If you or a dear one has suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident sustained due to dangerous conditions on someone else’s property, you’re probably aware that you may be entitled to compensation.

Peterborough personal injury lawyers who handle such cases regularly understand the concerns that victims and their families have when they get involved in such an unfortunate situation.

These accidents are among the most common of civil cases across Canada and a majority of them are settled out of court and not in lengthy procedures inside a courtroom. There is no reason why an injured person and/or their family has to bear the physical, financial and emotional burdens that arise as a result of such mishaps when it has been caused by another person’s fault or negligence.

Assessing Your Claim

“Do I have a valid case?” is a question that an experienced personal injury lawyer who regularly handles slip and fall injury claims can best answer.

In general, there are several factors that determine the validity of such cases:

• Establishing that the accident occurred in that location
• Proving the hazardous condition
• Establishing ownership of the property and occupier’s liability
• Establishing that the owner knew or should have known about the hazard
• Establishing negligence or fault in not removing the danger
• Establishing nature and extent of injuries
• Proving that these injuries impact the victim’s life
• Establishing the expenses incurred as a result of the injuries 

Protect Your Interests

Though your case may seem straightforward, insurance-companies who have to make settlement-payouts may not always act in good faith. They may delay, dispute, deny or dismiss your claim.

As the plaintiff, you and your family need to take certain steps to protect your rights and interests:

• Report the accident immediately to someone in authority and get it documented
• Take photographs on your mobile-phone with date and time stamp: Location, cause of accident, your injuries, land-marks.  This is because the owners can destroy evidence or it can vanish with time in the settlement duration
• It’s important to get contact details of witnesses if any. Your family-members can collect this information if you’re unable to do it. However, don’t contact them again afterwards, let your personal injury lawyer continue the process
• Visit a qualified doctor and contact a personal injury lawyer immediately
• Follow all medical advice, preserve all bills, records, test-results, prescriptions
• Start keeping an accident journal to note all events connected with the accident
• Ensure you preserve all physical evidence such as footwear/clothing. Don’t remove stains like mud, blood etc and don’t mend tears. If your glasses broke when you fell, preserve them and get another new pair
• Never sign anything, record any statements, provide access to confidential information, communicate with at-fault parties without your lawyer’s advice/knowledge
• Avoid making inadvertent statements : Neither you nor the family should say things like “It’s because of my carelessness!” etc
• Stay off social media till your claim is completed satisfactorily

Peterborough personal injury lawyers can advise, assist and guide you through the claims process, while ensuring that your rights are protected.