fall case?

Premises liability cases require proving property owner knowledge of hazards, preserving evidence, and defeating insurance company tactics. Experienced representation significantly increases recovery.

Medical Care Coordination

We connect fall injury victims with top Columbia specialists while managing medical liens to ensure you receive necessary treatment without upfront costs.

Orthopedic Specialists

OrthoSC, Midlands Orthopaedics, or Prisma Health treating fractures, joint injuries, and musculoskeletal damage from falls.

Spine and Neurosurgery

Addressing vertebral fractures, disc herniations, or spinal cord injuries requiring surgery or long-term management after serious falls.

Traumatic Brain Injury Care

Neurologists treating concussions, subdural hematomas, or cognitive impairments when head impacts occur during falls.

Physical Rehabilitation

Columbia facilities helping clients regain strength, balance, and mobility after serious fall injuries through comprehensive therapy.

Matt McGuire - Attorney

About South Carolina Attorney Matt McGuire

Matt McGuire South Carolina Attorney

With over 30 years of experience defending South Carolina, McGuire Law provides elite legal representation with national recognition. McGuire Law has grown from a small practice into one of the most trusted law firms in South Carolina. We understand that legal issues can be overwhelming, whether you're facing criminal charges, dealing with injuries from an accident, or navigating family law matters.

McGuire Law is committed to each client's unique situation, and we don't believe in boilerplate solutions. Every case requires careful analysis, strategic planning, and aggressive representation. Our firm combines over 30 years of experience with cutting-edge legal strategies to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients.

McGuire Law serves all 46 South Carolina counties. We know these counties, their courts, their legal communities, and most importantly, the people who live here. This local knowledge, combined with our legal expertise, gives our clients a significant advantage.

Matt McGuire received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and his J.D. from the University of South Carolina.

Matt has served as a law clerk for a State Circuit Judge, an Assistant Attorney General for the State of South Carolina, and an Assistant Solicitor in the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office.

Matt is a proud husband, father of two, and a long-time resident of Richland County, South Carolina.

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Get Started Today

When you're injured in a slip and fall anywhere in Columbia, insurance adjusters immediately work to blame you, minimize injuries, and deny claims before you understand the full extent of your damages.

Property owners destroy evidence the moment they receive notice of claims. Surveillance footage is deleted within days, hazards are quietly repaired, and witnesses disappear. Matt McGuire launches same-day investigations to preserve critical evidence before it's lost forever. Call McGuire Law now.

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Columbia Office

2001 Assembly Street, Suite 102-B
Columbia, SC 29201

(888) 499-5738

Contact McGuire Law Today

Matt McGuire has represented slip and fall victims throughout Columbia and South Carolina for over 30 years, recovering millions in compensation from negligent property owners, retailers, and businesses. Call (888) 499-5738 within days of injury, not months later after surveillance footage is deleted and property owners claim hazards never existed.

"The measure of a man is what he does with power." — Plato