What to Do Immediately After a Slip and Fall Accident

Spring is in the air. The snow and ice are finally starting to melt, and temperatures are rising. Many of us are anxious to stretch our legs and get out of the house more. Keep in mind, however, that spring weather can be dangerous. Sudden temperature changes, water and mud being tracked indoors, and late-season snow and ice can lead to slip and fall accidents that cause serious injuries.  

You can make a claim for compensation if you’ve been hurt in a slip and fall caused by someone else’s negligence. Your medical bills, lost wages, and pain should be the responsibility of the party whose negligence caused your suffering, but you’ll need to brave the complexities of the civil litigation process to get the compensation you deserve. 

There are critical steps to take immediately after a slip and fall accident to protect yourself and your legal rights. Read on for the important steps to follow after a slip and fall, or better yet, reach out to a Barrie slip and fall lawyer at Littlejohn Barristers. We can guide you through the legal process and take steps on your behalf so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.   

Steps to Take After Being Hurt in a Slip and Fall 

When you suffer a slip and fall on someone else’s property, whether it’s a business, parking lot, sidewalk, or private home, here are the steps you should take.  

1. Get Medical Attention 

Your health and well-being are the top priorities. The first thing to do after a slip and fall is to assess your condition. Based on the severity of your injuries, either call 911, go to the emergency room, or get examined by a doctor as soon as possible. You should seek medical attention even if your injuries seem minor at first, as they may worsen in the coming days and weeks.  

Prompt medical attention is important for several reasons. It ensures that your injuries are properly diagnosed and treated. It also creates medical records which can be relied on in your personal injury lawsuit.  

A Message Before Discussing the Next Steps 

The next steps in this list are also extremely important, but if your injuries are severe or life-threatening, you can’t be expected to take these crucial steps on your own. You or a loved one should connect with a Barrie slip and fall lawyer at our personal injury law firm as soon as possible. The sooner you start working with us, the faster we can act to take steps on your behalf to protect and advance your legal claim.  

2. Take Photographs or Videos of the Scene 

Strong evidence is the cornerstone of a successful slip and fall claim. Take photographs and/or videos of the scene, including images of the hazards or conditions that played a part in the incident. That may include wet floors, a broken step, or poor lighting conditions.  

It’s also important to identify potential sources of surveillance or CCTV footage and take immediate action to obtain and preserve that valuable evidence before it is lost or destroyed. A Barrie knee injury lawyer at Littlejohn Barristers can assist with this step. 

3. Talk to Eyewitnesses 

Speak to anyone who witnessed the slip and fall and write down their names and contact information. Statements and testimony from eyewitnesses can be very valuable evidence in your case.  

4. Report the Slip and Fall 

Notify the property owner (or the tenant, management company, maintenance company, etc., depending on the circumstances) right away. If a written incident report is prepared, request a copy of it.  

5. Preserve Other Evidence 

Take photographs of the footwear and clothing you were wearing at the time and save those items. Write down your recollection of how the slip and fall happened as soon as possible while details are fresh in your mind. Keep receipts for medications, medical treatments, and any other out of pocket expenses related to the incident. All of these types of evidence may be needed to substantiate your claim or refute defences raised against your claim.  

6. Consult With a Slip and Fall Lawyer 

Barrie personal injury lawyers at Littlejohn Barristers have extensive experience handling slip and fall accidents. We can answer your questions and guide you through every step of the legal process from filing your claim to proving liability.  

7. Provide Notice to Preserve Your Legal Claim 

There are vey tight timelines that apply to certain types of personal injury claims in Ontario:  

• Slip and falls due to ice and snow. Recent changes to Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Act require a slip and fall claimant to provide written notice to a private property owner, property manager, independent snow removal contractor, or tenant within 60 days of the accident if the injury was caused by ice or snow. The notice must include the date, time, and location of the occurrence, and be personally served or sent by registered mail.   

• Slip and falls on public property. Ontario’s Municipal Act, 2001 requires a slip and fall claimant to serve written notice on the municipality within 10 days of the accident occurring. The written notice must include the date, time, and location of the occurrence, and be served upon or sent by registered mail to the clerk of the municipality.   

  
  

Failure to provide written notice of your slip and fall accident within the applicable notice period may block you from bringing a personal injury claim. You may not yet know if your injuries are serious or long-lasting, and you may be unsure about whether the slip and fall occurred on private or public property. When in doubt, contact a Barrie slip and fall lawyer right away—we can help identify and serve notice on all potentially involved parties to ensure your rights are preserved.   

Speak with a Barrie and Midland Personal Injury Lawyer 

Midland, Collingwood, Stayner, Bradford, Alliston, Tottenham, Orillia and surrounding areas turn to the team of personal injury lawyers at Littlejohn Barristers for advice and support. Our team of legal professionals has years of experience representing clients who have been injured in slip and falls.   

We can help you navigate the notice requirements and claims process, and we will deal with the insurance companies so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.   

If you have suffered a slip and fall in Barrie or the surrounding areas, please contact our office at 705-725-7355 to schedule your free initial consultation.