Premises Liability Attorney in Parma, OH
A premises liability case occurs when a property owner doesn’t take the proper care to maintain their property or warn others of hazards, leading to an injury. In these cases, there are careful considerations to be made in proving fault and the nature of the hazard. A Parma premises liability lawyer from The Czack Hobbs Law Firm can cut through the legal terminology and understand what you need for your case.
Reasons to Hire a Premises Liability Lawyer
After an injury, you’re trying to get medical care and lots of rest. However, you also want the person who caused the injury to be held responsible, especially when you’re missing work or have suffered a disability. To get compensation, you must understand Ohio’s premises liability laws and how to work with them.
A Parma premises liability attorney has seen these cases before, and they know the laws behind them. They can:
- Gather the evidence needed for your case.
- Try to prove fault or negligence of the other party.
- Know what options you have for recourse and understand the nuances of each.
- Advocate for you in negotiations or a court trial.
Common Premises Liability Cases
Perhaps the most frequently seen premises liability issue is with slips, trips, and falls. In 2023, falls made up 35% of preventable injuries that were not fatal, more than any other category. Many of these resulted in ER trips to places like the UH Parma Medical Center. Between 2023 and 2024, there were 479,480 slips, trips, and falls in workplaces.
In many cases, these injuries are due to the negligence of the property owner. Examples can include:
- A spill without a wet floor sign
- A faulty floor tile that hasn’t been fixed or marked
- A small trip hazard placed in the walkway
All of these are potential premises liability cases.
On top of slips, trips, and falls, other premises liability issues include:
- Dog bites
- Faulty, poorly maintained elevators or stairs
- Swimming pool accidents
- Broken seats, shelves, or other furniture that can cause harm
- Falling objects
Understanding Open and Obvious Hazards
In Ohio, you generally cannot get compensation for an injury if it was caused by a hazard deemed to be “open and obvious.” However, this definition can vary based on the circumstances, and there are ways to dispute it. That is why you’d want to hire a premises liability lawyer.
If a person who is walking, looking around, and paying attention normally could have seen the hazard and easily avoided it, it is considered open and obvious. Property owners are usually not liable for open and obvious hazards. The classification of such a hazard will be made by either a judge or a jury, regardless of how you actually acted in the scenario. The decision is made based solely on whether you could have noticed and avoided the hazard yourself.
Work With The Czack Hobbs Law Firm
If you’ve been injured and need strong legal support, look no further than our firm. We’ve represented many clients in premises liability cases. The experience of our team can prove crucial in seeking the compensation you need and deserve. Contact us now to find out more.
