Ohio is known for snow and ice in the winter months. With snow and ice, comes unsafe, slippery conditions. Cities and most property owners are responsible and take the necessary steps to keep their sidewalks and parking lots clear. However, some are not as responsible, which cause people to slip and fall.
At Paulozzi LPA Injury Lawyers, our skilled and experienced Cleveland premises liability lawyers are ready to help if you have been injured in a snow or ice slip and fall. We will conduct a complete investigation into your case in order to recover full compensation for your losses. Our team is not afraid to stand up to aggressive insurance carriers or property owners as we work to ensure you make a full recovery.
A claim for personal injuries can be brought against a property owner if they are negligent and did not take reasonable measures to try and provide a safe condition. If the snow and ice in an area accumulate naturally, then the property owner has no duty to remove the accumulation no matter how long it has been present. However, once a property owner starts to clear snow or ice from an area, they assume the responsibility to do so without negligence. An example of this would be if the property owner shovels snow into a pile on the higher end of a sloped parking lot. The pile of snow later melts down the slope and freezes over, causing an unnatural accumulation of ice and a hazard to other people. In this instance, the property owner was negligent in their removal of the snow and if someone slips and falls, they can be held liable.
It can be very difficult to prove the unnatural accumulation of ice and snow. Often, attorneys will look at the grade of the parking lot, the way the lot was plowed, and temperature fluctuations that may have caused unsafe conditions. The person filing the claim must also be able to prove that the unnatural accumulation was present for a sufficient length of time. The property owner is expected to inspect the property and resolve any unnatural accumulations within a reasonable time frame. If they fail to do so, they can be held liable if someone injures themselves on their property by a condition they created.
At Paulozzi LPA Injury Lawyers, our skilled premises liability lawyers in Cleveland have experience helping clients who have sustained a range of injuries as a result of snow and ice slip and fall incidents. This includes the following:
Each of these injuries can cause significant pain and suffering for a slip and fall victim. Often, snow and ice slip and fall victims in Cleveland are unable to work or go about conducting their daily activities while they are recovering from their injuries. In some cases, a victim may sustain temporary or permanent disabilities due to the slip and fall incident.
Victims who sustain and injury after slipping in the snow or ice in Cleveland have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit. The Ohio personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date the injury occurs. This means that slip and fall victims will have a two-year window with which to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent property owner to recover compensation. Failing to file a claim within this specified timeframe will result in the victim being unable to recover the compensation they deserve.
If you or somebody you love has sustained a slip and fall injury in the snow or ice in Cleveland, you may need to seek assistance from an attorney. At Paulozzi LPA Injury Lawyers, we pledge to investigate your case to determine whether or not a property owner or operator is liable for the slip and fall injuries. Our team is not afraid to stand up to aggressive insurance carriers to ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to. When you need a Cleveland premises liability attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 888-710-0040.