"When I was injured due to inadequate security at a retail center in Columbus, I felt completely lost. This firm quickly stepped in, investigated the facts, and held the property owner accountable for their negligence. They treated my case with dignity and professionalism, securing a settlement that covered my medical bills and lost wages. I highly recommend them for any crime-related injury on someone else's property."
Injury Due to Defective Flooring Material Trip and Fall: Personal Injury Attorneys Protecting the Rights of Individuals throughout The State of Ohio
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Ohio Defective Flooring Material Trip and Fall: Personal Injury Lawyers
Experienced Premise Liability Injury Attorney providing Personal Injury representation involving Defective Flooring Material Trip and Fall Injury throughout the State of Ohio.
Call TOLL FREE: (800) 848-5297 today to schedule a Free Consultation with on of our Experienced Trip and Fall Personal Injury Attorneys.
Ohio Defective Flooring Slip and Fall Attorney: Unsafe Surfaces When Wet
Many businesses use flooring materials that are safe when dry but become dangerously slippery when wet, creating a hidden and severe slip and fall hazard. This defect—common with certain types of tile, polished stone, or sealed concrete—is not the result of a spill, but a flaw in the flooring material itself.
In Ohio, property owners have a duty to select and maintain flooring that is reasonably safe under all conditions, especially where moisture is expected. If you suffered a serious injury due to defective flooring materials that became slick, our experienced Personal Injury Attorney team can help you pursue a strong premises liability claim.
The Standard of Care for Flooring Materials Under Ohio Law
Ohio premises liability law requires commercial property owners to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition for their customers (invitees). When a business installs or maintains defective flooring materials that fail to provide adequate traction when wet, they are breaching this fundamental duty of ordinary care.
Our legal strategy focuses on proving the inherent defect in the flooring, which negates many common defense arguments:
- Design or Installation Defect: The material was inherently inappropriate for the location (e.g., using high-gloss ceramic tile in a high-moisture entrance area) or was installed improperly, failing to meet industry standards for slip resistance.
- Negligent Maintenance: The owner may have applied an excessive or incorrect sealant or polish that lowered the floor's coefficient of friction to a dangerously low level.
- Foreseeable Hazard: Businesses know moisture is inevitable from tracking in rain, snow, or from nearby restrooms/drink areas. Using flooring materials that become highly slippery when wet is a foreseeable risk and evidence of negligence.
Overcoming the "Open and Obvious" Defense
In cases involving defective flooring materials, the defense often attempts to use the "open and obvious" doctrine. We successfully challenge this defense because the true danger is concealed:
- Hidden Danger: The floor may look dry or only slightly damp, but the extremely low traction level (the slipperiness) of the defective material is an unappreciated danger that is not open and obvious to the eye.
- Industry Standards: We introduce evidence from safety experts showing that the floor's slip resistance, measured by its Coefficient of Friction (COF), was below the minimum safety standards (e.g., ANSI or ASTM standards), proving the material itself was unsuitable.
- Attendant Circumstances: We rely on poor lighting or other distractions to show that even a cautious person would not have been able to detect the extreme slickness of the wet floor surface.
Evidence, Compensation, & Ohio's Comparative Fault Statute
Our firm treats these cases as product and design defect claims against the property itself. We prioritize securing key evidence immediately:
- Coefficient of Friction Testing: Hiring specialized experts to test the flooring material using approved devices (like a slip meter) to measure its actual slipperiness when wet.
- Building Code Review: Analyzing the property’s architectural plans and material specifications against current safety and building codes.
- Maintenance History: Obtaining records regarding the type of cleaning agents, waxes, and polishes used, which may have contributed to the slipperiness.
Under Ohio's Modified Comparative Negligence law (R.C. 2315.33), we defend against attempts by the defense to blame you for the fall, ensuring you recover full damages for severe orthopedic injuries, head trauma, and other losses.
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Ohio (R.C. 2305.10) is typically two years. Do not delay in seeking legal counsel, as testing the specific flooring material is critical to your claim.
Contact Our Ohio Personal Injury Attorneys Today
If you were seriously injured after a slip and fall on defective flooring materials at an Ohio business, contact our experienced legal team for a free case evaluation.
Call TOLL FREE: (800) 848-5297 today to schedule your Free Consultation.
Contact Us Today!
Office:
5000 Arlington Centre Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43220
Call: TOLL FREE: (800) 848-5297
Contact Us Today!
Office:
5000 Arlington Centre Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43220
Call: TOLL FREE: (800) 848-5297
What Our Clients Say
After prolonged exposure to toxic mold at my workplace, I started experiencing severe health issues. Proving the connection to the business's negligence felt impossible until I hired this firm. They were brilliant, connecting my health problems to the landlord's failure to address water damage. They gave me my health and my life back by securing a significant settlement. For mold-related injury cases, they are unparalleled."
"My accident at a poorly maintained apartment complex pool in Dayton was terrifying. I suffered a serious head injury. This law firm was incredible; they immediately started investigating the pool's safety records and maintenance log. Their work resulted in a successful claim against the property management. If you've been injured at a pool in Ohio, you want this firm on your side."
"The defective stairs at a restaurant in Toledo caused a significant knee injury. The property owner initially refused to pay, but this firm took on the challenge. They brought in experts to show the code violations and built an undeniable case. Thanks to their legal expertise, I received a fair settlement that allows me to focus on my recovery. They truly excel with cases involving unsafe property conditions."
"My child was tragically bitten by a dog at a neighbor's property in Akron. Navigating the aftermath and dealing with the owners was incredibly stressful. The team at this law firm was compassionate yet fiercely effective. They understood Ohio's dog bite laws thoroughly and fought to ensure my child received the necessary medical care and compensation for their trauma. They are the best dog bite attorneys in the state."
"I had a terrible slip and fall accident on a wet floor at a grocery store in Cincinnati that led to a serious fracture. The store tried to deny responsibility, but this firm's meticulous preparation and dedication proved the store's negligence. They were communicative throughout the entire process, making a stressful situation much easier to handle. Choose them if you need a top-notch slip and fall lawyer."
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PH: TOLL FREE: (800) 848-5297 • OFFICE LOCATION • 5000 Arlington Centre Blvd. Columbus, OH 43220