Winter in Canada can be treacherous. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures often lead to slippery conditions we face every day. If you slip on a hazard and injure yourself, what should you do next?
Seek Medical Attention
The most important thing is to make sure you are okay. Even if you feel your injuries are relatively minor, you should seek medical attention the same day as the fall to get a proper assessment of your injuries and any necessary treatment.
Document the Fall Location and Condition
Documenting exactly where you fell, and what caused the fall is extremely important. Absent this documentation it can be very difficult to prove that a road, sidewalk or hallway was in a dangerous condition. With smartphones providing portable cameras at all times, be sure to take clear photos of the area as close to the time of the fall as possible.
Preserve Your Shoes
This next one may seem odd but try and preserve the shoes you were wearing when you fell. A common issue in slip and fall cases is whether the injured party was wearing appropriate footwear when the incident occurred. If possible, it is best practice to stop wearing the shoes in question and keep them in the same condition they were on the date of the fall. If you are unable to do this the next best thing is to take clear pictures of the shoes, especially the bottom and their traction.
Provide Notice to the Property Owner
Many people are unaware that slip and fall claims are subject to strict notice deadlines. If your fall occurred on property owned by a municipality, you generally have only 10 days to provide written notice of the incident under the Municipal Act.
If the property is owned by an individual or business, the Occupiers’ Liability Act requires that written notice be provided to the property owner within 60 days of the incident.
Determining who owns the property and who must receive notice can be complicated. If you have been injured in a slip and fall, contacting Beckett Personal Injury Lawyers can help ensure these requirements are properly met.
