Georgia football fans may be interested to learn that a woman is suing Clemson University and the City of Clemson for negligence after she slipped and fell in a handicap parking lot before a Tigers football game. The incident occurred on Sept. 23, 2017.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff was walking across a handicap parking area to reach a bus that was taking fans to Memorial Stadium for Clemson’s game against Boston College. As she approached the designated bus stop, she “suddenly” slipped and fell to the pavement, breaking her wrist and hip in the process. The lawsuit blames her fall on pine straw and other debris that was strewn on the ground near the boarding area for the bus.
The plaintiff, who is a resident of Pickens County, claims that she required multiple surgeries as the result of her injuries. She further claims that the fall left her with permanent impairments of 9 percent on her arm and 8 percent on her left hip. She additionally claims that she was left with permanent scarring and disfigurement. She accuses the university and city of failing to warn fans of the fall hazard near the bus waiting area, failing to properly inspect the premises and failing to maintain the area. She is seeking actual and punitive damages of an unspecified amount.
Businesses, universities and cities are required to properly maintain all public areas. If someone is injured on public property that is poorly maintained, he or she may have grounds to file a premises liability lawsuit to recover damages. An attorney may be able to review a case, help gather evidence supporting a claim and file the necessary documents in court.
Source: Charlotte Observer, “Slip-and-fall in handicap area before Clemson football game led to surgeries, lawsuit,” Teddy Kulmala, Dec. 6, 2018
