Slip and fall injuries can occur at home or at work, but they are often caused by someone else’s negligence. If you have been injured in such a way, there are steps you can take to ensure your legal rights are protected. Before getting started on your claim against the responsible party, it’s important to understand what type of damages might be awarded (see our article on determining compensation).
How to Prove Fault in a slip and fall injury?
Slip and fall injuries are personal injuries that occur when you trip or fall on an unguarded floor, such as a wet floor. This can be caused by any number of factors:
The property owner was negligent and created a dangerous condition.
You were walking on the surface of the floor, but the property owner failed to provide adequate warning signs or markings indicating that there was standing water or slippery surfaces nearby.
Keys to slip and fall liability
Slip and fall liability is based on the duty of care owed by the property owner. The duty of care is determined by the circumstances of an accident, as well as how reasonable steps were taken to ensure that their property was safe for use. In other words, this means that if you have been injured in a slip and fall accident caused by some kind of defect in your surroundings or environment (e.g., broken pavement). Then you may be able to sue for compensation from whomever was responsible for making sure your area was safe before allowing anyone access there—in this case, it would likely be whoever owns that particular building where it happened (elevator manufacturer).
Did your own carelessness play a part in your slip and fall?
If you have been involved in a slip and fall accident, it is important that you understand the legal ramifications. If your own carelessness played a part in causing your injury, then proving fault may not be possible. In addition to this, if you were negligent and did not do what was necessary to keep yourself safe from injury or harm, then filing a claim for compensation could be more difficult than expected.
However, if it was clear that someone else caused the incident (such as by tripping), then proving fault will likely be easier for both parties involved in the case and help them determine what type of damages should be awarded by either party’s lawyer or insurance company representative (depending on which side benefits).
Do you need a lawyer for a slip and fall claim?
If you have been injured on someone else’s property, then yes. If your injuries are minor and you suffer no permanent disabilities, then no. If you are unsure whether or not an accident merits legal representation, it is best to consult an injury lawyer in Markham before making any decisions regarding your claim. A slip and fall lawyer can provide advice about what type of accident occurred at what time and where it occurred (e.g., on a sidewalk or within the bounds of an alleyway). They will also help determine whether or not there was negligence involved in causing the slip-and-fall incident in the first place!
How to protect your legal rights, when the property owner is at fault?
Finally, if all else fails and none of these options seem appealing enough for you (or if they’re simply too expensive), then there’s always going to be some kind of government assistance available: try contacting local offices directly via phone or internet form; this will often lead right back into further options such as state worker compensation programs or federal disability insurance benefits programs.
