When we first enter a home, workplace, retail space or public building, one of the first things that we become aware of is the flooring, though this is not a very conscious act. It’s only if the floor is slippery, uneven or it appears wet, greasy etc that we pay more attention to it.

However, certain floors can be hazardous even if they don’t appear to be obviously so. It’s only when we slip and fall that we realize that the floor was dangerously slippery.

Slip and fall accidents can cause a variety of injuries, ranging from minor bumps, cuts, bruises and sprains to serious fractures, traumatic brain injury, head and neck injuries, facial and dental damage, crush and impact injuries etc. The nature and extent of injury depend on the victim’s age, general health, type and location of fall.

When the injuries are severe, they place enormous physical, financial and emotional burdens on not just the injured person, but also on the family.

Most of us assume that slip and fall accidents are just that – “Accidents” – but the fact is that they are usually caused by someone’s carelessness, fault or deliberate breaching of safety norms for various reasons.

This brings us to the question whether such accidents can be avoided and prevented. The answer is a clear Yes!

Property owners have a responsibility under Ontario’s Occupier’s Liability Act to ensure that premises under their control remain safe for all legitimate visitors.

Keeping this in mind, if you or a dear one has been injured in a slip and fall accident, consult an Orillia personal injury lawyer without delay. You may be entitled to compensation.

Role Of Flooring

Slipping is caused by the lack of traction between the floor and the person’s footwear or feet. This causes the body to lose balance, resulting in a fall. There may be a number of reasons for the slipperiness of the floor.

As experienced Orillia personal injury lawyers know from experience, it’s important to understand the reasons for your fall and report it immediately. There are strict deadlines prescribed to file a compensation claim and failure to meet them could rob you of the opportunity to file a personal injury suit. There are different time-frames for private, government and municipal properties.

Selecting the right flooring based on usage is crucial. Installation of anti-skid flooring in wet areas helps prevent mishaps. There are various floor treatments that can keep floors non-slip. Certain materials like natural stone and ceramic are not recommended for high-traffic or wet areas or places meant for senior citizens. Use of safety-aggregates or particles like quartz, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide etc embedded into the flooring provides some friction to prevent slipperiness.

Property owners must also use the right type of cleaning products on anti-slip floors to avoid damaging the micro-particles and thus creating smoothness.

Today there are many innovations in flooring products, along with great design elements, ease of installation and maintenance. All those along the supply/installation/ownership chain have a responsibility to ensure that the right product is used to prevent a dangerous accident.