Cincinnati Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer
Falls can happen inside stores, restaurants, workplaces, and apartment buildings, or outside on sidewalks and in parking lots. These accidents can leave you with injuries, medical bills, and questions about who should pay. If a property owner or business failed to address a dangerous condition, you may have a claim against them and their insurer.
At Lawrence & Associates, we can review the circumstances of your accident, determine whether another party’s negligence may have contributed to your injuries, and help you understand your legal options for pursuing compensation. At our law firm, your case is our cause. Contact us today for a free consultation about your Cincinnati slip and fall accident.
table of contents
- Why Should You Choose Lawrence & Associates for Your Slip and Fall Claims?
- Our Case Results
- Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
- What Kinds of Injuries Can Result From a Slip and Fall?
- How Is Fault Proven in a Slip and Fall Case?
- Types of Compensation Collected After a Slip and Fall Accident
- The Benefits of Partnering With a Slip and Fall Lawyer on Your Case
- Slip and Fall FAQs
- Reach Out to a Slip and Fall Lawyer at Lawrence & Associates Today
Why Should You Choose Lawrence & Associates for Your Slip and Fall Claims?
Our legal team at Lawrence & Associates understands that insurance companies and property owners may dispute responsibility for slip and fall injuries. Our firm is prepared to handle those challenges and advocate for your interests, with no upfront attorney fees. With our contingency fee arrangement, you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation.
Our Client Bill of Rights outlines our commitment to thorough case analysis, clear communication, regular updates, dedicated representation, settlement protection, and financial transparency.
Since 2005, we have represented clients throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, with a record of successful case results. Our attorneys provide representation in both English and Spanish from our Sharonville and Fort Mitchell offices.
If you have questions about your slip and fall claim, read our personal injury FAQs or schedule a free consultation today for personalized legal assistance.
Serving Greater Cincinnati
Lawrence & Associates represents clients throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky from offices in Sharonville and Fort Mitchell. We also serve nearby communities, including Blue Ash, West Chester, Norwood, Covington, Florence, Loveland, Milford, and Montgomery.
Justin Lee Lawrence
Founding Partner
“The most common thing by far is business owners not cleaning up spills or debris and someone falling as a result. Every business out there makes a bunch of rules and checklists for maintenance and cleaning, but watches their employees completely ignore (or halfway do) everything on the list. When that causes someone to get hurt, a good insurance claim is the wakeup call that makes sure the next customer doesn’t get hurt even worse.”
Our Case Results
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can happen indoors or outdoors, on public or private property. When a property owner or other responsible party’s negligence contributes to a dangerous condition, you may have grounds to pursue a claim. Common scenarios our team has seen include slipping due to the following hazards:
- Wet or recently mopped floors
- Neglected spills or debris
- Ice and snow on walkways or entrances
- Poorly lit staircases
- Uneven or cracked sidewalks and potholes
- Loose mats, rugs, or cords
- Missing or broken handrails
If any of these conditions contributed to your injuries, do not hesitate to reach out for help with a slip and fall case.
What Kinds of Injuries Can Result From a Slip and Fall?
Slip and fall accidents are often seen as less serious than other personal injury incidents, such as an auto collision or an animal attack. However, they can cause serious, life-altering injuries, which is often the case. In fact, in 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded over 8 million hospitalizations due to falls.
At Lawrence & Associates, our team has helped slip and fall victims pursue compensation for a wide range of injuries, including the following:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain and head injuries
- Spinal cord and back injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Cuts and bruises
Falling accidents are especially dangerous for older adults and account for around one million fall-related hospitalizations each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How Is Fault Proven in a Slip and Fall Case?
Accidents happen. To hold someone responsible for your slip and fall accident, you need to establish that a property owner or manager was negligent. To prove negligence, you must show:
- A duty of care: The defendant owed you a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe.
- A breach of duty: A dangerous condition existed that they should have known about and failed to address.
- Causation: The unsafe condition must have caused you to slip and fall, and your accident resulted in injuries.
- Damages: You must have suffered compensable losses because of the fall, such as medical expenses or lost wages.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Slip and Fall Incident?
Depending on the facts of your case, there are many different parties who could be held liable in your slip and fall accident. These can include:
- The property owner
- The tenant
- A business operating in the space
- A property management company
- A contractor
- A government entity
Our legal team can help you identify who is liable for your incident. With Ohio’s open-and-obvious doctrine, insurers may allege that the hazard was obvious enough that you should have seen it and avoided it, even without a warning. We can fight back against disputes that often arise from this.
What Was Your Status on the Property?
When determining who owed you a duty of care, the law also considers your status on the property. In Ohio, that status generally falls into one of three categories:
- Invitee: An invitee is a legal visitor or guest who was invited onto the property.
- Licensee: A licensee is someone who was allowed to visit the property for their own purposes.
- Trespasser: An adult who does not have permission to be on the property is a trespasser.
A property owner owes the highest duty of care to an invitee. An owner owes the least duty of care to a trespasser who does not have permission to be on the property.
Types of Compensation Collected After a Slip and Fall Accident
Compensation in a slip and fall claim is meant to replace the losses you endured due to the injury. This typically falls into two primary categories: economic and non-economic damages.
For example, economic damages compensate you for tangible, objective losses, such as current and future medical costs, lost wages from time off work, or reduced earning capacity if you are unable to return to your previous position. These damages can also cover property damage from the fall, such as a broken phone, watch, or laptop.
Non-economic damages are much more subjective, offering compensation for physical pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and reduced quality of life. Our compassionate attorneys can look at the aftermath of your case in detail and make sure all losses are fully accounted for.
The Benefits of Partnering With a Slip and Fall Lawyer on Your Case
Hiring an attorney can significantly increase your chances of a successful outcome. An attorney can act quickly to preserve critical evidence, including surveillance footage, incident reports, and maintenance records. They can also investigate whether the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard and identify every potentially liable party.
If you experience any counterarguments from the insurers about whether the hazard was open and obvious or that you were partly at fault, your attorney can use compelling evidence and negotiation skills to negate these accusations. Additionally, they can value your losses to calculate a fair compensation award and take your case to trial when necessary.
Slip and Fall FAQs
What Is the Filing Deadline for an Ohio Slip and Fall Claim?
The state’s statute of limitations for slip and fall accidents and other premises liability claims is two years from the date of the accident. Acting early can preserve evidence and help you meet filing deadlines.
What Steps Must I Take To Prove a Property Owner’s Fault?
You must show the property owner owed you a duty of care, failed to address a dangerous condition, and that failure caused your injuries. Evidence such as photos, surveillance footage, incident reports, and witness statements can help.
What Do I Do if I Am Partially Liable?
In addition, Ohio’s modified comparative negligence system reduces your damages based on your share of fault. If you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you will be barred from recovery.
Are Property Owners Responsible for Removing Ice and Snow?
Generally, Ohio property owners are not liable for injuries caused by natural accumulations of snow and ice, although exceptions may apply. For example, if they do not address an icy storefront, you may have a case for negligent maintenance.
What Does It Cost To Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer?
At Lawrence & Associates, we work on a contingency-fee basis. This means that you do not have any upfront costs or fees. We are only paid if we recover compensation for you.
Reach Out to a Slip and Fall Lawyer at Lawrence & Associates Today
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, our dedicated legal team at Lawrence & Associates can review your case and explain your legal options during a free consultation. Contact us today or call our Ohio office at (513) 951-6723 or our Kentucky office at (859) 251-3045 to get started.
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