Slip and falls frequently occur, especially in Alberta, where there are frequent, abrupt changes in the weather. Accidental injuries from slipping or falling can be severe and have long-term effects. It is possible to file a lawsuit and hold the negligent party who caused the slip and fall legally accountable for any injuries sustained due to the fall.
According to data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), out of every 100,000 Albertans seeking medical attention for slipped and fall injuries, around 41 require hospitalization, and about 219 pass away annually. Alberta has the second-highest rate of trip and fall accidents in Canada, which is particularly concerning. In many instances, someone else’s irresponsibility led to the damage.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Injuries
Preventing slip and fall accidents starts with understanding the most common causes. Slips and falls are among the most common accidents; they can happen to anyone at anytime. Here are some of the most common causes of slip and fall accidents:
Wet and Uneven Walking Surfaces
Wet and uneven surfaces are the most frequent causes of slip-and-fall accidents worldwide. When spills, water, and ice from the outside are tracked inside, or if warning signs are not immediately put in, floors may become slick. Additionally, since polished floors are frequently cleaned and waxed, they might also be hazardous.
Weather Conditions
The weather can also cause slip-and-fall accidents. For instance, the weather is a natural, uncontrollable phenomenon and is one of the main reasons why slip and fall incidents occur.
Icy sidewalks and damp floors from heavy rain are two examples of weather conditions resulting in a slip-and-fall mishap. Well-meaning property owners and municipalities may be held accountable when someone suffers harm due to negligence. Indeed, this kind of negligence has led to some of the most significant compensation settlements.
Improper Footwear
Improper footwear is also a common cause of slip-and-fall accidents. This is particularly true in workplaces with a dress code that requires employees to wear dress shoes or shoes that are not designed for traction and stability.
Athletic shoes or work boots with good treads are essential in many settings, such as construction sites, factories, and warehouses. In any environment with the potential for slipping, it is essential to wear the right footwear.
Objects in Walkways
Objects in walkways are another common cause of slip-and-fall accidents. This includes things like boxes, tools, and other equipment that are left lying around.
Even something as simple as a power cord crossing a walkway can be a trip hazard.
Steps to Take After a Slip, Trip, and Fall Accident
Seek Medical Treatment
Following a trip, fall, or slide mishap, you should put your health—or the health of a loved one—first. Visiting a doctor if you’ve been wounded is crucial so your injuries can be accurately recorded. In addition, those medical documents will be essential if you pursue compensation for your injuries.
Report the Accident
Make sure you notify management, owner, or landlord of any slip, trip, or fall incident in a store, on a sidewalk, or at a friend’s house. Don’t forget to collect a written report of the occurrence; ask the management, owner, or landlord to do so, and ask for a copy before you depart.
Document Everything
Gathering all potential witnesses’ names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses are critical. If you file a lawsuit, their testimony could support your case. Also, remember to photograph the EXACT spot where you fell and any stairs, icy patches, or other environmental factors that may have contributed to your accident.
Write down the precise time and date of the incident, what you did just before it happened, how you fell, and any other relevant information. Additionally, store the shoes and clothing you wore during the accident in a secure location. Later on, these might be essential pieces of evidence.
Refuse to Provide Statements
Be composed and keep your conversations with the property manager or owner to a minimum. Don’t share information on social media. Refuse to provide an insurance company with a statement before speaking with a lawyer. Never assign blame.
Contact a Lawyer
An experienced lawyer is an ideal person on your side while considering legal action. You are served by the resources of an effective law firm because many slips, trips, and fall lawsuits are complicated and challenging to prove. We have the expertise, know-how, and successful track record of getting you the money you are due.
Possible Compensation Rights
Tangible Economic Damages
Long-Term Care
You might require long-term or home health care if you have severe or permanent injuries. The word “long-term care” refers to a continuous commitment to providing for a person’s health or personal care needs for a considerable time.
Rehab Therapy
Some injuries necessitate rehabilitation therapy, which may take months or even years to complete. Rehab therapy is a type of medical care that aids in patients’ healing from illnesses or injuries. In addition, rehabilitation treatment can assist patients in regaining their strength and mobility and teach them how to avoid injuries in the future.
Medications
You must take these medications to heal your wounds. In addition, slip-and-fall victims may occasionally need to take medication for the rest of their lives. These include herbal supplements, over-the-counter medicines, and prescription treatments.
Lost Wages
While you are healing from the injury, you might have to miss work. Permanent injuries, meanwhile, can limit your ability to perform, raising the payout. Money is given to injured workers as wage loss benefits, often known as lost wages, to help compensate for the income lost while recovering from a work-related sickness or injury.
You may be entitled to payments for pain and suffering in addition to financial damages. These harms consist of:
Physical Pain and Suffering
After an accident, chronic pain can linger for months or even years. Therefore, pain and suffering damages are the most frequent forms of compensation in slip and fall injury lawsuits. These damages are meant to make up for the pain and suffering the victim has gone through as a result of the accident, both physically and emotionally.
Emotional Pain and Suffering
After a slip-and-fall incident, mental pain can linger for many months. It may involve anxiety, sleeplessness, stress, and annoyance. Furthermore, slipping and falling accidents can be extremely upsetting, and victims may be entitled to financial recompense for their suffering. As a result, any mental anguish or misery felt as a result of the injury is deemed emotional pain and suffering.
Loss of Consortium
Accidents involving a slip and fall can sometimes be lethal. As a result of the loss of a loved one, spouses, partners, or other family members may request compensation for their grief and suffering. These damages are meant to make up for the victim’s spouse’s loss of the company, affection, and social engagement.
Loss of Self-esteem
If the accident results in permanent impairment or scarring, you may be able to recover damages for the resulting loss of self-esteem. One of the more challenging sorts of injuries to heal from after a slip and fall event is the loss of self-esteem. This is because the harm done is both physical and psychological. The victim may feel they are unable to engage in activities they once found enjoyable or feel their appearance has declined. This could lead to depression, anxiety, and a sense of helplessness.
Non-economic damages (pain and suffering)
To establish non-economic damages, you must present evidence such as:
- Medical notes
- Personal journals that detail suffering
- Clinical notes
- Medical expenses
- Medical prognosis
Pain and suffering are more difficult to prove than actual money losses, although frequently considerably more harmful. Therefore, you must consult a competent attorney to increase your chances of receiving the maximum compensation.
What Is Premises Liability?
The idea of premises liability affects how many slip-and-fall cases turn out. You must establish negligence on the part of the property owner who owns or maintains the location of the accident to receive compensation.
For instance, a customer slipped and fell in a puddle of milk because the grocery store owner didn’t clean it up immediately after the spill. You are not always entitled to compensation if you slip and fall on someone else’s property. However, just because you tripped and fell on the property because of a dangerous situation doesn’t prove the owner was careless.
Sidhu Personal Injury Lawyers Calgary is Ready to Help Uphold Your Rights
Our skilled personal injury attorneys can help you if you are hurt in a slip-and-fall accident brought on by someone else’s or a business’s negligence. The personal injury lawyers at Calgary’s Sidhu Personal Injury Lawyers can assist you in determining the worth of your claim and make recommendations for the preferred course of action.
Moving fast can be crucial in slip-and-fall cases since most jurisdictions have stringent time limits for bringing personal injury claims. Don’t wait to learn about your legal choices. It might be challenging to prove negligence in a slip and fall. However, we are not afraid of complex cases and can assist you.
Our injury lawyers help you develop your case so the defendant pays for your losses and injuries. In short, recovering from a slip-and-fall accident is a difficult process that calls for the help of an accomplished personal injury lawyer. So don’t hesitate to contact Sidhu Personal Injury Lawyers Calgary!
