When you take a vacation to sunny Myrtle Beach, SC, you will find plenty of things to do – fun in the sun, laying on the beach, swimming in the pool, or visiting the many tourist attractions in the area… There is something to do every minute of every day for adults, children, and families.

There is also the lurking possibility that someone will get hurt and that your vacation will be remembered not for the good times, but for the time spent at the emergency room – and, sometimes, through no fault of your own.

At Coastal Law, we represent many clients who have been hurt by someone else’s negligence while they were visiting on vacation.

Below, I’ll go through some of the more common types of cases that we see, how to get compensation for your injuries, and the special considerations that our out-of-town clients have.  

Common Types of Accidents and Injuries While on Vacation

Although vacation accidents are often the same types of accidents that our local clients suffer, you are more at risk for accident and injury while on vacation.

The stress of organizing and planning a vacation, keeping up with excited children, unfamiliar surroundings, and engaging in summer fun that may have a higher risk for injury than everyday activities all increase the odds of having an unfortunate experience that lands you in the ER.

Motor Vehicle Accidents on Vacation

Vacationers are at a higher risk of motor vehicle accidents when they are navigating unfamiliar roads during their vacation, and the Myrtle Beach area has congested highways complete with road construction, road rage, drunk drivers, and teenaged drivers who may be less experienced in the rules of the road.

Myrtle Beach Hotel and Resort Accidents

Hotels and resorts have a duty to keep their premises safe for guests – when they don’t, they may be liable for injuries you suffer because of their negligence.

Hotel and resort lawsuits in Myrtle Beach can cover a range of situations, including construction-related accidents, swimming pool accidents, slip and falls, and any number of unexpected injuries that may be caused by negligent hotel staff or even third-party contractors.

Swimming Pool Accidents and Drownings

Swimming pool accidents and drowning deaths might be no-one’s fault, or they may be caused by a failure to maintain equipment, a lack of lifeguards, or other conditions that are caused by the hotel owner or pool operator’s negligence.

Slick surfaces can cause a person to fall, improper wiring can cause electrocution, defective drain pipes can trap hair or limbs, and bacteria in the water can cause painful Crypto infections – when these conditions are caused by the hotel owner or pool operator’s carelessness, they are responsible for your damages and we will sue to recover full compensation for your injuries.

Boating Accidents on Vacation in Myrtle Beach

Many people choose to take boats on the water while they are visiting Myrtle Beach – deep sea fishing, sailing, parasailing, jet skiing, diving, kayaking, canoeing, you name it we’ve got it.

Some people enjoy fun in the sun boating on the ocean, while others may prefer the calmer waters of the Wateree River or the Intracoastal Waterway. Either way, accidents happen including:

• Flooded boats;
• Capsized boats;
• Collisions with another watercraft; or
• Equipment malfunctions.

When someone else causes an accident that hurts you or a family member, you may be able to sue for damages – the other driver, the driver of your watercraft, the company you rented the boat from, or third-party contractors may be responsible for your accident.  

Amusement Park and Water Park Accidents

Some of Myrtle Beach’s most popular attractions are the theme parks, water parks, and amusement park rides that can be found along the strand from North Myrtle Beach to Surfside Beach.

Although they are buckets of fun for parents and kids, they are also full of potential hazards that can hurt or even kill a person – defective rides, unsupervised rides, falling objects, and slippery surfaces can result in accidents, injuries, and unexpected trips to the hospital.

When those accidents are caused by the negligence of owners, operators, or vendors, you may be able to sue the responsible party and recover compensation.

Slip and Fall Accidents in Myrtle Beach

Slip and fall accidents are also more common while on vacation in Myrtle Beach – swimming in the ocean, swimming pools, and watersports result in wet floors everywhere…

In many cases, the owner of a business just can’t keep the water off the floor, but they still have a responsibility to keep their premises safe for guests and visitors – a slick floor covering in an area that is always covered with water is never a good idea, for example.

Wherever the accident happens, we will need to prove that there was a dangerous condition, that the owner or operator knew or should have known about the dangerous condition, and that they did not correct the problem or post appropriate warnings.

Where Do I File the Lawsuit if I am Hurt While on Vacation?

In most cases, the lawsuit will need to be filed in the county and state where the injury happened, although there are some exceptions.

This means that you will need to talk with a Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyer, preferably before you leave town, who can investigate your case, gather the evidence that you will need, negotiate with insurance companies, and file the lawsuit in Horry County, SC.  

In some cases, we may be able to negotiate a settlement without making you return to Horry County. You should always assume that you will have to return, however – you may be required to attend depositions, pretrial hearings, and the trial of your case if the insurance company does not pay full compensation for your injuries in a settlement.

Proving Negligence in SC Courts

Your SC personal injury lawyer at Coastal Law knows what evidence we will need to prove negligence in Horry County, SC, including:

• Duty: the property owner, operator, or other defendant must have owed a duty of care to you – for example, a duty of care to comply with boating laws, to follow the traffic laws, or to keep their premises safe for guests and visitors;
• Breach: the defendant in your case breached their duty of care – for example, by not cleaning up a spill, by speeding while texting on their phone, or by not maintaining their pool equipment;
• Causation: the defendant’s breach of their duty of care to you must be the cause of your injuries – but for their negligence, you would not have suffered the injuries; and
• Damages: you must have suffered some type of damages that can be translated into a dollar figure – medical expenses, pain and suffering, property damage, and lost wages are a few examples.

SC Vacation Personal Injury Lawyers in Myrtle Beach

The personal injury lawyers at Coastal Law are your “boots on the ground” when you are injured on vacation and need someone you can trust to handle your lawsuit.

Call us before you leave town at (843) 488-5000 or complete our online form to talk to an experienced personal injury attorney today.