Cleveland Commercial Property Slip and Fall Attorney

It is not uncommon for people to slip & fall on commercial property. After all, many of these places can be crowded, and it is difficult to keep up with everything going on at a large commercial property. There are many reasons a person may slip and fall on commercial property. Some causes include wet and slippery flooring, dark-lit hallways or rooms, torn carpeting, or unsafe conditions from rain, ice, or snow.

If you fall on commercial property and it is not your fault, the owner of the property is likely to be held liable for any injuries caused by the fall. However, the party leasing space, a maintenance company, or a customer/visitor could also be held responsible, depending on the situation. Sometimes it can be difficult to prove that it was the business owner’s fault. Each case depends on whether or not the business owner acted carefully to prevent slipping and falling and whether the person who fell was careful in paying attention to the conditions that caused the fall.

In order to prove that the accident was the business owner’s fault, the victim must have proof of a “dangerous condition”. A “dangerous condition” presents an unreasonable risk that the individual should not have expected under the circumstances. To establish proof of a “dangerous condition”, you must be able to show one of three things:

1. The owner created the condition
2. The owner possessed knowledge that the condition existed and did not fix it
3. The condition has been around long enough that the owner should have corrected it prior to the accident without question

A person may also be able to prove that it was the business owner’s fault if they can prove that they violated a relevant statute. An example of this would be if the owner ignored the safety requirements listed in building codes.