Ottawa Slip and Fall Lawyers
Slip and fall accidents affect millions of Canadians every year. Those who are lucky walk away with minor scrapes or bruises while others suffer broken bones, paralysis, and even death. When you slip and fall on someone else’s property, you should not be the one responsible for paying medical bills and other expenses. At Auger Hollingsworth, our Ottawa slip and fall lawyer provides compassionate and skilled counsel at every turn. No matter how difficult your case may seem, our tenacious legal team is ready to help you obtain fair compensation.
If you have been injured while on another person’s property, you may be able to file a claim against the property owner and/or property manager if the negligence resulted in your accident. Consult an experienced personal injury lawyer to determine if you have a case.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident in Ottawa, you need the advice of an experienced slip and fall lawyer. There are specific deadlines for filing claims in Ontario, so don’t wait! Call Auger Hollingsworth today for your free case assessment.
Remember, you do not pay our law firm for anything unless and until we get a settlement or judgment for you.
Practice Areas
Common Types of Slip and Fall Accidents in Ottawa
Truthfully, slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere — at home, the grocery store, in a parking lot, or anywhere else for that matter.
However, some of the most common types of slip and fall cases our Ottawa lawyers handle include:
- A slick or slippery surface — Snow or ice in a public or private driveway can lead to terrible injuries.
- Improper lighting — Poorly lit stairwells and walkways pose a serious danger to pedestrians.
- A falling object — If an object falls and is not immediately removed, it may become a tripping hazard. For example, if an item falls off a department store shelf into an aisle.
- An uneven surface — Weather can slowly cause sidewalk slabs to become uneven and lead to trip and fall accidents.
- Defective stairs — Property owners have a duty to ensure stairs are well maintained and not crumbling or hazardous.
Other slip and fall accidents may be the result of a swimming pool accident or defective balcony. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, there may be some degree of social host liability. Always consult a knowledgeable lawyer for trusted legal guidance.
Common Slip and Fall Accident Injuries
Sometimes falling can cause just minor bruises and scrapes, but there are also cases where slipping and falling can cause serious injuries and impair your ability to live your life.
Seeing a doctor after a fall can help you to discover the extent of your injuries, as you may have some that aren’t apparent when you first fall. The most common types of injuries from a slip and fall accident include:
- Scrapes and lacerations – these rang from mild scrapes to severe cuts that need stitches.
- Broken or fractured bones – the force of a fall is enough to shatter some bones in the body.
- Spinal cord injuries – landing badly can cause a range of debilitating spinal issues.
- Concussions or other kinds of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) – if a fall results in you hitting your head, you may end up with a concussion or more serious TBI.
- Joint injuries – sprains, strains of the wrist, knee, ankle, elbow, or shoulder can occur when falling or bracing against a fall.
A fall can cause injuries ranging from mild bruising to severe broken bones, TBIs, or other life-altering injuries.
If you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall accident, it’s best to speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer to learn whether you have a case against the property owner.
When to Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured while tripping or slipping on unsafe property, you should talk to an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Even if your injuries are relatively minor, you should see if you have a case so you can cover your medical bills, and hold the negligent party responsible. If you’ve fallen and are injured, you should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible so they can start gathering evidence. And doubly so because Ontario has strict deadlines on slip and fall cases.
A lawyer can help by:
- Providing expertise that increases your chances of winning your claim.
- Negotiating with insurance companies.
- Having in-depth knowledge of deadlines, damages, and potential compensation.
- Identifying areas of negligence for possible additional compensation.
- Representing you in court.
- Negotiating with insurance companies.
- Avoiding potential financial losses in court.
At Auger Hollingsworth, our contingency agreement means that you don’t pay us until we get you a settlement or judgment. Set up a free consultation today to learn how our expert slip and fall lawyers can help you seek compensation after your accident.
Free Consultation with Experienced Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers
On the surface, tripping, slipping, or falling can seem like not that serious of an accident. But sometimes even a seemingly-small fall can cause serious injuries that end up affecting your quality of life and ability to work and take care of yourself. Our personal injury lawyers Brenda Hollingsworth and Richard Auger have helped hundreds of clients file their claims and won millions in compensation for their clients.
Regardless of the circumstances of your accident or how badly you were injured, it’s likely that the insurance companies involved will try to pay as little as possible in compensation. That plus short deadlines make it very important to speak to a slip and fall lawyer. They can help to represent you in court, file your claim, and get the compensation you deserve
Contact Auger Hollingsworth as soon as possible after a vehicle accident to book your free consultation. We’ll meet with you wherever you’re comfortable, whether that’s in our office, in your own home, or in the hospital where you’re recovering.We put your needs first, and you won’t pay anything unless and until you get a settlement or judgement.
What to do After an Ottawa Slip and Fall Accident
In Ontario, slip and fall accidents can be difficult to prove without the help of an experienced injury lawyer. Successfully resolving most slip and fall cases requires a thorough understanding of the ever-changing laws and statutes in Canada.
Follow these tips to increase your chances of recovering fair compensation in your slip and fall case:
- Keep, but stop wearing, whatever you had on your feet — Many slip and fall accident victims forget that their shoes are evidence! Immediately after your accident, remove and preserve your footwear — it may be valuable for your legal claim.
- Take photos — Be sure to photograph the location of the fall as soon as possible, ideally before weather or reparations alter the scene.
- Keep track of witness contact info — Even if witnesses did not see your accident, they might be able to speak about the state of the area that led to your fall.
- Look for a cause — Was your fall caused by something obvious like a food or oil spill? Take photos of any condition that may have contributed to your accident.
Regardless of whether you feel pain at the time of the accident, hours or even days later, you may discover injuries. As a result, you should always schedule a medical evaluation as soon as possible after an accident. Make sure you follow your doctor’s orders too — A failure to do so may result in the insurance company denying your claim on the basis that your injuries are not serious enough to require continued treatment.
Even if someone does not feel pain at the time of the accident, it is possible for certain injuries to manifest themselves in the days to follow. Therefore, you should consider scheduling a medical evaluation as soon as possible. Then, it is critical to follow the doctor’s orders— a failure to do so might result in the insurance company denying your claim on the basis that your injuries are not as serious as you allege.
Slip and Fall Accident Compensation
Every claim is treated according to the unique circumstances. That’s why it’s important to go over your case in detail with an experienced slip and fall lawyer, who can assess your situation and help you determine how much compensation should be paid to you.
A slip and fall lawyer at Auger Hollingsworth will be able to estimate compensation based on the facts of the case and, if necessary, an investigation and expert medical opinion.
Compensation may include the following:
- Out of pocket medical expenses e.g., emergency care, hospital visits, medication, etc.
- Future medical expenses, e.g., if rehabilitation or physiotherapy is needed
- Expenses that would not have occurred but for the accident, e.g., damaged property
- Pain and suffering (“general damages”)
- Lost wages (past loss of income)
- Future loss of income
- If your injuries are severe enough to keep you off work and involve a long period of recovery, the claim is likely to be significantly more than if you can return to work relatively quickly.
Sometimes, with the most serious injuries (like spinal or brain injuries), a return to the same career as before the accident is impossible for the victim – and this will be taken into account when damages are awarded.
In such cases, occupational therapists may be called in to assess future medical needs and actuaries or accountants will need to calculate future losses. We will be as precise and thorough as possible with your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions about Slip and Fall Injuries in Ontario
What to know about slip and fall injuries at an Ontario schoolYour child’s school has a duty to ensure its premises, and its occupants, including your child, are safe. Should your child suffer a slip and fall injury at a playground, school trip or gym class, you may have grounds to file a claim for compensation. And remember, since Ontario school boards carry liability insurance, the school’s education budget will not be affected by your child’s injury claim. |
What are the responsibilities of property owners in OntarioIn Ontario, the Occupier’s Liability Act mandates that property owners have a duty to ensure their premises are reasonably safe for guests and invitees. Part of their duty is to ensure their property is free of slip and fall hazards — poor lighting, slick surfaces, ice, debris, food spills, etc. To recover compensation from a negligent property owner in Ottawa, you must be able to prove that they acted negligently and that their act or omission was the proximate cause of your injury. A successful claim can award you compensation for certain damages, including:
If you slip and fall on an ice or snow-covered surface, seek legal help immediately. Under Bill 118, passed in December 2020, anyone who slips and falls as a result of icy conditions only has 60 days from the date of injury to file a claim. |
How do you determine damages for a slip and fall claim?Slip and fall claims can result in significant payment for damages. Victims may be entitled to medical bills, therapy expenses, and lost wages. Further, you may receive compensation for the pain and suffering you endured as a result of the accident. Lawyers look at how a slip and fall accident affects their clients now and how it will impact them in the future to determine the value of their claim. Our lawyers often consult with medical and vocational experts to calculate the exact amount of compensation our clients need to rebuild and resume their lives. |
What is the statute of limitations for a slip and fall injury claim?Ontario imposes a two-year statute of limitations on most slip and fall injury claims. That means you generally have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. However, if you slip and fall on snow and ice and intend to sue, you need to inform all of the proper parties within 60 days. In rare cases, where an injury is not identified until later or there are other extenuating circumstances, it may be possible to extend the statute of limitations. |
What is a slip and fall claim?A slip and fall claim is made when an individual seeks compensation after suffering an injury from an accident where they slipped (or tripped). The accident may have occurred on any type of property – residential, public or commercial – and the property owner or occupier may be held liable if found to be negligent. Property owners have a duty of care to visitors, guests, customers, and so on. If this duty of care is breached, it may create a hazardous situation that can lead to falls and injuries. |
What Our Clients Say:
I am so grateful that one of our friends recommended you to be my lawyer. I am very happy and satisfied with your service. You always updated me on the progress of my case. Thank you for your services and professionalism. Congratulations and thank you for a great job. I would gladly recommend you to anyone who needs your help.
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Contact a Reputable Team of Ottawa Slip and Fall Lawyers
The personal injury lawyers with Brenda Hollingsworth and Richard Auger have brought successful claims against municipalities, stores, individuals, and school boards whose unsafe premises have caused or contributed to our clients’ injuries.
At Auger Hollingsworth, helping you recover compensation for your slip and fall injury is our top priority. To schedule a free, no-obligation case assessment with an experienced accident lawyer, call +1 (613) 233-4529 or contact us online.
