People tend to automatically blame themselves when they slip or trip and fall. The overwhelming emotion is embarrassment as they recall the number of times they themselves may have enjoyed the classic slipping-on-a-banana-peel comic situation in a movie! However, slip and fall accidents are far from a joke.

They can cause a variety of injuries ranging from simple bruises, cuts or sprains to serious, life-altering, life-threatening injuries. These injuries can have a significant physical, financial and emotional impact on the life of not just the injured person, but also on the family as well.

If the injured person is the sole income-earner or was contributing to the family income, long-term hospitalization can affect the person’s income and wages or even their wage-earning capacity. High medical and rehabilitation expenses, coupled with the depression, anxiety, pain and suffering undergone, can create a truly disastrous situation.

In Ontario, it is the duty of property owners under the Occupiers’ Liability Act to ensure that all those who visit their premises are assured of being reasonably safe. When accidents occur, they may have been caused by the owner’s fault or negligence. Hence, if you or a dear one has sustained injuries in a slip and fall accident, you are entitled to seek compensation from those responsible for the maintenance of the property.

A Guelph personal injury lawyer with experience and expertise in handling such cases is best suited to provide the right type of information and assistance.

Common Reasons For Slipping or Tripping

These accidents are extremely common. Any obstruction in your path or a mis-step can cause you to lose your balance. The injuries sustained depend on age, general health condition, pre-existing illness or medical issues, location, your weight, etc.

Among the most common reasons for slip and fall accidents are:

• Wet, slippery floors
• Freshly-polished or cleaned floors
• Loose carpeting, unanchored rugs, mats
• Grease or liquid spills
• Unmarked elevation changes
• Poor lighting
• Water pooled under air-conditioners
• Uncleared snow or ice
• Pot-holes
• Clutter or debris
• Loose wires, cables

Protect Your Interests 

As Guelph personal injury lawyers advise, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention following a slip and fall, no matter how minor you consider your injuries to be. Some conditions turn out to be more serious after a time lapse, and they don’t have any initial symptoms. The fall can also worsen existing illnesses or conditions.

Reporting the accident without delay is also crucial.

These factors ensure that your injury has been documented and that it is serious enough to warrant treatment. Seeking compensation in such accidents is governed by stringent time-frames and missing a deadline can result in relinquishing your right to sue.

Often, the home or property owner may request you to sign certain documents after the accident. They may also offer an immediate one-time settlement in return for your signature. However, you may soon discover that this was inadequate to cover your costs.

Never communicate with at-fault parties or their representatives without your lawyer’s knowledge, sign permissions, give access to private information.

Avoid posting on social media, as insurers keep a sharp look-out for tell-tale signs of any contradiction in your claims.