Premises Liability Lawyer in Cincinnati
When property owners cut corners on safety, innocent people get hurt. Slip and falls, fires, and even inadequate security can lead to catastrophic injuries that never should have happened. If a dangerous condition on someone else’s property caused you harm, you may have a right to compensation.
At Young, Reverman & Bolotin, our Cincinnati premises liability lawyers stand up for the people who get hurt because others failed to act responsibly. We’ve spent more than 50 years representing injury victims across Hamilton County—from apartment buildings in Clifton to stores in Oakley and shopping centers in Kenwood.
We understand how a fall, electrical shock, or collapsing structure can upend your life in seconds. Medical bills pile up. Work becomes impossible. And insurance companies often try to blame you for the property owner’s negligence. We won’t let that happen.
Call (513) 400-0000 today for a free consultation. Our firm will investigate your case, identify everyone responsible, and fight for the maximum compensation available under Ohio law.
What You Should Know About Premises Liability in Ohio
Premises liability is the area of law that holds property owners, managers, and occupiers responsible for injuries caused by unsafe conditions on their property. Ohio law requires every property owner to take reasonable care to keep their premises safe for guests, tenants, and customers.
This legal “duty of care” varies depending on why someone is on the property:
- Invitees – Customers, clients, or anyone invited for business purposes are owed the highest level of care. Owners must regularly inspect for hazards, repair unsafe conditions, and warn visitors about risks.
- Licensees – Social guests and people with permission to enter must be warned about known dangers that aren’t obvious.
- Trespassers – Owners generally owe a limited duty to trespassers unless they deliberately cause harm, or they fail to address known hazards that could injure a child (the “attractive nuisance” doctrine).
When a property owner or occupier ignores these duties by skipping inspections, delaying repairs, or failing to post warning signs, they can be held liable for the harm that follows.
Our attorneys at Young, Reverman & Bolotin handle all types of premises liability cases, from slips and falls to catastrophic injuries caused by structural collapse, fires, or negligent security.
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Common Examples of Premises Liability Accidents in Cincinnati
Accidents linked to unsafe properties happen everywhere, from apartment complexes in Clifton to downtown restaurants, shopping centers in Kenwood Towne Centre, or parking garages downtown. Common examples include:
- Slip and fall accidents from wet floors or uneven pavement
- Trip and fall accidents from cluttered aisles or torn carpeting
- Falling objects in warehouses, stores, or construction sites
- Defective stairs and handrails causing falls and fractures
- Inadequate security leading to assaults or robberies
- Poor lighting or broken surveillance systems
- Swimming pool accidents from improper maintenance or lack of fencing
Each of these accidents can result in serious harm like fractures, spinal cord injuries, concussions, burns, or even wrongful death. Most could be prevented with simple maintenance, routine safety checks, or staff training.
No matter where your accident happened, our Ohio injury lawyers can determine whether a property owner’s negligence caused your injuries.
What Should You Do After a Premises Liability Accident in Cincinnati?
The moments after an injury can be confusing and painful. Once you’ve received medical attention, there are key steps you can take to protect your health and your claim.
Document the Scene
Take photos of the dangerous condition, your injuries, and anything that could later disappear, like puddles, debris, or damaged flooring. If the hazard isn’t documented right away, property owners may fix it and deny it ever existed.
Report the Incident
Notify the property owner, store manager, or landlord immediately. Ask for an incident report and request a copy. If police or EMTs respond, keep those records as well.
Preserve Evidence
Keep the shoes or clothing you were wearing, and don’t wash or throw anything away. Save receipts, parking tickets, or appointment confirmations that help establish where and when the injury occurred.
Avoid Insurance Calls
Insurance representatives may contact you soon after the accident. Politely decline to discuss details until you speak with an attorney. Adjusters are trained to get you to say things that weaken your case.
Call a Cincinnati Premises Liability Lawyer
The sooner your attorney begins investigating, the stronger your case will be. Our team can secure video footage, maintenance logs, and witness statements before they disappear. We’ll handle the insurance company while you focus on healing.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Premises Liability Claim?
A serious injury doesn’t just affect your body. It affects every part of your life. Medical debt, missed work, and long-term pain can leave you struggling to recover. Ohio law allows victims of unsafe property conditions to recover full compensation for both economic and non-economic losses.
Economic Damages
These are the measurable financial losses tied to your injury, such as:
- Emergency room visits, hospital stays, and surgeries
- Rehabilitation, physical therapy, and mobility aids
- Prescription costs and ongoing medical care
- Lost wages and future earning capacity if you can’t return to work
- Home modifications or long-term care if you’re permanently disabled
Non-Economic Damages
Not all harm can be measured on a bill. Non-economic damages compensate you for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, and loss of sleep
- Scarring, disfigurement, and loss of self-confidence
- Loss of enjoyment of life and strain on relationships
Punitive Damages
In rare cases where a property owner’s conduct was particularly reckless, such as ignoring repeated safety complaints, Ohio courts may award punitive damages to punish wrongdoing and deter future negligence.
At Young, Reverman & Bolotin, we calculate both your current and future losses, often using expert testimony from medical professionals, economists, and vocational specialists to prove the true value of your claim.
How Is Negligence Proved in a Premises Liability Case?
Winning a premises liability case requires showing that the property owner or manager failed to act reasonably to prevent a known or foreseeable danger. Ohio law doesn’t expect property owners to guarantee safety, but it does require them to fix or warn about hazards they knew, or should have known, existed.
To establish negligence, your Cincinnati injury lawyer must prove that:
- A hazardous condition existed on the property.
- The property owner knew—or reasonably should have known—about it.
- The owner failed to correct or warn about the hazard.
- That failure directly caused your injuries and damages.
Why the “Knowledge” Requirement Matters
The owner’s knowledge of a hazard is what establishes negligence under Ohio premises liability law. Property owners aren’t automatically responsible for every accident that happens on their land. They’re liable when they knew or should have known about a dangerous condition and failed to correct it or warn visitors in time. Without proving that the owner had notice of the hazard, it’s difficult to hold them legally accountable.
Proving this “knowledge” is often the hardest part of a case. Evidence that demonstrates the owner knew or should have known about the hazard might include:
- Maintenance logs showing ignored repairs
- Security footage capturing the hazard
- Witness statements confirming the condition existed for days or weeks
- Prior complaints or inspection reports
Evidence That Strengthens Your Case
- Accident and incident reports
- Photographs or videos taken immediately after the accident
- Expert analysis of safety standards or building codes
- Testimony from doctors linking your injuries directly to the accident
Our Cincinnati attorneys understand what it takes to prove negligence in Ohio courts. We’ll collect, organize, and present the evidence needed to demonstrate exactly how the property owner failed to uphold their duty of care.
How Long Do You Have to File a Premises Liability Claim in Ohio?
Under Ohio Law, most victims have two years from the date of the accident to file a premises liability lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to recover compensation, no matter how strong your case is.
There are a few important exceptions:
- Minors: If the injured person was under 18 at the time of the accident, the two-year clock doesn’t start until their 18th birthday.
- Government property: Claims against a public agency or municipality often have much shorter notice periods, sometimes as little as 180 days.
- Ongoing medical complications: If your injury wasn’t immediately apparent, the statute may begin once you discover or reasonably should have discovered the harm.
Our Cincinnati premises liability lawyers ensure all deadlines are met, evidence is preserved, and your claim is filed properly before time runs out. The sooner you call, the more options you’ll have for a successful recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cincinnati Premises Liability Cases
If you were injured on someone else’s property in Cincinnati, you probably have questions about your rights, what compensation you can recover, and whether you have a valid case. The following FAQs address some of the most common concerns we hear from clients after a premises liability accident.
Do I have a case if I was hurt at a friend’s home?
Yes. Most claims are paid by the homeowner’s insurance policy, not the individual personally. You can recover compensation for your injuries without causing financial harm to your friend.
Can I sue if I was hurt in an apartment complex?
Absolutely. Landlords and management companies must maintain safe common areas such as hallways, stairwells, and parking lots. If poor maintenance caused your injuries, you can file a claim.
What if I was partly at fault?
Ohio follows modified comparative negligence. You can still recover compensation if you’re not more than 50% at fault, but your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
What if the accident happened at work but on someone else’s property?
You may have both a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party premises liability claim against the property owner. An attorney can coordinate both to maximize your recovery.
Can I file a claim for negligent security or poor lighting?
Yes. Property owners can be held liable for crimes that occur because of inadequate lighting, broken locks, or lack of security personnel, especially if similar incidents happened before.
How long does a premises liability case take in Cincinnati?
Most cases settle within several months once evidence is complete, but complex claims involving serious injuries or disputed liability can take longer. Your lawyer will push for a fair settlement but won’t hesitate to take your case to trial if necessary.
Why Choose Young, Reverman & Bolotin?
For more than four decades, our firm has built a reputation for aggressive advocacy and personal attention. We’ve helped clients throughout Hamilton County and across Ohio recover millions in verdicts and settlements for injuries caused by unsafe property conditions.
Our team combines old-school trial experience with modern investigative tools—surveillance recovery, digital evidence preservation, and expert testimony that stands up in court. When property owners or insurance companies try to shift blame, we make sure the truth comes out.
Contact Our Cincinnati Premises Liability Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you or someone you love was injured on dangerous property in Cincinnati, don’t face the insurance company alone. The attorneys at Young, Reverman & Bolotin have spent decades representing Ohio injury victims and recovering millions in verdicts and settlements.
Call (513) 400-0000 or reach out online for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll explain your rights, investigate your accident, and make sure the party that caused your injuries is held accountable. You pay nothing unless we win.