Who Is Liable for a Slip and Fall Accident in a Parking Lot?

A slip and fall accident can happen year-round and not only in the winter. Parking lots are one of the most common places for this type of incident. Despite what some people may believe, slip and fall occurrences can cause devastating injuries to even the healthiest of people. 

Regardless of what injuries you sustained, you likely incurred medical bills and had to take time off work. If your slip and fall accident in a parking lot occurred because of someone else’s negligence, you might be qualified to claim compensation for:

• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Household expenses
• And more

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), approximately 600,000 people are injured in a parking lot every year with many of those injuries being slip and fall or trip and fall incidents. To build a strong case, you need to determine who – if anyone – was liable for your slip and fall. At The Henry Law Firm, our team can help you with your legal fight. Our firm’s attorney will work alongside you to determine liability and get you the best possible settlement.

Common Causes of Parking Lot Slip and Fall Accidents

Before anyone can determine liability, it’s vital to establish the cause of your parking lot slip and fall accident. Sometimes you could be partially at fault for the cause of your accident, and this will affect your claim because Ohio is a modified comparative legal negligence state. 

The Henry Law Firm can help you initiate the claim and work alongside you, so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. We have briefly listed a few common causes of slip and fall accidents in a parking lot below, and if any are the reason for your accident you might have a claim.

• Snow
• Cracks in the pavement
• Black ice or ice
• Potholes
• Poor lighting
• Standing water

Common Injuries After a Parking Lot Slip and Fall

Were you aware that slip and fall accidents are believed to be the second leading cause of unintentional death in America? Additionally, it’s estimated that injuries sustained during slip and fall accidents account for about 9 million emergency room visits annually.

If you experienced any of the below injuries during your parking lot slip and fall accident in Ohio, be sure to speak to your lawyer. A lawyer can help determine how much your case is worth based on your damages, including your injuries:

• Broken bones
• Paralysis
• Lacerations and bruises
• Spinal cord injuries
• Herniated discs
• Sprains
• Soft tissue injuries
• TBIs
• Hip fractures 
• Knee damage
• Neck and shoulder injuries

Who Can Be Liable for a Parking Lot Slip and Fall Accident?

To determine liability, a lawyer will first establish who is responsible for the parking lot’s condition where your accident occurred. 

Usually, they will determine who could be liable by establishing if the parking lot is owned by a private individual, a business, or a government entity. A company owns most parking lots where people are injured, so a lawyer generally deals with the business’s insurance provider. 

A lawyer will establish the person or entity responsible for maintenance, repairs, and the cause of injury. Since they have this information, they can determine if the owner had a duty to correct the problem that caused your injuries. 

According to Ohio premise liability law, occupiers and owners of a parking lot owe lawful guests and clients a duty of reasonable care. This means that they have a responsibility to act like a sensible person would in promoting a safe parking lot so that guests and clients can avoid injury. 

How Is Liability Proven for a Slip and Fall Accident in a Parking Lot?

For you to obtain a settlement through a premise liability claim for a parking lot accident from a liable party, you need to be able to prove the following: 

• The person you believe is responsible owns or leases the parking lot where you were injured. 
• The parking lot contained hazardous conditions when your slip and fall accident occurred.
• Your injuries occurred due to you falling on or from the dangerous condition. 
• The owner was aware of and had the opportunity to correct the hazardous situation before your injury.  

Contact an Ohio Slip and Fall Attorney Today

Those injured in a slip and fall accident in a parking lot could be entitled to compensation once liability has been determined. If you have fallen victim to a parking lot slip and fall accident, you might want to consider speaking with an Ohio slip and fall lawyer. These claims can be tricky and quickly become complicated. 
At The Henry Law Firm, we will pursue your best interests. Our skilled legal team will work to help you navigate the legalities surrounding filing a claim for a parking lot slip and fall. We encourage you to contact us today to talk about your parking lot slip and fall case.