Ottawa Slip and Fall Lawyers Protect Your Rights

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 deadlines for filing claims in Ontario, so don’t wait! Call Auger Hollingsworth today for your free case assessment.

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 slip and fall accident lawyer to determine if you have a case.

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. 

Remember, you do not pay our law firm for anything unless and until we get a settlement or judgment for you.

Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident? Hire an Ottawa Slip and Fall Lawyer Near You

If you are injured on someone else’s property, you have the right to take legal action. However, you should strongly consider retaining the services of an experienced accident lawyer. With the help of a legal expert, you can maximize your chances of obtaining rightful damages. 

Wondering where to find “experienced slip and fall lawyers near me”? You’ve come to the right place! At Auger Hollingsworth, our sympathetic legal team will visit you in your home or the hospital. Some slip and fall victims prefer their initial meeting over the telephone.  We can accommodate you by telephone as well. If you prefer to meet us in person, we have 2 locations in the Ottawa area. Let us know what office is near you and we’ll do our best to accommodate. With Auger Hollingsworth, help after a slip and fall is always nearby!

Here are some common questions you may have after suffering an injury in a slip and fall accident:

• Are you entitled to compensation because of an injury on someone else’s property?
• Have you slipped on ice in Ottawa or elsewhere in Ontario?
• Have you tripped over debris or some hidden hazard?
• Was the sidewalk or roadway in poor need of repair?
• Did you fall at a grocery store or other department store?

Injuries on someone else’s property are very common. These accidents may include slipping, tripping or falling, or related events.  Sometimes these injuries are caused by the negligence of someone else.  In those circumstances, you may have a claim for your losses.

WARNING: SOME SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENTS HAVE SHORT DEADLINES TO GIVE NOTICE OF A POTENTIAL CLAIM.  DON’T DELAY!

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.

Slip and Fall Injuries at an Ontario School

Your 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 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. 

Insurance Issues

Remember, insurance companies are not your friend. They would rather your claim go away. They may try and get you to pre-record a statement in order to discredit you later on. Fortunately, at Auger Hollingsworth, we deal with insurers so you don’t have to. To protect your right to compensation, do not discuss your claim with anyone until you have consulted with an Ottawa slip and fall lawyer. 

Determining Damages

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. 

Responsibilities of Property Owners in Ontario

In 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:

• Loss of past and future wages
• All medical expenses
• Costs of attendant care
• Pain and suffering

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.

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.

NOTE: THERE ARE SHORT DEADLINES TO GIVE NOTICE IN SOME SLIP AND FALL CASES.  DO NOT DELAY AND LOSE YOUR RIGHT TO COMPENSATION.

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Frequently Asked Questions for Slip and Fall Accidents 

Should I sue after a slip and fall accident?

A slip and fall accident can have a range of injuries from minor to serious. Either way, a fall can severely impact the way you go about living your day-to-day life while trying to recover. However, is it practical for all slip and fall victims to seek compensation for your injuries?

 Not every time you slip and fall is there a claim.  However, if you can prove there was negligence by someone in control of the property where you fell, you may have a claim. For the most part, if the injuries and discomfort are minor and completely disappear within a few days to three weeks you may not want to follow through with a claim. However, if your pain persists for more than a month you may have a valid claim.   The injury lawyers at Brenda Hollingsworth’s office can provide you with a free consultation to explain your rights and current situation.

Lianne Laing and Brenda Hollingsworth answer a caller’s question on CTV Morning Live about suing for an Ontario slip and fall accident and what the best course of action is depending on the severity of the injuries.

How do I know if I have a slip and fall claim?

During these snowy and slippery Ottawa winter days, it is common for many of us to lose our balance and maybe suffer a fall.  Most of the time such situations don’t involve other individuals or fault of any kind, but on occasion, a fall can be attributed to someone’s action, or inaction.  Legally speaking, a slip and fall case is one where an individual is injured after a “slip and fall” which was due to the intent or negligence of another person.  An individual who suffers this kind of injury may be entitled to compensation.

A slip and fall can occur on private, public, or commercial property.  If you have suffered an injury due to a neighbour’s icy driveway, the parking lot at work, or the pavement outside of a restaurant, it is possible that you have a slip and fall case that can be legally pursued.  Commercial property owners in particular have a responsibility to keep their properties safe for the public.  If a property owner fails to maintain safe conditions outside his or her establishment, they can be held responsible for compensating those injured due to their negligence.  If you think you may have a slip and fall case, the first thing to do is to contact a personal injury lawyer who can help you identify the key aspects of your case and can help you determine if your situation can be legally pursued.  Your lawyer will collect evidence, speak to the property owner, and possibly interview witnesses of the event, which will help to strengthen your case.

Walking in Ottawa can be a dangerous endeavor during the winter, especially since we can sometimes get rain, snow, hail and extreme temperatures during our winter months.  These weather factors can create the ideal conditions for a slip and fall so be careful when you’re out walking your dog, pushing a stroller or meeting friends outside a cafe.  In the event that you suffer a slip and fall, think about contacting a lawyer and finding out if you may be entitled to financial compensation.

What do I do after a slip and fall accident on municipal property?

During the winter after an ice storm, or rapid temperature drop, slip and fall accidents are a common occurrence.  However, a question that arises is how to properly go about reporting the accident when it is on municipal property.

When an Ottawa slip and fall accident occurs on municipal property you have 2 years to file a claim. However, there can be shorter notice periods. You need to file a notice with the municipality indicating you were hurt and that there is a possibility of a claim. You should do this before anything else.

Watch as Lianne Laing and Brenda Hollingsworth answer a caller’s question about a slip and fall accident on municipal property and the right course of action to take on CTV Morning Live.

Can I file a claim for a pelvis fracture after a slip and fall accident?

A fractured pelvis is very debilitating.  Because the pelvis houses so many internal organs, pelvic fractures can result in significant internal bleeding. The pelvis is also vital in daily activities such as walking, running and biking, but when it is fractured, mobility is severely limited.

For the elderly, the most common cause of a pelvic fracture is a slip and fall.  For younger folks, the pelvis must be directly impacted by a strong force in order to fracture. Car and motorcycle accidents are leading causes of pelvic fractures because there is such a strong force created when two cars collide at high speeds.

The pelvis is composed of three bones that are connected at the base of the spine by connective tissue.  The pelvis is the structure that connects the lower body to the legs.

If you have suffered a pelvic fracture in an accident caused by someone’s negligence, you may have a serious claim for damages.  Contact a personal injury lawyer for more information about your claim.