Cleveland Slip and Fall Lawyer

Name: Ohio Personal Injury Lawyers - Joseph Law Group, LLC
Brand: Joseph Law Group
Rating: 4.8 (101 reviews)

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Joseph T. Joseph, Jr.

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Client Review

“The Joseph Law Group and it’s staff were knowledgeable and courteous while handling my case. They stayed in touch with me to see if everything was alright. I highly recommend my family and friends to utilize their services.”
Robert Lawson

Skilled Representation For Ohio Fall Victims

At Joseph Law Group, our Cleveland slip and fall lawyer has pursued a number of premises liability claims. As such, we know what it takes to get to the bottom of a slip and fall incident by determining how the accident happened, if a property owner is responsible, and if so, how to prove that the property owner’s negligence resulted in you or your loved one’s injuries.

If you were injured from a fall caused by a dangerous condition, you may be entitled to recover compensation for any injuries you suffered as a result. Our Cleveland personal injury attorneys at Joseph Law Group are ready to discuss your premises liability case with you in a free consultation. Give us a call at (216) 522-1600 or reach out via our online intake form to set up your free case evaluation today.

Premises Liability In Ohio

Customers and guests have a reasonable expectation of safety when visiting a store, restaurant, or other business. Unfortunately, both seen and unseen hazards may exist, and visitors can get hurt as a result. Under Ohio’s premises liability law, victims of slip and fall accidents may take legal action against a property owner if they failed to keep their premises safe and free of potential hazards.

Keep in mind, however, that premises liability torts cover more than just slips and falls; they also cover any accident that occurs on someone else’s property due to the property owner’s own negligence. Our Cleveland premises liability attorneys at Joseph Law Group have handled a variety of different claims involving the negligence of a property owner, including dog bite injury cases, swimming pool accidents, inadequate lighting in parking lots, and more. Regardless of the type of accident, property owners may be held liable if they did not exercise reasonable care and a visitor was hurt on their property.

Where Do Slip And Fall Accidents Occur Most Often?

Premises must always be safe for visitors, no matter what type of property it may be. When a property owner fails to uphold this standard, a person may suffer a serious injury as a result.

Potential slip and fall hazards are everywhere, but certain locations are more likely to cause an accident. These locations might include:

Parking lots and garages
Workplaces
Sidewalks and walkways
Hotels and resorts
Public spaces with wet areas, such as pools and restrooms
Bars and restaurants
Grocery stores
Staircases
Escalators and elevators

In most public spaces, such as a hotel or grocery store, there is often protocol for filing an incident report after a slip and fall accident. This incident report is incredibly important when informing the insurance company of your fall claim as well as pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent property owner.

What Are Some Frequent Causes Of Slip And Fall Accidents?

It is understandable to feel embarrassed after a slip and fall accident, especially if you fell in a public place. However, you should never be too quick to place the blame on yourself. Any injuries sustained may very well be the property owner’s fault if their negligence or carelessness led to your fall. If this is the case for you, you may be able to pursue compensation through an Ohio premises liability claim.

Any number of factors may contribute to a slip-and-fall accident. However, some of the most common typically include:

Uneven sidewalks or floors
Slippery or wet floors and pool decks
Snow or ice on the ground
Polished floors
Spills or puddles of water, oil, or other substances
Carpets that do not lay flat or curl and bunch at the edges
Broken stairs or steps
Construction hazards
Structural damages
Safety code violations

Maintaining the safety of the premises for those visiting their property or land is a property owner’s legal responsibility. As a result, property owners may be held legally liable if an accident occurs due to their own failure to remedy hazardous conditions. Readily visible warnings and caution signs are a simple way for a property owner to inform visitors of a potentially dangerous situation and avoid legal responsibility for injuries.

Common Slip And Fall Injuries

Slip and fall victims can experience serious injuries that require immediate medical treatment, long-term physical therapy, and ongoing medical care. The injuries inflicted by these accidents are often much more severe than skinned knees and palms. In some cases, catastrophic injuries and even fatal injuries may result.

Some of the more common injuries our slip and fall attorneys see include:

Broken or fractured bones
Contusions and bruises
Severe lacerations
Concussions
Spinal cord injuries
Sprains or muscle tears
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Other severe injuries

It’s important to remember that fall victims may not feel the true extent of an injury right away. The adrenaline that rushes through our bodies when we are hurt can sometimes keep us from feeling pain, sometimes for days after the initial accident. With that in mind, what may have seemed like a simple fall may be more devastating when the dust settles. Because it is often hard to determine the severity of a slip and fall case right away, it is vital that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you got hurt as a result of a slip and fall, receiving medical care and documenting your injuries is an important step toward gaining financial compensation in your future personal injury claim.

Ohio Slip And Fall Law

Under Ohio law, the duty a property owner owes an individual depends on who that individual is in relation to the property: an invitee, a licensee, or a trespasser.

Invitees

As you might have already guessed, an invitee is someone who has either explicit or implicit permission from the property owner to be on the premises, typically for business or commercial purposes. For example, you are considered an invitee if you are eating at a restaurant or shopping at a grocery store.

Property owners have the highest obligation to protect invitees on their premises from potential hazards by either removing these dangers or clearly warning invitees of them.

Licensees

Licensees are similar to invitees, but rather than being on the premises for business or commercial purposes, they are there for their own personal benefit or pleasure. A common example of a licensee would be a dinner guest at someone’s home.

Though licensees do not require the same extent of protection as invitees, it is still the responsibility of a property owner to exercise due care in warning and protecting you from potential hazards on their property.

Trespassers

Even trespassers are awarded some level of protection under state law. If you are a trespasser, it means you are on another’s property without permission. In this case, property owners must only avoid purposely and recklessly harming you.

Who’s Responsible For My Slip And Fall Accident?

An injured person can file a premises liability claim to hold the owner responsible for the damages resulting from their injuries, such as medical bills and lost wages. Like other types of personal injury cases, there may be more than one person that holds responsibility for your injuries. In fact, several parties may be responsible for your slip and fall case at once, depending on the type of property where the accident occurred. A personal injury attorney can help you pursue damages for accidents occurring on commercial properties, residential properties, and even governmental properties, in some cases.

What Is The Average Settlement For A Slip And Fall Claim?

It is impossible to know how much a slip and fall accident case may be worth just by looking at it. The truth is, each individual case is unique, and tons of different factors play a role in determining the case’s value.

When you seek compensation from the responsible parties, our Cleveland slip and fall lawyer from our firm will take into account the following economic and non-economic factors:

Economic Damages

Medical expenses
Lost income
Lost earning capacity
Economic value of domestic services
And more

Non-Economic Damages

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Inconvenience
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of consortium
And more

Slip and fall injuries can lead to ongoing medical bills that add up quickly, so it’s crucial that you have an experienced slip and fall attorney like those at Joseph Law Group fighting for you from the very beginning. Once an attorney-client relationship is established, our legal team will gather evidence to support your claim and fight tirelessly for your right to fair compensation. Call today to learn more about your legal options in a free initial consultation.

Statute Of Limitations For Slip And Fall Cases In Ohio

Each state sets its own laws for how long a personal injury victim has to file a claim following the accident. Ohio’s personal injury statute of limitations for a slip and fall is two years from the date of the injury. According to Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10, this applies to both bodily injury and any damage to personal property. If a claim is not filed before this statute of limitations expires, your case may be dismissed, and local laws may prevent you from filing for damages.

You must act quickly if you or a family member are injured on another person’s property due to a property owner’s negligence. When you hire an experienced slip and fall injury lawyer from Joseph Law Group, you ensure that all deadlines are met and the appropriate steps are taken in order to successfully bring a lawsuit against the responsible parties.

Contact Our Firm Today

If you believe you have a premises liability claim, a slip and fall injury attorney can be extremely helpful in securing the appropriate amount of compensation for your injuries. At Joseph Law Group, each Cleveland, Ohio slip and fall injury lawyer on our team is familiar with the ins and outs of premises liability cases. Whether we obtain a settlement through negotiations with the property owner’s insurance company or progress all the way to the litigation process, you will be confident in the fact that we have your legal situation under control.

Our lawyers work on a contingency-fee-basis, meaning you don’t pay a cent unless we are able to successfully recover compensation for you. To schedule a free legal consultation, call the dedicated Cleveland OH personal injury lawyers at Joseph Law Group today. You can reach us by calling (216) 522-1600 or by completing our online submission form below.

Cleveland Slip And Fall FAQs

Slip and fall incidents can lead to serious injuries, unexpected medical bills, and lost wages when they happen on someone else’s property. If you’ve experienced such an accident, a Cleveland slip and fall lawyer can help determine whether the property owner failed to keep the area safe. Slip and fall claims often involve detailed questions about where and how the incident happened, and liability isn’t always straightforward. That’s why it’s important to explore your rights fully.

Could I File A Claim For Slipping On An Ice Accumulation Caused By A Leaking Gutter?

Yes, if the ice buildup was due to a structural issue like a leaking gutter that the property owner knew about or should have known about, you may be able to pursue a claim.Property owners are generally not liable for natural accumulations of snow and ice, but when a man-made condition creates the hazard like faulty drainage or gutters the legal situation changes. Of course, the weather itself can play a role too. If a once in a lifetime storm just came through and the property owner has not had a chance to assess damages or safety issues, then they may not be at fault. It all depends on the specific situation.

What Happens If I Slipped On A Loose Rug In An Apartment Hallway?

Responsibility depends on who controlled or maintained the area. If the hallway is a common area, the landlord is typically responsible for keeping it safe. However, if the tenant placed the rug there, they could be held accountable. A Cleveland slip and fall lawyer can review maintenance agreements and lease terms to identify the liable party.

What If The Hazard That Caused My Fall Was “Open And Obvious”?

State law may bar recovery in cases where the danger was considered open and obvious, meaning a reasonable person would have noticed and avoided it. That said, each case is unique. If there were distractions, poor visibility, or urgent circumstances, you might still have grounds for compensation. Something considered open and obvious might be a set of stairs that collapsed on their own and have not been fixed; in some cases, people should be able to see the stairs are not there and should not try to go down the empty space.

If I Stumbled In A Poorly Lit Parking Garage, Is Visibility A Factor In Liability?

Yes, inadequate lighting can be a major factor in proving negligence. Property owners are expected to maintain lighting in areas where foot traffic is common. If dim or broken lights contributed to your fall, that could strengthen your case. Our team understands how to incorporate these environmental details into a compelling legal argument.

Can I Still File If I Fell At My Workplace?

You may be entitled to workers’ compensation, which is often separate from traditional slip and fall claims. However, if a third party (like a building maintenance company) was responsible for the hazard, you might be able to pursue an additional claim. A Cleveland slip and fall lawyer can evaluate the workplace circumstances to determine what options are available.

Slip and fall cases are rarely black and white, and each detail, from lighting conditions to property maintenance, matters. If you believe negligence played a role in your injury, speak with an attorney who knows how to build strong claims using property records, safety standards, and witness statements. To learn how Joseph Law Group, LLC can support your recovery, reach out today and discuss your situation confidentially. We have been rated by Super Lawyers and have a track record in helping over 5,000 injured victims throughout Ohio. We have knowledgeable attorneys ready to take on your case.

Slip And Fall Glossary

When someone is injured on another person’s property due to a hazardous condition, a Cleveland slip and fall lawyer may be able to assist them with seeking compensation. Slip and fall incidents often happen in public places like grocery stores, parking lots, and apartment buildings where unsafe conditions go unaddressed. These injuries can be serious, and the legal claims that arise from them rely on very specific standards, definitions, and terminology. Below, we define key legal terms that commonly arise in these cases to help you better understand your rights and what legal processes may be involved.

Invitee

An invitee is a person who has been welcomed onto a property for a purpose that benefits the property owner, such as shopping, dining, or conducting business. Under Ohio law, property owners owe invitees the highest level of care. This means they must regularly inspect their property for hazards, repair known issues, and provide clear warnings for dangerous conditions they haven’t fixed. In slip and fall claims, whether someone qualifies as an invitee can directly impact whether the property owner had a responsibility to address the condition that caused the fall.

For example, if a customer slips on a wet floor at a grocery store with no caution sign displayed, they may be considered an invitee with legal grounds to pursue a claim. Businesses are expected to prevent foreseeable risks that could cause harm to those invited onto the premises.

Licensee

A licensee enters a property for their own reasons but with the property owner’s consent. Common examples include social guests, such as someone attending a birthday party at a friend’s house. While property owners still have a duty to make their property reasonably safe for licensees, the legal standard is not as high as it is for invitees.

Property owners must avoid creating dangerous conditions intentionally or recklessly and must warn licensees of any known hazards that might not be obvious. If a guest trips over a broken step that the host was aware of but didn’t mention, this could potentially be grounds for a legal claim. In slip and fall cases, establishing this classification helps determine what protections the visitor was owed under the law.

Incident Report

An incident report is a written record of what occurred during a slip and fall accident, typically created by a business or property owner shortly after the event. This document often includes details such as the date, time, location, cause of the fall, and any visible injuries. It may also include statements from the injured person and witnesses.

For individuals pursuing legal action, obtaining a copy of the incident report can be critical. It helps preserve facts while they’re still fresh, supports the timeline of events, and can serve as evidence during negotiations or litigation. While not always required by law, having an incident report strengthens a personal injury claim by documenting what happened from the beginning.

Hazardous Condition

A hazardous condition refers to any unsafe feature or defect on a property that could cause injury to someone legally present. These can range from wet floors and uneven sidewalks to poor lighting or broken handrails. In legal terms, a condition becomes relevant in a claim when the property owner either knew or should have known about it and failed to take timely action.

In slip and fall cases, demonstrating the presence of a hazardous condition is essential. The injured party must often show that the danger was present long enough for the property owner to have discovered and resolved it. Photographs, maintenance records, and witness statements are often used to prove that the property was unsafe at the time of the incident.

Common Area

A common area is any part of a property that is shared by multiple tenants or guests and maintained by the property owner or manager. These include hallways, stairwells, parking garages, and lobbies. Property owners are generally responsible for keeping these areas safe and well-lit.

If a person slips on ice in an apartment building’s parking lot or trips on loose carpeting in a hallway, the legal focus turns to whether the common area was properly maintained. Lease agreements and maintenance contracts are frequently reviewed to determine who had control over the space and whether they fulfilled their responsibility to make the area safe.

Slip and fall claims often turn on specific legal definitions and interpretations of responsibility. These terms provide a framework for understanding how liability is established and what protections exist for injured visitors. If you or someone you care about has been injured due to an unsafe condition on another’s property, Joseph Law Group, LLC can help explain your legal options and work toward securing proper compensation.

To find out whether you may have a claim, contact our office today for a free consultation with a member of our legal team. We’re here to help you understand your next steps and pursue the financial recovery you deserve.

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Eliminate Your Worry & Ease Your Mind

The insurance industry is built on the avoidance of making any payments on claims. They see claims as liabilities, and initially deny, defend, and delay a claim to limit that liability and save money for the company. Ultimately, it is the job of the attorneys at Joseph Law Group to advocate on behalf of our clients and to give the insurance companies and adjusters enough reason to pay an amount of money that is fair under all circumstances. When you hire Joseph Law Group to represent your claim, you are getting a full-service team of dedicated attorneys and paralegals who will be committed to pursuing the best outcome for you from day one until trial.
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