Gahanna Premises Liability Attorneys Protecting Your Rights
Property owners and occupants are responsible for keeping their property free of hazards and reasonably safe for visitors. When their negligence and failure to fulfill this duty result in your injury, you have the right to seek just compensation for the damages.
At DWS Law - Dittmer, Wagoner & Steele, we provide personalized representation and legal advice to those injured in a wide variety of premises liability accidents in Ohio. Our premises liability lawyers can help you gather and preserve the crucial evidence needed to prove your claim. Whether you were hurt in a slip and fall or injured due to negligent security, our team will fight to protect your rights and pursue a positive outcome.
A Brief Overview Of Premises Liability Law In Ohio
Premises liability cases, like all personal injury cases, rely on the concept of negligence. For a claim to be valid, you must be able to prove that a property owner or occupier breached their duty of care to you. This breach must also have been the direct cause of your injury. The level of care a property owner owes depends on why you were on the property:
- If you were an invitee: You were on the property for the owner’s business or mutual benefit, such as a customer in a store. This means a property owner has a responsibility to keep the premises in a reasonably safe condition and warn you of any known dangers.
- If you were a licensee: You had the owner’s permission to be on the property for a nonbusiness purpose, like a social guest. This means that a property owner has a duty to warn you of any dangerous conditions that they are aware of.
- If you were a trespasser: You were on the property without permission. While the duty of care owed to a trespasser is low, an owner still cannot intentionally harm them.
A common defense in these cases is the “open and obvious” doctrine. This generally means that a property owner is not legally responsible for injuries if the hazard that caused them was open and obvious to a reasonable person. For example, this may apply if a person slipped on a puddle of water in the middle of a well-lit aisle, which means it was clearly visible.
However, it’s important to note that this doctrine is not an absolute bar to recovery. Our premises liability attorneys can evaluate your specific situation and help you challenge this defense if it applies to your case.
Common Examples Of Premises Liability Cases
Our experienced lawyers represent clients in a wide range of personal injury cases that fall under premises liability law. While the details of every case are unique, many claims involve similar types of accidents caused by an owner’s negligence, such as:
- Slips and falls: These can happen on wet floors, ice or uneven surfaces, making it one of the most frequent premises liability claims. Slip-and-fall accidents often occur in retail stores, restaurants or on public sidewalks where a spill or a hazardous condition was not promptly cleaned or marked.
- Dog bites or other animal attacks: A property owner can be held responsible if their pet attacks a person on their property, especially if the owner knew the animal had a history of aggression.
- Injuries from falling objects: This can happen when items or merchandise are stacked improperly on a high shelf, leading to objects falling and striking a customer.
- Accidents due to negligent security: Property and business owners must provide reasonable security measures in their premises, especially if the area has a high level of criminal activity.
- Elevator and escalator malfunctions: Property owners are responsible for maintaining and inspecting all mechanical equipment on their premises. Injuries from a sudden stop or a fall due to a malfunction could result in a premises liability claim.
After a property accident, it is important to work with a legal team that can investigate the circumstances of your injury and identify the full scope of your damages. The value of a personal injury claim depends on a variety of factors, from the severity of your injuries to any loss of current or future income.
Our attorneys at DWS Law - Dittmer, Wagoner & Steele have over 130 years of combined legal experience. As your legal counsel, they will leverage their extensive knowledge to investigate the cause of your accident and accurately value the cost of the injuries you have suffered.
Key Types Of Evidence In A Premises Liability Case
The strength of a premises liability claim relies on the strength of its evidence. Once you consult with us, our lawyers act promptly to gather and preserve critical evidence. This may include:
- Photos or videos of the hazard that caused your accident at the time it occurred
- Medical records of your injuries, including the treatment you received and how those injuries impact your life
- Witness statements from people who saw the accident or had prior knowledge of the hazardous condition
- Any official report filed by the property owner, manager or local authorities detailing the accident
In addition to collecting initial evidence, our premises liability attorneys can work with investigators, accident reconstructionists and medical professionals to build a compelling case.
Help Is Available After A Premises Liability Accident: Call Us
After an accident, you may be unsure about your next steps. Our firm offers free 30-minute consultations so that you can get the clarity you need. Discuss your situation with our premises liability lawyers today. Connect with us by calling 866-274-1842 or by sending us your questions through our website.