Slips and falls may seem like minor accidents, but the injuries that result can be serious. Sprains, strains, broken bones, spinal injuries, concussions and other brain injuries, even paralysis, can happen to innocent people if a property owner is negligent and fails to clean up or warn of a spill or slick surface.
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, contact a Peterborough slip and fall lawyer to discuss filing an injury claim.
Our slip and fall accident lawyers can meet with you in Peterborough for a free initial consultation. Call (416) 364-2000
Important Steps Following an Injury
If you are ready this and have not yet left the scene of the accident, then do the following:
- Ask for medical help if you need it
- Report the fall to the property owner or manager
- Take photographs of the area, including the condition that caused your slip and fall
- Ask witnesses for their contact information so we can contact them later to get their testimony
Once you leave the scene, call a Peterborough slip and fall attorney to set up a consultation. The sooner they become involved, the better the chance they have to collect evidence like surveillance footage, eyewitness statements, and more.
Peterborough Slip and Fall Accidents Lawyer Near Me (416) 364-2000
Document Your Injuries
Save all your medical records and any documents the doctor or hospital gives you. Put them away in a marked file and share them with us. This will help us build your case by establishing that you were injured in the slip and fall and proving the severity of your injuries. If you have not yet seen a doctor, make an appointment right away. Follow all your doctor’s orders. Otherwise, the insurance company might argue that your injuries are not from the slip and fall or that they are not as serious as you say they are.
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Be Wary of Insurance Adjusters
When you file a claim with the property owner’s insurer, you will start speaking with an adjuster. Insurance companies are not out to help you recover compensation. The adjuster may offer a lowball settlement offer, delay your claim hoping you will drop it, or may unfairly deny your claim. To protect your rights, do not give a recorded statement without checking with us first and please direct any communication to your lawyer. Do not sign anything until we have a chance to review it.
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Proving Liability
You will need to establish that the other party caused your injury or failed to act in a reasonable manner to prevent the accident. Common examples of dangerous conditions that could give rise to liability include:
- Wet floors without a wet floor warning sign
- Loose rugs that move out of place
- Broken tiles, cracked pavement, and potholes
- Snow and ice accumulation on walkways
An experienced slip and fall lawyer in Peterborough should be thorough in their investigation of your accident. They not only collect evidence from the scene and obtain any available surveillance footage but also work with experts who can testify regarding the cause of your accident and the severity of your injuries. This helps them establish that the property owner knew of the dangerous condition (or should have known of it) and the condition caused your slip and fall and resultant injuries.
Slip and Fall Claim’s Worth
You will also have to prove you suffered damages including both economic and noneconomic damages. Several factors can influence the value of your claim. Thus, it is impossible to say exactly how much your claim could be worth without a lawyer first evaluating your case.
In general, you can recover compensation for the cost of your medical expenses, lost wages from time off work, lost earning capacity from permanent disability, your pain and suffering, and other expenses or losses. But proving the value of these damages can be difficult, especially as the insurance company argues that your injuries are not as severe as you claim or tries to say that you are more capable of working than you claim.
Establishing the value of your case takes comprehensive evidence to prove:
- The existence of your injuries and their severity
- How long you will be out of work
- How the injuries limit or prevent you from continuing to work
- The emotional and psychological effects of the injury
Expert witness testimony, a thorough review and presentation of your medical records, and other documentation are just some of the types of evidence a slip and fall attorney in Peterborough can use to establish the value of your case.
Time Constraints on Filing a Claim
You have only two years from the time of the accident to file a claim. This two-year time period is known as a statute of limitations. If you do not file your claim before the deadline, you will be unable to recover compensation for your injuries. Two years seems like a long time, but we urge you to contact a Peterborough slip and fall lawyer to get started immediately before evidence disappears.
Call or text (416) 364-2000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
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