The Ohio Revised Code (ORC) addresses premises liability which can be a factor in determining a property owner’s duty of care. At Graham Law, our slip and fall attorneys have valuable legal expertise in advancing slip and fall claims in Ohio. Time is of the essence in these types of cases, so the sooner you consult with one of our slip and fall attorneys, the better. We have two offices to help serve you better, located in Zanesville and Cambridge, Ohio respectively. However, thanks to virtual technology – our slip and fall attorneys can help with your slip and fall claims no matter where you live in Ohio. Contact our law firm today for a free consultation and let us put our experience to work for you.
What to Do Immediately Following a Slip and Fall Accident in Ohio
At Graham Law, we have helped clients throughout Ohio with their slip and fall claims and have recovered millions on behalf of our clients. But the outcome of your case will depend greatly on the evidence, as well as the nature of your injuries. We cannot stress enough how important it is to follow these steps following a slip and fall accident.
Gather evidence: When a slip and fall accident occurs, we always recommend getting as many photos or videos as soon as possible. These photos can be photos of your injuries as well as photos of the area where the slip and fall took place. If things are not investigated in a timely fashion, evidence can get lost. For example, most video cameras located on premises will only record for a certain period before the database gets wiped out. Video evidence if available can be of great value for your slip and fall claims so getting any video evidence of the premises as early as possible is essential. In the event you are too injured to do so, send your family member or friend back to the area to gather as much evidence as possible.
Seek medical treatment: Getting medical attention for your injuries as soon as possible is also important. In some cases, injuries may take longer to evolve, so the sooner you seek medical treatment, the better. Make sure to keep those medical reports so you can share them with your slip and fall attorney.
Consult with a slip and fall attorney: After you’ve received medical treatment for your injuries, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. At Graham Law, you can contact our attorneys for a free consultation to go over the details of your case and to see if you have merit for a potential claim. This consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose by contacting us. If you hire us to represent you, we will handle all the paperwork and dealings with the insurance companies to make sure you can focus on your recovery. We recommend you do not sign anything until you’ve spoken to a slip and fall attorney.
It’s important to note that there is a 2-year statue of limitation on these types of claims, which means you have 2 years from the date of the incident to file a claim. Reach out to our slip and fall attorneys today for legal help.
Common Injuries Stemming From Slip and Fall Accidents
Here are some of the common types of injuries our attorneys have seen in slip and fall cases:
- Broken or fractured bones
- Concussions or other traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Dental injuries
- Spinal cord trauma
- Joint injuries including strains and sprains
- And more
Not only might an injured accident survivor face the many challenges of a physical recovery, they may also accrue debts as a result of their slip and fall accident. There may be substantial bills associated with medical care, medications, rehabilitative treatments, attendant care, and more. Depending on the nature of your injuries, you may find yourself needing to take time away from work, which can place further strain on your financial circumstances. Financial stress is the last thing you need, especially if the cause of your injury is another person’s negligence. Hiring a slip and fall attorney can help you pursue more meaningful compensation.
Premises Liability Overview: How Negligence is Established
Premises liability is a legal concept in Ohio that holds property owners or occupiers liable for injuries sustained by visitors on their property due to unsafe conditions. Here is a general overview on key aspects:
Duty of care: Property owners and occupiers owe a duty of care to visitors depending on the visitors’ classifications which include:
- Invitees: individuals the property owner invites onto the property for a business purpose. The owner owes a high duty of care to ensure the premises are safe for patrons and is responsible for things like inspecting the property for hazards, warning invitees of any known dangers and taking reasonable steps to keep the premises safe.
- Licensees: individuals with permission to be on the property for their own social or recreational party such as guests at a house party. The owner has a high duty of care to ensure the premises are safe for patrons and is responsible for warning licensees of hidden dangers they know about or should have revealed.
- Trespassers: individuals who are on the property without permission. Generally, property owners owe no duty of care to trespassers however there are exceptions that may apply.
Breach of duty: In all instances, a breach of duty of duty occurs when a property owner or occupiers fails to uphold their duty of care. For example, failing to maintain the property in a reasonable safe condition or failing to warn visitors about known hazards.
Causation: Causation is established by proving the visitor’s injury was a direct and proximate result of the property owners’ breach of duty.
Damages: The visitor must demonstrate they suffered damages (economic and/or non-economic) due to the incident.
It’s important to note that Ohio follows a comparative negligence system. This means if the visitor is also found negligent (i.e. ignoring warning signs that are clearly visible), their damages will be reduced by their percentage of fault. The laws with respect to comparative negligence can be very complex, and this is another reason we do not recommend you tackle these types of claims without the assistance of a slip and fall attorney.
A slip and fall attorney from our law firm will work with medical experts, and engineers for these types of accidents to help demonstrate negligence in your case and build your case. Contact a slip and fall attorney from our Zanesville of Cambridge office today for a free consultation.
Contact Our Slip and Fall Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Graham Law has handled slip and fall claims against major big box retailers such as Walmart, Home Depot, Walgreens, Target and more. But slip and fall claims can happen anywhere – not just commercial properties. They can happen on residential and municipal properties and regardless of where the incident occurred, our attorneys can help.
Contact our law firm today to speak with a member of our legal team and let us help you.
