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.
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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.
NOTE: The information contained on this website is meant for informative purposes only. It is not meant to replace legal advice.