Slip and Fall Lawyers
Slip and falls are the most common type of personal injury claim in Nova Scotia and throughout the rest of Canada. These cases are filed when an individual falls while on another person’s property, and it is an area of law covered under the Occupier’s Liability Act and common law. When a person slips and falls on someone else’s property, they may be entitled to compensation under certain circumstances.
If you or a loved one has slipped and fallen, and you are now recovering from injuries, speak to a slip and fall lawyer that may be able to get you compensation.
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
When most people think about slip and fall accidents, most often they think of slips on ice and snow, particularly with the harsh winters and extreme temperatures in the area over those months.
But there are many other causes of slip and falls as well; and they can happen on private property or in commercial stores, restaurants, bars, and really any other premises that has an owner or occupier.
Uneven floors, particularly from carpeting that has bunched up or broken tiles, are a very common cause of slip and fall accidents. Missing handrails on stairways are another common cause of slip and fall accidents, as is poor lighting in dark hallways or in parking lots. Truthfully, any walking surface that is unsafe could be the cause of a slip and fall. And depending on the hazard, and the way in which the victim fell, the injuries from these accidents could be quite serious.
Slip and Fall Injuries
Most slip and fall cases will only result in minor injuries. A bruise, even one that is slightly large, is not enough to file a personal injury claim; but a broken bone is. The most common injuries that are a cause of slip and fall accidents are:
- Broken and fractured or cracked bones
- Injuries to the spine
- Injuries to the back
- Neck injuries
- Carpel tunnel syndrome
- Soft tissue injuries
- Nerve damage
- Chronic pain
- Migraines
- Concussions
- Sleep disorders
- Damage to the internal organs
- Wrongful death
When the accident is so severe that it results in the victim’s death, a wrongful death claim will need to be filed. For any other injuries, a slip and fall lawyer can help victims file a personal injury tort claim. But first, liability on the part of the owner or occupier must be proven.
Proving Liability in Slip and Fall Accidents
In order to file a personal injury claim for a slip and fall accident, one must first be able to prove that the owner or occupier was negligent; and that their negligence caused the slip and fall. In order to prove negligence, an individual must be able to prove that the owner and/or occupier did not act in a reasonable manner. In order to do this, one must be able to prove that another person would have acted differently, and in a more reasonable manner. For instance, if someone had a front step that was broken, it is reasonable to expect the owner or occupier to fix it. If they do not, they may be held liable if someone slips and falls on the broken concrete or missing pieces of wood. But, if an owner or occupier does not clear their sidewalk every half hour in the event of a snowstorm, but instead clears it every hour, that may be reasonable as well. In this case, if someone slipped and fell within the hour the sidewalk had not been cleared, a slip and fall lawyer could argue that this was not negligence.
Talk to a Slip and Fall Lawyer Today
If you have been involved in a slip and fall accident and are now suffering serious injuries from the event, contact a slip and fall lawyer that can review your case with you. These claims can involve intricate areas of the law, and it is a fight you do not want to take on alone.
Contact Preszler Law Injury Lawyers today for a FREE initial consultation!
