Premise Liability Law in Ohio: What You Need to Know

Premise Liability Law in Ohio: What You Need to Know

Doug Mann

Last updated on August 4th, 2023

We’ve all slipped or tripped before. Sometimes we miss a step, or maybe we’re distracted, but the bottom line is that accidents happen, and when they do, the injured party wants to know what options they have to be made whole. Consult an attorney from Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz for a case review.

Let’s say you’re walking into your favorite restaurant, and a downspout has drained water towards a walkway that ices over. You slip and fall on this at the front door.

It’s not your fault, but you’re stuck with a broken leg and all the associated costs. What are your rights according to the premise liability law in the state of Ohio when you’re injured because of unsafe property conditions?

Understanding negligence

Regardless of whether you live in Ohio, Kentucky, or some other state, as a general rule, a person or company that injures you is liable for your medical expenses and the other costs of the injury. As a practical matter, any sums paid typically come from an insurance company.

The legal system that applies here is called “tort law.” Tort law originated in England as a means for using money, rather than violence, to solve disputes. In America, when we’re injured, the job of courts is to dig through the facts to see who was at fault, and what is a fair amount of money to “right the wrong.”

For example, if someone runs a red light and crashes into your car, through their insurance provider, they have to pay for your care and the damage to your vehicle and other property. Tort law extends beyond car accidents. If a company sells you a drug without adequately testing its safety or warning you about the risks, that company is liable for your injuries, too.

These types of cases are generally based on a legal principle called “negligence.” Negligence means that the other party failed to use reasonable care and that failure caused your injuries. By law, we have a duty to use reasonable care to avoid hurting other people. The standard isn’t about what the person or company actually thought was reasonable, but about what is objectively reasonable. Essentially, the court imagines a hypothetical reasonable person and how they would behave in the situation.

So, what does this have to do with our slip-and-fall hypothetical with the ice at the restaurant?

Property owners, like drugmakers and drivers, and toy manufacturers, have a duty to use reasonable care to prevent injuries on their property. That means keeping their property in a reasonably safe condition.

If the owner fails to meet that duty, any injuries that occur may give rise to “premises liability.”

Elements of Premises Liability Law

Not every accident gives rise to premises liability. First, you’ll need to prove that the accident was actually the result of an unsafe condition.

Common unsafe conditions include:

• Broken stairs
• Unnatural accumulation of ice
• Wet or oily floors
• Broken floors, steps, or sidewalks

Next, you’ll need to show that the unsafe condition actually caused your injury. If you slip and fall on an undamaged part of the floor but there are unsafe conditions elsewhere on the property, that’s not enough. You have to slip and fall as a result of the unsafe conditions.

Finally, you’ll need to show that the property owner was negligent. That means they knew or should have known about the conditions and failed to do anything about it. For example, an owner should know that there’s a huge patch of ice in front of the entrance, or that one of the steps in the entryway is broken, if other guests have had the same issue.

Who Can Sue For A Premises Liability Accident in Ohio?

If you’re injured on private property, premises liability depends in part on why you were there. If you were invited, the owner faces liability for injuries caused by any unsafe conditions. Many slip and fall cases arise from injuries in public. If the property is open to the public, then the owner has a duty to everyone who might come onto the property. For example, shops and restaurants are open to the public, so the owner can be liable for the injuries of anyone who comes through the door. In our example above, you would be considered an “invitee” since the restaurant is open to the public.

If you’re on the property as a “licensee,” the landowner has different duties. A licensee is someone on the property for their own benefit – like a salesman. In that case, the property owner only has a duty to warn the licensee about dangers that the owner actually knows about.

Trespassing is different

Trespassers fall into a different category and the rules for premises liability and trespass vary from state to state. In Ohio, if someone trespasses on your property and you don’t know about it, you have no duty to them at all and you’re not liable for any injuries. If someone trespasses and you do know about it, you have a duty to warn them of any dangers you know about. You should also tell them to leave. Once you’ve warned them and asked them to leave, you’re no longer liable if they get hurt anyway. In Kentucky, on the other hand, courts will decide your obligation to trespassers on a case-by-case basis. If you reasonably expect that trespassers are going to be on your land, you may be required to put up signs or other signals to warn them of the danger. In Indiana, putting up gates and no-trespassing signs can protect a property owner from any liability.

Exceptions to the Premises Liability Rules

There are several factors that can affect your ability to get compensation after a slip and fall accident. The first is whether the accident was partially your fault.

AN EXPERT TIP FROM SETH SCHANHER

This is called “comparative negligence” and may affect how much compensation you can get. If a jury determines that you were 30% responsible for the accident, for example, you can only get 70% of the full cost of the injury. In our example above, perhaps it was a blizzard and you were dancing a jig in front of the restaurant when you fell – it’s a silly example, but the point is that a jury might decide that your injuries are partly your fault.

Finally, most states have different premises liability rules for children. In general, you have a higher duty to protect children even if they’re trespassers. Many states also have different rules for hunters or for recreational use of your property. If you own a ranch with a lake along one edge of the property, for example, you may have some liability for people who swim in that lake.

Premises Liability Lawsuits

If you slip and fall or are otherwise injured because of unsafe property conditions, you should consult an attorney immediately. You have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit and get compensation for your injuries. A premise liability law expert attorney can help you determine how much compensation to claim and can negotiate your settlement with the insurance companies or, if necessary, go through with a full lawsuit.

Other Topics:

Medical Malpractice

Slip and Fall

Burn Injury

Boat Accident

Dog Bite

Spinal Cord

Amusement Park Injuries

Doug Mann

Before establishing Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A., Doug Mann, a top Ohio Injury Attorney served as a bodily injury claims adjuster at a major insurance firm. With over 40+ years of experience, Doug’s background has proven invaluable in securing maximum cash settlements for his clients swiftly. Since leaving the insurance industry, Doug has devoted his entire legal career to assisting injured clients during their times of greatest need.

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