Kitchener Premises Liability Lawyer
According to provincial law, all Ontario property owners and occupiers have a duty of care to ensure that their guests can be as safe as possible during their visit. This means they are responsible for repairing, removing, or otherwise managing any hazards. If they fail to do so and a visitor suffers an injury on the premises, the property owner or occupier may be held accountable for the victim’s related damages under the Ontario Occupiers’ Liability Act.
Whether you visited someone else’s Kitchener property as a customer, a guest, or in another rightful capacity, if you suffered an injury on the premises due to the property owner or occupier’s negligence, you may be entitled to a settlement.
To learn more about how you may be able to take legal action in a Kitchener premises liability case, call Preszler Injury Lawyers today.
Types of Premises Liability Accidents
A premises liability accident can refer to almost any preventable mechanism of injury. Some examples include:
- Slip and fall
- Trip and fall
- Injuries because of uncleared snow or ice on outdoor walkways
- Fall from a height, often because of a broken railing
- Deck collapse
- Pool accident
- Electric shock
- Building code violation
- Assaults
- Poor lighting
- Concerns about stairs
- Inadequate security during events
- Dog bites or other animal attacks
- And possibly more
Where Premises Liability Accidents Can Occur
Premises liability accidents can occur in private homes, public spaces, and commercial businesses. Some areas where premises liability injuries may occur include:
- Restaurants
- Retail stores and shops
- Offices
- Factories and other industrial areas
- Hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities
- Parking lots
- Public parks
- Amusement parks
- Sports venues
- Gyms
- Swimming pools
- Nightclubs and bars, including those with negligent security guards
- Schools
- Apartment buildings
- And more
The owners or occupiers of any of these buildings are responsible for managing hazards as soon as they become aware of them. If they fail to keep guests safe, they may be held legally responsible for accidents on their property, resulting in payment to victims to cover their injuries and related damages.
Seeking Accountability and Financial Recovery
The Ontario Occupiers’ Liability Act requires owners and occupiers of private and commercial property to keep their property free of potentially dangerous hazards, in order to protect those who visit their property from harm. If they fail to take reasonable actions to reduce the risk of visitor accidents, they may be held responsible for any injuries their guests sustain on the premises, regardless of the severity.
While a property owner’s liability insurance policy may be able to cover these expenses, if you were injured on someone else’s property, you may require the assistance of a premises liability accident lawyer to help navigate the process.
Types of Recoverable Loss
The casual visitor to a local store, gym, apartment building, or other commonplace location may not necessarily think about how their life will be altered simply by visiting that space. In an instant, they can go from an average customer or guest to the victim of a serious accident due to negligent property maintenance.
Depending on the severity of the injuries sustained, people involved in premises liability accidents may seek damages for a range of treatments. They vary from short-term treatment costs, like those related to a broken arm, to ongoing care costs for accidents resulting in life-altering, permanent injuries.
Victims in these cases may be able to recover payment to cover damages including:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Therapy costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury or treatment
A premises liability accident lawyer serving the Kitchener area can help determine the total recoverable losses amassed as a result of an accident on someone else’s property.
There May Be Tight Deadlines You Need to Meet
Like other types of personal injury cases, there are strict deadlines you may need to meet to hold the property occupier accountable in a premises liability case. In Ontario, injured parties generally have up to two years to take action based on the Limitations Act of 2002, S.O. 2002, Chapter 24.
However, some types of cases require plaintiffs to take action sooner. A failure to meet the deadlines applicable to your premises liability case may mean forfeiting your right to take legal action. Speaking with a Preszler Injury Lawyer as soon as possible after your accident may help you understand any time constraints associated with your specific case. We endeavour to provide you with legal advice that always puts your best interests as a priority.
Talk to a Kitchener Premises Liability Lawyer About Your Case
If you sustained injuries on private or commercial property in Kitchener, Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to help you seek damages.
Call Preszler Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation to help you understand your rights.
