Slips and Falls

Slip and fall accidents occur when an individual loses their footing due to a dangerous condition on someone else’s property. This can result in a wide range of injuries, including:

• Broken bones: Hips, wrists, ankles, and arms are commonly fractured in slip and fall accidents, especially for older adults.
• Head injuries: Falls can lead to concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and even fatal head trauma in severe cases.
• Spinal cord injuries: These catastrophic injuries can result in paralysis and a lifetime of challenges.
• Soft tissue injuries: Cuts, scrapes, bruises, and muscle strains are common consequences of slip and fall accidents.
• Psychological trauma: The shock and fear of the fall, coupled with the pain and uncertainty of recovery, can lead to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Premises liability law dictates that property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain a reasonably safe environment for visitors. This includes:

• Keeping the property in a good state of repair: Identifying and fixing potential hazards like uneven surfaces, loose floorboards, or faulty railings.
• Warning visitors of potential dangers: Posting signs to alert visitors of wet floors, slippery surfaces, or ongoing maintenance work.
• Taking steps to prevent foreseeable accidents: Addressing recurring issues that pose a risk to visitor safety.

For you to have a successful slip and fall claim, you need to establish that the property owner:

• Knew or should have known about the dangerous condition: This could be through direct knowledge, reports from other visitors, or the condition being so obvious it should have been identified during reasonable inspections.
• Failed to take reasonable steps to address the hazard: This might involve neglecting repairs, failing to post warnings, or creating the dangerous condition themselves.
• Your slip and fall was caused by the dangerous condition: You need to demonstrate a clear link between the hazard and your accident.

Here are crucial steps to take after a slip and fall accident:

• Seek medical attention: Your health is the top priority. Get a medical evaluation to document your injuries, even if they seem minor at first.
• Report the accident: Report the accident to the property owner or manager and document the details, including the date, time, and location of the fall.
• Gather evidence: If possible, take pictures of the accident scene, the hazardous condition that caused your fall and any injuries you sustained. Ask any witnesses for their contact information and write down their accounts of the accident.
• Keep all receipts and bills: Maintain detailed records of all medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs associated with your accident.
• Contact a slip and fall accident lawyer: An experienced lawyer can advise you on your legal options and ensure your rights are protected.

Winter weather is a culprit for injuries such as slips and falls in Alberta. These accidents can take place due to snow and ice buildup on walkways. Causes include:

• Black ice or ice buildup on a sidewalk, driveway, walkway, and stairs
• Snow or debris on sidewalks, walkways, driveways, and stairs
• Uneven stairways or stairs that are not up to building codes
• Sideways or walkways that are uneven
• Freshly mopped or wet floors in malls, grocery stores, restaurants, movie theatres or bars

Removing snow and ice away from walking surfaces is a responsibility of municipalities, businesses, and homeowners. Owners must do their part in reducing the risk of slippery surfaces. Those who choose to ignore winter hazards, putting you and others at risk could be negligent under occupiers’ liability law and responsible for your injuries. The Alberta Occupiers Liability Act states, “An occupier of a premises owes a duty to take such care as in all the circumstances of the case is reasonable to see that each person entering on the premises and the property brought on the premises by that person are reasonably safe while on the premises.”

When you or a loved one suffers serious injuries due to a slip or fall on another person’s property, you may be eligible for compensation. At Grover Law Firm, our experienced personal injury lawyers can evaluate your potential injury claim and advise you on your options as you move forward.