SLIP AND FALLS AND THE LAW

Sometimes life can be unpredictable, and bad things can happen to good people. Slip and falls are one of those things that can happen to anyone. Slip (or trip) and falls can happen anywhere, from inside a store premise, to on an uneven surface in a parking lot. If you have been in slip and fall accident, it is important that you know what steps to take after the incident, and seek legal advice at your earliest opportunity.

The most common personal injuries that can be caused from a slip and fall are:

• Injuries to the hands, wrists and arms, including sprains and fractures
• Injuries to the feet and ankles such as sprains, twisted joints and fractures
• Brain injuries
• Lacerations and bruising

Some slip and falls, in the worst of cases, can take place from a great height, or a tumble down a steep stairway, which can cause a number of significant injuries, such as broken ribs and internal bleeding.

THE LAW

Any person, company, landlord, tenant, and so forth, that has control over a parcel of land has duties under the Occupier’s Liability Act. In general, an owner or occupier is required to take reasonable care to ensure that persons entering premises are reasonably safe. The law around what is “reasonable” is nuanced, but some overarching issues include:

• Was the danger foreseeable?
• Was the owner or occupier acting in accordance with accepted norms and standards?
• Was a system of maintenance and inspection in place?
• Was there any warning signs?
• Was the hazard permitted to exist for a period of time?
• Was the owner or occupier put on notice of the hazard?

Most property owners will have liability coverage if an accident was to happen on their premises. It is prudent to contact your insurance broker to make sure you have that type of coverage.

If someone has been injured in a slip and fall, an experienced personal injury lawyer in slip and fall cases should look into the circumstance of the accident and investigate liability as completely as possible. Your personal injury lawyer should build the case by hiring experts, getting the strongest medical reports written, and conducting on-site investigations to achieve a successful outcome. Additionally, your health should be taken seriously, and therefore your lawyer should facilitate an appropriate treatment program.

CONTACT A LAWYER TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE A CASE

In Ontario, you are allowed to advance a claim for negligence from a slip and fall that results in injury. Since we live in Canada, often these claims can be a result of ice and snow that has been permitted to remain on a traveled surface. But every case is different and presents a unique set of circumstances. Whether you slipped and fell on ice, or tripped on an uneven heave on a sidewalk, or suffered harm from some other form of negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

At our office, our team will review the particular circumstances of your case and provide you with an evaluation of your claim. If you or a loved one has been injured from a slip and fall accident, or some other premises liability form of negligence, contact our law office today, for a free no-obligation consultation.