Slip and Fall Accidents - Common Causes and What You Should Do If You Are Injured

December 28, 2021, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

Slip and Fall accidents are one of the most common reasons for visits to emergency rooms in Canada. 

Common injuries resulting from slip and fall accidents include:

• Fractured arms, hips, ankles, and wrists
• Concussion
• Back injury

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Injuries:

• Escalator Falls – thousands of residential and commercial escalators are used every day in Ontario, and while most of them are safe some aren’t. over a thousand people are year are injured in Canada in escalator accidents. Some people are permanently wounded, and a few die. Usually, escalator accidents occur from either mechanical failure or when the escalator isn’t levelling at the bottom – there remains an uneven surface and people trip.
• Uneven Sidewalks – cracks, holes in pavement or standing ice/water can cause serious falls. If the sidewalk is on private or public land, there are different and, in some cases, very short notice periods for you to file a claim.
• Ice and Snow – uncleared, unplowed and unsanded surfaces are dangerous for pedestrians. Standards for clearing snow and ice exist. If you are injured in a slip and fall on snow or icy surfaces on private or public property you may be entitled to compensation.
• Wet surfaces – tile floors can be extremely slippery in the winter when snow and water are tracked in. Falls in lobbies of buildings are common
• Loose rugs – falls in the home are often attributed to loose ‘throw’ rugs that trip people.
• Loose Railings – When railings fail falls occur. This can happen on private and public property.

How Can You Avoid a Slip and Fall?

• Wear appropriate footwear in the winter – not all boots are created equal
• Avoid icy surfaces when possible
• Do not use small loose rugs in your home
• Always hold the handrail on the escalator and on the stairs
• Watch out for slippery floors

What Should You Do if You Fall?

• If you are hurt call for help, or ask someone to do so for you
• Take a picture of the source of the accident with your phone
• Get the witness information recorded on your phone
• Immediately alert the concierge/staff of the building you are hurt in
• Call an ambulance if required
• If you hit your head get assessed immediately for a concussion
• Contact an experienced and successful personal injury lawyer with your details if you are seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence

If you or a loved one are seriously hurt in a slip and fall accident, please contact one of our personal injury lawyers as soon as possible. The timelines for filing a claim in these cases can be extremely short and the process complicated. When you are injured, we’ll work hard for you to make certain you get the care and compensation you need to recover.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

It is important that you review your accident benefit file with one of our experienced personal injury / car accident lawyers to ensure that you obtain access to all your benefits which include, but are limited to, things like physiotherapy, income replacement benefits, vocational retraining and home modifications.