Were you or a loved one injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property in Defiance, Ohio? Call Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation at (419) 581-5398. Our Defiance slip and fall accident lawyers can help you take legal action and file a personal injury claim for all of the money damages you’re entitled to.
With 150 years of combined experience and tens of millions already secured for our clients in the area, our award-winning Ohio personal injury law firm is confident we can help you secure the results you’re looking for. Get started today by giving us a call or reaching out online.
Why Choose the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis for Help After a Slip and Fall Accident in Defiance, OH?
Slip and fall accidents can happen on public or private property and often involve claims against businesses or other property owners. The Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis has successfully represented injured Ohio victims for years and is ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Here’s why clients trust our Defiance personal injury lawyers with their slip and fall cases:
- We have a full century and a half of legal experience altogether
- We’re led by Attorney Michael J. Tremoulis, one of Ohio’s premier personal injury lawyers
- We’ll undertake a comprehensive internal investigation of your case to gather evidence and calculate all of your damages
- We can hire leading expert witnesses to bolster your claim along the way
- We’ll prepare your case as though it could reach trial so that we’ll be in a position of strength during settlement negotiations
Contact our law offices in Defiance, OH, today to learn more about our legal representation. Your first consultation with one of our Defiance premises liability attorneys is completely free of charge.
What Do I Need to Prove to Win a Defiance Slip and Fall Accident Case?
Slip and fall cases in Ohio fall under premises liability law, which requires property owners to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition. If they fail to do so and someone is harmed, they can be held legally responsible. However, the level of care a property owner must provide depends on how the injured visitor is classified under Ohio law.
There are three categories:
Invitees
An invitee is someone who enters a property for a purpose that benefits the owner. The most common example is a customer shopping at a store. Property owners owe invitees the highest duty of care. They must take reasonable steps to inspect the premises for hazards, fix dangerous conditions in a timely manner, and warn visitors about any risks they might not notice on their own.
Licensees
A licensee is someone who enters with the owner’s permission but for their own purposes rather than the owner’s benefit. A friend visiting your house for dinner would be a typical example. The duty of care here is lower. The property owner is not required to actively search for problems, but they do need to warn licensees about known hidden dangers that are not obvious.
Trespassers
Trespassers are owed the least protection. Property owners must avoid willfully or wantonly causing them harm, but they are generally not liable for injuries that occur on their property uninvited. The main exception is the attractive nuisance doctrine, which can hold a property owner responsible if a child trespasser is injured by a dangerous condition like an unsecured swimming pool that is likely to attract children who don’t understand the risk.
What Is My Defiance Slip and Fall Accident Case Worth?
Slip and fall cases vary significantly in value. One major factor is who the at-fault party is. If you were injured on property owned by a business or corporation, those entities typically have the insurance coverage and resources to pay out the full value of a claim. Cases against individual property owners can be more limited depending on their coverage.
Other factors that can influence the value of your case include:
- How severe your injuries are and whether you’ll make a full recovery
- The strength of the available evidence
- The limits of any relevant insurance policies
- Whether you share any of the blame for the accident
- The total amount of your financial losses
- The nature of your pain and suffering
We will conduct a thorough investigation of your accident so we can demand maximum compensation from the property owner. We also work with experts, such as accident reconstructionists, when needed to strengthen your claim.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Defiance Slip and Fall Accident Victims?
Two forms of compensatory damages are available for slip and fall accident victims in Ohio: economic and non-economic. In rare cases, punitive damages may be on the table as well.
Economic damages cover a wide range of things, like:
- Medical bills and future treatment costs
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages account for the personal toll the accident has taken on your life:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Disability
Punitive damages are only awarded in extreme circumstances where the property owner’s conduct was especially reckless or malicious. For instance, they might apply if the owner knew about a serious hazard, received multiple complaints about it, and deliberately chose to ignore the problem.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Defiance Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer?
Hiring a slip and fall accident lawyer won’t cost you anything upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay attorney’s fees if we win compensation for you.
We will explain our fee agreement before you hire us so you’ll know exactly what to expect. The percentage can vary from case to case, but we will agree on terms at the beginning so that you’ll know what to expect.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Slip and Fall Accident in Ohio?
You might still be able to recover compensation even if the property owner claims you were partially responsible for the accident. Ohio follows a modified comparative negligence standard with a 51% bar for personal injury cases.
Here’s how that works in practice. If you are found to be 50% or less at fault for the accident, you can still recover damages. Your total compensation will be reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you. For example, if your damages total $100,000 and you’re found 10% responsible, your recovery would drop to $90,000.
However, if you’re found to be 51% or more at fault, you lose your right to recover anything. Insurance companies know this and will frequently try to push as much blame onto you as possible. A qualified slip and fall attorney with our team can handle these tactics and can fight to make sure you aren’t unfairly held responsible.
Common Slip and Fall Injuries in Defiance, OH
Slip and fall accidents can cause injuries that range from minor to life-altering. Our slip and fall attorneys are prepared to help you pursue compensation, no matter what kind of harm you’re dealing with.
Common injuries in these cases include:
- Hip fractures
- Broken wrists and arms
- Tailbone injuries
- Herniated discs
- Knee ligament tears
- Ankle sprains and fractures
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Rotator cuff tears
- Neck strains
- Spinal cord damage
- Deep bruising and contusions
- Facial injuries
- Nerve damage
- Fatal injuries
Contact a lawyer on our team today for a free case review regardless of the type of injury you’ve sustained. These are just examples of the types of harm we’re qualified to assist with.
What Causes Most Slip and Fall Accidents in Ohio?
Slip and fall accidents often happen because property owners fail to fix or warn visitors about dangerous conditions. Businesses, landlords, homeowners, and others who control a property have a duty to take reasonable steps to keep their premises safe. When they fail to do so, serious injuries can result.
Common causes of slip and fall accidents in Ohio include:
- Wet or slippery floors
- Uneven sidewalks or walkways
- Loose rugs or torn carpeting
- Broken stairs or damaged handrails
- Poor lighting
- Snow and ice accumulation
- Cluttered walkways
- Potholes or cracked pavement
- Spilled food or liquids
- Failure to warn of known hazards
Identifying what caused your fall is an important part of proving liability. An experienced Defiance slip and fall accident lawyer can investigate your accident, preserve evidence, and work to hold the negligent property owner accountable.
How Long Do I Have to File a Slip and Fall Lawsuit in Ohio?
Ohio’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of your slip and fall to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, and you’ll lose your right to pursue compensation regardless of how compelling your claim is.
There are limited exceptions that could change this timeline depending on the circumstances of your case. The best way to find out exactly how much time you have is to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. We can clarify the deadline during your free consultation.
What Should I Do After a Slip and Fall Accident?
The actions you take after a slip and fall can help protect your health and your right to seek compensation. If you’re able, take the following steps as soon as possible:
- Get medical attention: Even seemingly minor injuries should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
- Report the accident: Notify the property owner, manager, or another responsible party and request a copy of any incident report.
- Take photos: Document the hazard, your injuries, and the surrounding area before conditions change.
- Collect witness information: If anyone saw the accident, ask for their names and contact information.
- Keep important evidence: Save the clothing and shoes you were wearing, along with medical records and receipts related to your injuries.
- Be careful what you say: Avoid admitting fault or making statements about how the accident happened.
- Talk to a lawyer: An attorney can explain your legal options and help protect your claim.
Following these steps can make it easier to prove what happened and preserve evidence that may be important to your case. An experienced slip and fall accident lawyer in Defiance, OH, can guide you through the claims process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Contact Our Experienced Defiance Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Were you involved in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property in Defiance, Ohio? The Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis can help you file a premises liability claim against the responsible party and fight for the full amount of compensation you need to move forward.
Contact our Defiance slip and fall accident lawyers today for a free consultation. We’ve won tens of millions of dollars for our clients and will work just as hard for you.
