Slip and Fall
Have you ever been walking on the street of a busy town or city during the day with others, and see someone slip and fall on the sidewalk or on the steps going into a business? Or, have you ever been in a supermarket or shopping centre and seen someone trip violently over a buckled mat lying in the entryway?
These are just a small number of the potential scenarios that could arise in a slip and fall incident. Many times these slip and fall incidents are relatively minor, with people often able to get up, brush themselves off and be on their way. Other times however, serious injuries happen. Some of these injuries can cause a person to lose their normal way of life for a short or extended period of time. Sometimes these incidents are the fault of the people who maintain, use or own the property. Everyone has a duty to ensure the safety of people on their property. A city or town also has the duty to ensure public surfaces are as safe as they can possibly be. Icy winter sidewalks and steps are a recipe for disaster unless the proper steps are taken.
If your slip and fall happened at a workplace, you should report the incident to your manager immediately.
Many businesses, for example supermarkets, are required to maintain a log book of how often their floors are swept or mopped. This way they can keep an accurate record of when the floors have been swept and cleaned.
What if those injuries are serious? What if the problems are worse than you originally thought? What if the business or property owners have suddenly sent you a document asking you to sign off on something and they have enclosed a gift certificate to make the problem go away? If you feel you have been injured as a result of the negligence of the property or business owner, you might want to consider speaking to a lawyer. A lawyer who works in the area of personal injury will initially have you touch base with a member of their staff so the staff can obtain as much information as possible about the incident. A lawyer is trained extensively in being able to determine if you have a case. Ensure before you call a law office that they offer a free consultation. Too many times, people have called a lawyer’s office; have them do some investigating only to find out that no case exists, and then are charged extensively for the work.
Many personal injury lawyers use a contingency fee system. This means that they will charge you an agreed upon percentage of the proceeds that they are able to win for you in a lawsuit. These lawyers will have you sign a retainer agreement in order to retain their services. Do as much research as possible on any lawyer you are considering before you contact them. It is also wise to check with the provincial or state body regulating lawyers to see if that lawyer has any outstanding complaints.