Slip and Fall Attorney in Akron, OH

Were you injured in a fall on someone else’s property? If so, you could be owed compensation. Our firm’s highly experienced Akron slip and fall attorneys are committed to helping injured Ohioans like you pursue the compensation they need while aggressively defending their rights. Contact us today for a free consultation, and we’ll let you know how our legal team can help.

Falls are a serious health hazard. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about one in every five falls causes a severe injury, sending about 800,000 people to the hospital annually. Property owners and managers should be held accountable for negligence when they fail to keep visitors safe from falls.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Akron, OH

Slip and fall accidents happen almost anywhere and under a variety of circumstances. Some of the most common causes of Akron slip and fall accidents include:

• Standing water and other liquids
• Slippery floor surfaces caused by cleaning products
• Clutter or debris on the floor
• Uneven sidewalks or floor surfaces
• Poorly maintained stairways and railings
• Spilled food or drinks
• Loose or frayed power cables
• Rain, snow, or ice tracked in from outside
• Poorly maintained parking lots and garages
• Water splashed from a pool
• Sloped pathways without proper handrails
• Construction site hazards

Consequences of a Slip and Fall Accident

The consequences of a slip and fall accident can be severe and often include the following:

• Physical injuries– You could suffer serious, painful injuries if you land hard on the wrong part of your body or twist yourself into an unnatural position as you fall. These injuries can include sprains and strains, broken bones, back injuries, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.
• Lost income– Depending on the extent of your injuries, you could be unable to work for weeks, months, or longer. That is a lot of money to lose, especially if medical bills pile up. A severe accident could quickly put you in a desperate financial situation.
• Medical bills– Healthcare can be expensive, and medical bills are one of the most common causes of bankruptcy. If you need long-term care after a slip and fall accident, you need to know that you will be able to pay for it.
• Reduced quality of life– A broken bone, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury can severely limit what activities you can do after a slip and fall accident. Depending on their severity, these effects can permanently impact your quality of life following the accident.

What Should I Do After Suffering a Slip and Fall Accident?

Here is what you should do to protect your right to compensation if you are hurt in a slip-and-fall accident:

• Report the accident to the property owner or a manager, preferably in writing.
• Take pictures of the accident scene before you leave.
• Look around for potential eyewitnesses and write down their contact information.
• Seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
• Save all your medical records.
• Write down what you can remember about the accident in detail.
• Do not give any statements to insurance companies without talking to an Akron personal injury lawyer first.
• Hire an Akron slip-and-fall accident attorney right away.

Who Can Be Liable for My Injuries in an Akron Slip and Fall Case?

Whoever owns or controls the property where you slipped and fell is typically the party you would pursue compensation from in a slip and fall accident claim. This could be a private person, a business, a government entity, or another party. If the property party hired a manager or someone else to look after and maintain the grounds, they might be partly or wholly liable for your injuries.

What Do I Have to Prove in a Slip and Fall Claim?

For your slip and fall claim to be successful, you must show that the property owner or manager owed you a duty of care and failed to provide it, resulting in your injuries.

However, the level of care they owe you depends on why you were on their property. Ohio recognizes three types of visitors:

• Invitees– An invitee is on someone else’s property with permission and for the owner’s commercial benefit. For example, you are an invitee when you enter a store or restaurant. Property owners owe the highest duty of care to invitees. They must warn invitees of known hazards on the grounds, look for potential dangers, and correct them.
• Licensees– A licensee is on someone else’s property with permission, but not for a commercial purpose. You are a licensee if you visit someone else’s home for a social visit. Property owners are only required to warn licensees of hazards they know about.
• Trespassers– Anyone on someone else’s property without permission is a trespasser. Property owners can only be held liable for injuries to trespassers if they intentionally or willfully caused the trespasser’s injuries. They may also be responsible if the trespasser was a child attracted to the property by an “artificial condition” the owner knew or should have known about.

You will also need proof of the injuries and financial losses you suffered. Some evidence commonly used in Ohio slip and fall cases includes:

• Medical records
• Photos from the accident scene
• Accounts from eyewitnesses
• Surveillance footage
• Expert testimony
• Property records

What Damages Can I Recover After Filing an Akron Slip and Fall Claim?

If you have been injured in a slip-and fall accident that someone else is responsible for, an attorney can help you seek compensation for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Lost future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Reduced quality of life

Contact Our Slip and Fall Lawyers in Akron, OH for Representation

Our Akron slip and fall attorneys are here to help the injured and hold negligent property owners accountable. Contact Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law, today for a free consultation to learn more about Ohio slip and fall law.