Hawkesbury Slip and Fall Accident Lawyer
In Hawkesbury, one of the most common causes of injurious slip and fall accidents is improperly cleared ice and snow. However, because of recent amendments to provincial legislation, people who have been seriously hurt by a property owner or occupier’s negligence face strict deadlines which can be difficult to meet, especially when coping with serious injuries.
In accordance with the province’s Occupiers’ Liability Act, the owners and/or occupiers of commercial and residential properties owe their visitors a duty of care. Failure to fulfill that duty could be considered negligence. In the context of premises liability cases, the term “occupier” may refer to:
- Landlords
- Property managers
- Business owners/managers
- Maintenance technicians
- Landscapers
- Superintendents
- Tenants
- Anyone who controls access to the space
- Anyone responsible for the property’s maintenance
- And more
The people or entities responsible for identifying and addressing potentially dangerous hazards on-site may be considered negligent if they fail to take adequate measures to repair, remove, or warn guests about them. This includes failing to properly remove ice and/or snow from the premises. However, since Bill 118 received royal assent, pursuing damages for injuries caused by ice or snow became much more complicated.
Passed in the winter of 2020, the Occupiers’ Liability Amendment Act puts additional roadblocks in the way of injured slip and fall accident victims on their path to fair treatment and restitution. Usually, there is a two-year statute of limitations on civil claims arising from personal injuries, which means injured accident victims generally have two years from the time of their accident in which they are entitled to pursue justice. However, now in accordance with this new amendment to the law, anyone injured by snow or ice must provide the negligent parties with a written notice of claim within 60 days of their accident in order to pursue legal action against them during the two-year limitation period. That is why, if you were injured on someone else’s property, especially as the result of improperly cleared snow and/or ice, contacting a lawyer as soon as possible could be imperative to your case.
Of course, injurious slips and falls can be caused by a variety of improperly maintained hazards on someone else’s premises. Common examples include:
- Spilled liquids
- Broken or missing handrails
- Poor lighting
- Wet floors
- Uneven surfaces
- Loose carpeting
- Cracked sidewalks
- Potholes
- Cluttered walkways
- Broken tiles
- And more
If an unaddressed maintenance issue on someone else’s premises caused you to sustain compensable injuries, the negligent property owners and/or occupiers may be responsible for providing you with financial compensation for damages you have incurred as a result of being hurt on their premises. Regardless of the circumstances of your accident or the manner in which you sustained injuries on someone else’s property, our Hawkesbury slip and fall accident lawyers may be able to help you recover the compensation you deserve. To learn more, call 1-800-JUSTICE and schedule a free initial consultation.
Contact Our Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers Serving Hawkesbury
If you were injured because of a property owner/occupier’s negligence, call Preszler Injury Lawyers today and receive a free initial consultation on your case with our slip and fall accident lawyers serving Hawkesbury.
