If you’ve been injured because of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property in Sandusky, Ohio, don’t hesitate to call Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers. You have rights as an accident victim. In fact, you might be able to sue the owner of the premises for your resulting medical bills, loss of income, and emotional distress. Our experienced Sandusky premises liability lawyers are here to help you fight for every cent you deserve.
For over 78 years, we have been tireless advocates for injury victims and families in Sandusky. As award-winning trial attorneys with over 181 years of collective experience, we’ve forced powerful businesses, insurance companies, and government agencies to pay our clients millions in life-changing financial awards.
Don’t let a negligent property owner off the hook for your accident and injuries. Trust our top-rated law firm to help you maximize your recovery. Contact our Sandusky, OH, law office at (419) 625-7770 to set a time for a free consultation.
How Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers Can Help With Your Premises Liability Claim in Sandusky, OH
When a property owner fails to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition, they have to be held accountable if a visitor gets hurt. However, proving that an owner was negligent is no small task. It’ll be important to work with a lawyer with a depth of knowledge of Ohio premises liability law, experience building successful negligence actions against property owners, and resources to rival those of powerful corporations you’ll be going up against.
That’s why you shouldn’t wait to call our Sandusky personal injury lawyers for help.
At Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers, we’re recognized as Super Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40 attorneys, and members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Why? Our client-focused approach and consistent ability to win top-dollar awards.
When you ask for our help with your premises liability lawsuit, you’ll be able to focus on your recovery while we handle everything else on your behalf; we will:
- Ensure that your accident is subject to a prompt, independent investigation.
- Assess video footage, photographs of the scene of your accident, complaints of negligence lodged against the owner, witness statements, accident reports, and other key pieces of evidence
- Collaborate with expert witnesses – including accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and forensics specialists – as we build your case and evaluate your losses
- Calculate what your premises liability case is worth
- Determine the best way to handle claims of comparative negligence
- File your claim with the property owner’s insurance company and/or local Erie County court clerk
- Force the defense to make you a reasonable settlement offer or take their chances going up against our award-winning Ohio litigators at trial
Whether you’ve suffered broken bones in a slip and fall, a spinal cord injury in an elevator accident, or a brain injury because you were assaulted, the costs can be overwhelming. Hiring an experienced premises liability attorney in Sandusky shouldn’t add to the pressure you’re under. That’s why our personal injury law firm will represent you on a contingency fee basis.
We don’t get paid for our hard work unless we win compensation for your premises liability claim.
Now is the time to take action. Reach out to our Sandusky law office today to discuss the details of your case. Your first consultation is free.
Representing Clients in All Types of Premises Liability Cases
At Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers, we have extensive experience representing injury victims and families in premises liability cases involving:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Falls from heights
- Stair collapse accidents
- Building collapse accidents
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Amusement park accidents
- Toxic exposure
- Fires and explosions
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Negligent security
- Assault
- Sexual assault
- Swimming pool accidents
- Construction site accidents
Put our experience to work for you by calling our Sandusky personal injury attorneys for help right away. We’re here to answer your questions, explain your rights, and help you fight to secure the life-changing damages you deserve.
What Do I Have to Prove to Win a Premises Liability Lawsuit in Ohio?
In Ohio, premises liability laws impose a duty of care on property owners. Owners must take reasonable steps to keep their premises in a safe condition so that invited guests and visitors aren’t likely to get hurt.
When a property owner is negligent in how they maintain their premises and someone is injured or killed, the owner can be liable for resulting damages.
Since premises liability lawsuits are a matter of negligence, a plaintiff will have the burden of proving the following elements:
Duty of Care
The property owner (defendant) must have owed the injury victim (plaintiff) a duty of care. In Ohio, you’re owed a duty of care when you enter someone else’s property with their implied or express consent.
This might mean that you enter a business that’s open to the public during business hours, are specifically invited into an office building for a meeting, or enter government-owned public property.
The specific duty of care that’s owed to a visitor depends on their status. In Ohio, there are two primary classifications of invited visitors: invitees and licensees.
Invitees are defined as individuals who enter public property or other property for a business reason. For example, you’d be an invitee if you went to your local library or sat down at a local Sandusky restaurant for lunch. Invitees are owed the highest duty of care. Owners are required to inspect their premises, fix hazards upon discovery, and/or warn of known threats to safety.
Licensees are defined as individuals who enter property for a social or personal reason. For example, you’d be a licensee if you ran into a gas station to use the restroom (without intending to buy anything) or went to a friend’s home to watch a game. Sandusky property owners must fix known hazards and provide adequate warnings but have no obligation to inspect their premises to protect licensees.
Breach of Duty
Once the plaintiff has established that the defendant owed them a duty of care, a breach of that duty must be demonstrated.
An invitee must prove that the owner failed to inspect/maintain/warn of a hazardous condition. A licensee must prove that the owner failed to fix a hazard or provide an appropriate warning of risk.
Causation
It’s not enough for the property owner to breach the duty of care owed to the plaintiff. The breach must have also been a direct and proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury or family member’s wrongful death. Put simply, if the owner had taken better care of the premises, the plaintiff likely would have avoided injury.
Damages
A plaintiff must also be able to demonstrate that they’ve suffered damages because of their accident, injuries, or loved one’s death. Damages might include medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, disability, or even emotional distress.
What Types of Damages Can I Get in a Premises Liability Case?
When you file a premises liability lawsuit in Sandusky, you’ll have the right to seek compensatory damages from the owner, their insurance company, or another responsible party.
Compensatory damages – which can include economic awards and non-economic awards – can cover things like:
- Current and future medical bills
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Lost wages and income
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Loss of companionship
- Embarrassment
The owner of the premises will challenge your legal claim at every turn. They’ll dispute your injuries and downplay the ways in which the incident has affected your life.
Our Sandusky premises liability attorneys won’t let their tactics stand between you and a well-deserved financial recovery. We’ll put the full force of our law firm behind your legal claim and won’t rest until you’re offered a settlement that genuinely represents what your premises liability case is worth.
How Long Do I Have to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit in Ohio?
Most premises liability lawsuits in Sandusky, Ohio, will be subject to a two-year statute of limitations. The statute of limitations has few exceptions. If you miss the filing deadline, you will forfeit the opportunity to hold the property owner accountable for your injuries, costs, and distress.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Sandusky Premises Liability Lawyer
You should not have to struggle with the aftermath of an accident or act of violence on your own, especially when someone else could have prevented it from happening. If a property owner is negligent, Wisehart Wright Trial Lawyers will stand beside you and work hard to hold them accountable.
Our Sandusky premises liability lawyers are award-winning legal advocates whose collective experience spans more than 181 years. We’ve helped our clients win over $100 million in damages from hospitals, government bodies, insurance companies, and employers.
Now, we’re here to make an impact on your premises liability lawsuit.
Call our Sandusky law office today to discuss the details of your case. Members of our team are standing by 24 hours a day to help you set a time for your free consultation.