When you’re on someone else’s property, whether you’re visiting a friend, at a restaurant, or going shopping, you expect the premises to be maintained and safe. If there are potential hazards, you also expect to have notice. You’ve likely seen yellow Caution: Wet Floor signs indicating a slippery surface and you know to walk carefully or give the area a wide berth so you can avoid the wet floor.
However, what if those signs weren’t present? You walk across the floor and unexpectedly slip. You lose your balance and fall to the floor. While the fall may have only taken seconds, you may have sustained injuries. In cases like this, you can seek justice. A Cincinnati premises liability lawyer from Thomas Law Offices can help you get compensation for your injuries.
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Ohio Premises Liability Laws
Your lawyer will know the laws that apply to your case and will find if the negligent property owner violated any of those laws. If you had permission to be on the property, the owner should take measures to fix any hazards or warn you about the danger. Property owners also have some responsibility if someone is trespassing.
According to Ohio Revised Code 2305.402, the possessor of the property doesn’t owe the trespasser a duty of care. However, they need to refrain from reckless conduct that could cause the trespasser injury, death, or another form of loss. The possessor is liable for damages if they have knowledge that the trespasser could be in peril and the possessor fails to take ordinary care to prevent harm from coming to the trespasser.
A Cincinnati premises liability lawyer from our firm will go over why you were on the property and what happened while you were there. We’ll also find out how the accident caused your injuries and how those injuries are affecting you. Once we have the full story and all the facts, we can begin fighting for your compensation.
What Kind of Accidents Can Happen on a Premises?
Premises can have many types of safety hazards. Our lawyers are familiar with the common ones. They include:
- Wet or Slippery Surfaces. This could be spilled liquid inside a building, icy or snowy sidewalks, or melted snow that was tracked into the building’s entrance. They’re all hazards that could cause someone to lose their balance and slip.
- Uneven Flooring. Uneven flooring can cause people to trip. This can cause similar injuries to slip and falls.
- Torn or Unanchored Carpet. If a carpet is worn or has holes in it, a person walking across it may catch their foot in it and trip. An unanchored carpet may shift when a person is walking on it and they could lose their balance.
- Poor Lighting. If someone is walking through a dimly lit hallway or poorly lit parking lot, they could walk into an object or trip on something they weren’t able to see.
- Debris in Walkways. When common walkways are filled with clutter, they become tripping hazards. If the clutter is stacked up high, objects could fall and strike those underneath.
- Exposed Wires. Exposed wires could create electrical problems. The wires could be fire hazards or someone could electrocute themselves.
- Negligent Security or Broken Security Equipment. If someone is robbed or attacked on the premises and there isn’t sufficient security equipment to help the victim or sufficient security measures in place such as posted guards or adequate lighting, the possessor may be held liable for the victim’s injuries and damages.
Whether the situations above sound familiar or not, you should still reach out to a Cincinnati premises liability attorney. We give each client’s case the individual attention it deserves. Your case will have unique details and circumstances and we’ll find out exactly what happened and why.
When one of the hazards above is present and causes an accident, the injuries you sustain can be incapacitating. Let’s take a look at how severe these injuries can be.
How Dangerous Are Premises Liability Injuries?
After an accident occurs like a slip and fall, you’ll likely want to get up and act like you’re fine. It can be embarrassing to trip or slip in public, but you may be hurting yourself more if you try to immediately walk it off. It’s possible you’ve sustained injuries that need medical attention. Possible injuries include:
- Brain Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Soft Tissue Injuries
If the injuries are severe enough, you may need immediate medical attention. It’s best to stay put, call or ask someone to call for help. Then, you can get medical treatment to assess your injuries.
Before leaving the scene, inform the person in charge of the accident and file a report. Be as detailed as possible because the incident will be freshest in your mind. Take pictures of the scene where the accident occurred, you may capture details showing that negligence led to your injuries.
While you may have received first aid treatment, you should see your doctor as soon as possible for a medical evaluation. They’ll be able to start you on the path to recovery and you’ll have your injuries on record. There are also possible negative repercussions for failing to see your doctor in a timely manner.
As time goes on, your injuries could potentially worsen and lengthen your recovery time. This will be reflected in your medical record as well as the time it took for you to get to the doctor, which could raise questions about the seriousness of your injuries. Prioritizing your health will help you feel better and you’ll be helping your legal claim.
When you’ve taken care of your health, it’s time to seek your legal options with a Cincinnati premises liability lawyer.
Thomas Law Offices Is Here for You
After a premises liability accident, you may be dealing with injuries, medical debt, and are uncertain of how you’re going to get back on your feet. That’s where Thomas Law Offices comes in. We have experience in many kinds of personal injury claims. We’ll help you hold the negligent party accountable for their actions and we’ll seek full and fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
Get in touch with our office today so we can begin your legal journey. It’s important to call quickly, as there may be strict time limitations on when you can come forward with a claim, depending on the premises where your accident occurred. Our lawyers will help you move forward from this incident so you can recover in peace.
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