If you or a dear one has slipped, fallen and sustained injuries in a public place, this is certainly not the time to feel embarrassment of the slipping-on-a-banana-peel variety.

Such accidents can cause serious injuries, ranging from traumatic brain injury to spinal and neck damage, internal organ injuries, hip/pelvic/extremities fractures etc.

Apart from the pain and suffering, victims and their family-members also suffer physical and financial losses. Inability to work and earn wages, coupled with out-of-control medical and rehabilitation costs cause anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts.

If your injury happened in a public place, the process of seeking compensation for your injuries can involve several highly complex medical, legal and insurance issues. As a lay-person one may not be familiar with these matters and if you need to enhance your chances of a more successful outcome, consult a Brampton personal injury lawyer without delay.

Seeking Compensation

If your accident occurred in your local supermarket, grocery store, retail outlet, public park, building or pavement, it was probably caused by someone else’s fault or negligence.

People are entitled to feel safe when they’re on another person’s property and it is that person’s responsibility to ensure that the premises are maintained in a state of reasonable safety.

However, the process of seeking compensation is not very simple or straightforward. Insurance companies which make the settlement payouts could dispute your claim, deny the nature and extent of injuries or delay the settlement citing a host of technical reasons. It’s preferable that you seek the assistance, advice and advocacy of an experienced Brampton personal injury lawyer to enhance your chances of a better settlement outcome.

Important Aspects To Keep In Mind

Compensation claims for slip and fall injuries hinge on the concepts of negligence and liability. A robust body of evidence has to be presented. A majority of personal injury claims are settled out-of-court.

Such claims are also governed by statute of limitations deadlines within which claims or suits have to be filed.

Keep these crucial factors in mind while seeking compensation:

• Report the accident immediately to the at-fault party and preferably to someone in authority. Ensure you get an acknowledgment or that the report is documented

• Keep all records or receipts of such reports

• Get medical attention without delay. Consult a qualified physician and keep all reports, test-reports, X-rays, MRI or CT scans, receipts etc.

• Get a genuine and comprehensive assessment of your claim based on merits. This helps you determine whether you have a valid case or not and whether you can expect a successful outcome.

• Public liability claims are governed by slightly different regulations. Apart from proving that the party owes you a duty of care, it’s also crucial to provide evidence that such a duty was breached and that the injuries you sustained were caused by such a breach.

• Time-limits are vital in these cases. In case the injured person was a minor, there may be different time-limits. There are also different rules for notifying municipalities and local government bodies about the accident  and for intention to claim compensation.

• Public liability claims can be brought against the at-fault body/organization/entity.

Consult a Brampton personal injury lawyer with specific experience in handling slip and fall accident claims.