Myrtle Beach Restaurant Injury Lawyer

Myrtle Beach Restaurant Injury Attorney

Patrons and workers at a restaurant shouldn’t be concerned with potential dangers. When an incident happens because of the restaurant’s failure to maintain safety, you may be able to file a legal claim. Working with a Myrtle Beach restaurant injury lawyer can help you understand what options you may pursue.

Work With Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers in Myrtle Beach

Axelrod & Associates, P.A. is a pillar in Myrtle Beach’s legal community. Our team of five attorneys has over 100 years of combined legal experience and is a longtime South Carolina personal injury law firm. We’re dedicated to protecting the legal rights of our neighbors and community members. We offer free consultations to those living in Myrtle Beach and the surrounding towns.

Steps to Take After Experiencing an Injury in a Restaurant

In 2024, there were 11,256 restaurants in South Carolina. Restaurant injuries can happen to patrons and workers. When working in the food industry, employees are often exposed to dangerous tools and spills that can lead to falls. In 2023, there were 30,100 cases of South Carolina private industry workplace injury or illness. Restaurants were reported to be the largest employer in the state in 2024, with 268,600 jobs.

Workers are often pressured to move quickly and may even feel pressured to ignore safety hazards in order to complete their work quota. Restaurants are frequently understaffed, which may lead to incidents that harm workers or patrons.

When an incident happens, there are several key steps to take to preserve your safety and legal case. These steps include:

1. Call 911 and report the incident. They’ll likely send a police officer to write an incident report and paramedics to look you over. Even if you feel fine, it’s important to get seen by a medical professional. Some injuries, such as internal bleeding and concussions, don’t present symptoms until later on.
2. Collect the information of the other party involved in the incident. This could be information about the person who caused the injury, such as a worker or the owner of the establishment.
3. Collect the contact information of anyone who witnessed the incident. You’ll most likely have a lot of witnesses at a restaurant, which is important for proving your side of what happened.
4. Take extensive photos and videos. Include documentation of your visible injuries, damage to your personal belongings, and the incident site.
5. Reach out to hire a restaurant injury lawyer to help you navigate the next steps in your case. They’ll help you understand if a case can be pursued and help represent you during legal proceedings.

How Courts in South Carolina Determine Fault in a Restaurant Injury Case

The Horry County Government & Justice Center, located at 1301 Second Avenue in Conway, typically oversees civil cases in Myrtle Beach. During your case, they’ll assign everyone involved a percentage of fault. Any compensation awarded to you will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

During a restaurant injury case, there are likely multiple responsible parties. The compensation awarded to you will be split between them, based on their percentage of fault. For example:

• If you were dining at a restaurant when you slipped and fell on a water puddle, you may be found to be 10% at fault if you were texting while walking
• The waiter serving your section of the restaurant may be found to be 10% at fault for the incident, since they should have noticed the spill and addressed it promptly
• The restaurant owner may be found to be 80% at fault for the incident if they didn’t have proper staffing and safety measures in place
• If you were awarded $100,000, it would be reduced by your 10% fault, making your final compensation $90,000. The waiter would pay $10,000, and the owner of the restaurant would pay $90,000.

FAQs About Myrtle Beach, SC Restaurant Injury Laws

What Is the Deadline to File My Restaurant Injury Claim in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, survivors of restaurant injuries generally have three years to file their legal claim. This timeline may seem long, but the longer you wait, the harder it is to gather evidence and the more your losses will pile up. Witness memories fade fast, and surveillance footage of the incident may tape over itself after a certain number of days. If you fail to file within three years, your case will most likely be dismissed.

What Are Economic Damages in a Restaurant Injury Case?

Victims in a restaurant injury case can file for economic damages. These damages are calculated based on your financial losses, such as your medical bills. This can include payment for your medications, surgeries, physical therapy, mental health therapy, and mobility aid devices. It can also cover any lost income due to missing work from your injuries, as well as any damage to your personal belongings during the incident.

What Are Non-Economic Damages in a Restaurant Injury Case?

Non-economic damages in a restaurant injury case are another type of damage that victims can file for. These damages are calculated based on your non-financial losses. These can include scarring, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, and mental anguish. In a restaurant injury case, there’s no limit on how much non-economic compensation you can request.

What Are Punitive Damages in a Restaurant Injury Case?

In a restaurant injury case, punitive damages are a unique type of damage for which victims may be able to file. If the wrongdoer acted with extreme negligence or malice, punitive damages may be awarded to the victim. For example, if the restaurant owner actively encouraged workers to ignore safety hazards in order to meet their work quota, the owner may have to pay punitive damages as further punishment and to deter any similar behavior in the future.

Hire a Restaurant Injury Lawyer That South Carolina Residents Rely On

Reach out to our Myrtle Beach office today to learn how one of our attorneys can help you. Axelrod & Associates, P.A. is proud to offer free consultations to those who’ve experienced an injury in Myrtle Beach and surrounding cities in South Carolina. Our firm believes that responsible parties need to be held accountable, so our clients can get the compensation they deserve, and nothing similar happens to anyone in the future.