Slip and falls happen all the time. Many are harmless. Others are anything but. A slip and fall accident can cause very serious injuries. It only takes a second to suffer an injury that leaves you with lasting physical, emotional, and financial losses. Personal injury lawyers at our law firm can help you claim compensation if you were injured in a slip and fall caused by someone else’s fault or negligence.
5 Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can happen in countless ways, for endless reasons. Let’s focus here on the most common causes of slip and falls that give rise to personal injury claims.
Debris and clutter. It’s extremely common for people to slip and fall due to debris or other hazards left on the ground (e.g., fruits or vegetables dropped in the produce aisle of the grocery store; spilled food on the floor of a restaurant; cables, cords, boxes or equipment left on the ground at a home or business).
Wet, waxed, or slippery floors. A floor that is wet due to rain or melted snow. A floor that has just been waxed or mopped. A floor that has been spilled on but not cleaned up. What do these have in common? In each case, there is too little friction or traction between footwear and the walking surface, which creates the perfect conditions for a slip and fall.
Uneven surfaces. Cracks in the sidewalk, potholes in a parking lot, loose carpeting, chipped tiles, bunched up rugs, unsecured floor mats, and uneven stairs are top causes of tripping and falling.
Icy or snow-covered surfaces. Our personal injury lawyers frequently represent clients injured because a walkway, staircase, or other surface was not properly cleared of ice and snow. Take heed: there are unique considerations for personal injury claims arising from accidents on public property and specific notice requirements for slip and falls due to ice and snow whether on public or private property.
Inadequate lighting or no lighting. Dim lighting or a lack of lighting are major contributors to slip and fall accidents. Poorly lit stairwells, entryways, parking lots and hallways are especially problematic.
How a Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help
Slipping or falling on someone else’s property is not enough to make a legal case. To win a slip and fall lawsuit, you must prove that someone else is legally responsible. You will need evidence to prove that the person who owns or occupies the property owed you a duty of care, that they breached the duty to take care in all the circumstances to ensure that you were reasonably safe while on the premises, and that you were injured as a result. If you don’t meet the burden of proving liability, your personal injury lawsuit will not succeed.
A Barrie slip and fall lawyer at our firm can help you navigate all aspects of your claim. We regularly assist clients by providing the following services:
case review and estimate of the likely value of the claim
determining who to sue (e.g., landlord, business owner, homeowner, tenant, government/municipality, maintenance company)
gathering evidence, including eyewitness statements, maintenance logs, surveillance footage, and medical records
dealing with the insurance company on your behalf so the injured person can focus on recovering from their injuries
ensuring that limitation periods and notice requirements are met so the accident victim doesn’t lose the legal right to advance their claim
preparing paperwork and court documents
anticipating defences that may defeat the claim or reduce the amount of compensation paid out
You don’t have to try to go it alone if you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident. We welcome you to contact the dedicated professionals at Littlejohn Barristers to find out how we can help. We have the skills and the compassion to look at the details of your case, provide you with an honest, straightforward assessment, and advocate on your behalf.
Get Trusted Advice from a Barrie Slip and Fall Lawyer
Barrie law firm Littlejohn Barristers is a team of dedicated, talented, and passionate professionals who focus solely on personal injury litigation. It doesn’t matter what type of injury you suffered; you don’t need to look for a knee injury lawyer or a concussion lawyer, for example. Instead, you need a lawyer with the experience handling slip and fall cases.
Our personal injury lawyers have years of experience representing clients who have been injured in slip and falls. A Barrie slip and fall lawyer from our firm can help you navigate the notice requirements and claims process, and we will deal with the insurance companies so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
If you have suffered a slip and fall in Barrie or the surrounding areas, please contact our office at 705-725-7355 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. We serve clients in Collingwood, Orillia, Midland and Barri