Premises-liability advances while your case settles. $500–$25,000. Non-recourse.
Slip-and-fall cases (a subset of the broader premises-liability category) are among the most contested cases in Ohio. The defense will argue you weren't paying attention, the hazard was 'open and obvious,' or the property owner had no notice. Winning a slip case depends heavily on evidence collected in the first hours after the fall. Funding gives you time to build that evidence properly.
In Ohio, a slip-and-fall plaintiff must prove: (1) the property owner had a duty of care to the plaintiff (invitee, licensee, or trespasser status matters), (2) the owner knew or should have known about the hazard, (3) the owner failed to fix it or warn about it, and (4) the failure caused the injury. The 'open and obvious' doctrine (Armstrong v. Best Buy, 99 Ohio St.3d 79) is the defense's most common weapon — but Ohio courts have narrowed it substantially in recent years for hazards that a reasonable person wouldn't expect.
The classic Ohio case. Video and prior-incident logs are the two evidence pillars. If the store has a 'walkthrough' log and there's a documented gap around the fall, liability is usually solid.
Ohio's 'natural accumulation' rule generally protects property owners from liability for slips on natural snow or ice — but 'unnatural' accumulation (a broken downspout, a graded parking lot that funnels melt) reopens liability. These cases turn on the accumulation source.
Landlord-tenant slip cases hinge on the lease's maintenance clause and Ohio's habitability statute (§ 5321.04). Common areas are the landlord's responsibility; interior maintenance depends on the lease.
Two years for bodily injury (Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10). Cases against a municipality (city sidewalk, government building) require a two-year statute PLUS a written notice-of-claim filed with the political subdivision (§ 2744) — miss the notice and the case is dead even if you file suit on time.
Ohio slip-and-fall settlements track closely to injury severity and the strength of the notice element. Minor cases (bruise/strain, full recovery, weak notice) commonly settle for $5K–$25K; cases with fractures, surgery, or a documented prior-notice trail settle in the $50K–$250K range; catastrophic-injury slip cases (TBI, spinal) can exceed $500K.
For a slip case we look at the notice element harder than in an auto case, because it determines whether liability is even reachable. We ask for the incident report, photos, medicals, and any pre-suit demand or complaint. Underwriting focus: 'How strong is the notice-of-hazard argument?'
Not automatically. Ohio courts have narrowed the doctrine — hazards that are unexpected, hidden by lighting or product placement, or that a reasonable person wouldn't foresee are not protected. Your attorney will assess whether the doctrine applies before recommending suit.
It's more common than you'd think, and Ohio courts don't require one. But it makes evidence collection harder. Get photos, get witness contact info, and see a doctor within 24-48 hours — that's the record that matters.
Slip cases usually support smaller advances than auto cases because comparative-negligence exposure is higher (defense argues you weren't looking down). Typical advance: $2K–$8K for a moderate case. Cases with clear liability and documented surgical injuries support more.
Instabridge offerings that support slip and fall cases.
slip and fall cases we've funded across Ohio.