Slip or trip and fall accidents can happen anywhere, at any time and to anyone! All it takes is a split second for you to lose your balance but the injuries you sustain in such an accident can change your life forever.

All of us enjoy the classic slip-on-a-banana-peel kind of comedy situation, but few of us realize how hazardous it can be for senior citizens, pregnant women or those who are not in good health. A host of injuries ranging from minor cuts, bruises and sprains to traumatic brain injury, head and neck trauma, spinal damage, facial and dental injuries, impact and crush injuries, and even death can result from a fall.

Such mishaps can occur while you’re out grocery shopping or in a mall, supermarket, farmer’s market or your neighborhood Mom ‘n’ Pop. What many of us tend to feel immediately is an overwhelming embarrassment and we quickly get to our feet hoping no one noticed us taking that spill. We simply want to move on.

However, the type of fall, your general health, age, elevation, etc can have a serious impact on the kind of injuries you sustain.

As an injured victim you are entitled to seek compensation for your injuries from those responsible for creating or ignoring the hazardous conditions that resulted in your accident. An experienced North Bay personal injury lawyer can provide the right advice and assistance.

Store Liability

Businesses that welcome customers to enter their properties have a responsibility to ensure that such premises are maintained in a state of safety. This principle holds true, whether it’s a big international chain, a multi-level mall, a local retailer or a mini-supermarket.

Stores have a legal obligation to ensure that they keep their premises safe. Risks are posed by:

• Wet, slippery floors

• Liquid spills
• Unanchored mats, frayed/torn carpeting
• Fruit or vegetables, dry or wet goods left in aisles
• Uncleared ice/snow/water at entrances and exits
• Debris and clutter
• Piled up items
• Packaging bursting open, causing leakage of contents
• Cleaning products and tools
• Loose wiring, cables
• Damaged flooring
• Missing or broken tiles
• Badly-maintained washrooms
• Unsafe staircases, elevators, escalators
• Missing or broken hand-rails
• Poor visibility
• Lack of warning signs
• Poorly-maintained parking-lots

There may be any number of potential hazards in a store, but it remains the duty of the premises owner, under the Ontario Occupier’s Liability Act, to ensure the safety of the premises under his/her control.

Safeguard Your Rights

Ensure that you report the accident immediately to someone in authority. Avoid making inadvertent remarks like “I’m so sorry, it was all my fault!” or “I should have seen that!”

Seek immediate medical attention from your family-physician and ensure that you follow their advice. Keep all bills/receipts of expenses incurred in relation to the accident. Take photographs of the location, your injuries and the cause of your accident if possible. Preserve footwear and clothing worn at the time.

Get contact details of witnesses. Avoid communicating with the store-owners/insurers etc without your North Bay personal injury lawyer‘s advice.

While you’re recovering, avoid posting on social media.