Injured on Someone Else’s Property? What You Should Know

Vancouver Slip and Fall Lawyer

Injured on Someone Else’s Property?

Contact Tim Louis – Long-Term Disability and Personal Injury Lawyer

According to a 2017 Canadian Institute for Health Information report, falls were the number one cause of injuries leading to hospitalization in Canada. It is common for these types of falls to be caused by businesses or property owners who neglect their duty to ensure that their property is reasonably safe.

If you are injured on someone else’s property due to unsafe conditions, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injury. The property owner (known legally as “occupier”) is responsible for keeping their premise safe, and failure to do so can result in a potential injury that would otherwise not have happened.

An occupier may refer to the person in charge of caring for the property, or the physical owner of the premises, which may include:

Business Owners
Homeowners
Landlords
Companies
Government Agencies

Injured? Occupier’s Liability Act

In British Columbia, slip and fall claims are Occupier’s Liability Act (OLA) claims.

http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96337_01

If an individual slips and falls or is injured on someone else’s property due to hazardous conditions, they may be entitled to compensation that could cover one’s medical costs, out of pocket costs, lost income and or pain and suffering resulting from the injury.

How Much is Your Slip and Fall Claim Worth?

This is a common question clients ask lawyers and is complex to answer. A number of factors are considered before assessing the value of a claim such as the severity of the injury and how much the injury has impacted your life, your ability to earn a living and your personal well-being.

Do You Have a Slip and Fall Case?

In order to determine whether you are entitled to slip and fall compensation is dependent on whether you have a valid claim.

If you have suffered from a slip and fall injury resulting from a dangerous condition on a property (i.e. lack of lighting, unmarked spills, icy driveways) the owner or occupier may be liable if it can be proven that they were aware of the hazard and neglected to take reasonable measures to rectify the issue.

Document Your Injury Experience for Evidence

documentation Insurance companies can make your life quite difficult during a slip and fall claim and will deny cases due to a lack of evidence.

If you are injured, it is important to cross your T’s and dot your I’s when it comes to documenting your experience so you have as much evidence as possible to support your personal injury claim.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately After a Slip or Fall

If you suffer from a fall on someone else’s property, ensure that you seek medical attention straight away. Whether your injury is serious or not, it is always recommended that you visit your doctor or hospital as soon as possible (ideally within 24 hours of being injured).

Keep in mind that symptoms for injuries don’t always present themselves immediately – another important reason to get checked out regardless of how your body feels.

Document Any Witnesses

If there are any witnesses, write down their names and numbers to assist with your case. Your insurance company or lawyer will ask for witness contact information as this will help with your claim.

If you are able, pull out your phone and take photos of the exact location your injury occurred. You can never have too much documentation to support your liability claim. If you were unable to take pictures of the scene, ask a friend or family member to take photos on your behalf.

Speak to Your Lawyer Before Signing Any Document

It’s integral to know that you should never sign anything without speaking to a lawyer first. An experienced personal injury lawyer will ensure your rights are not being violated and protect the integrity of your claim.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer You Can Trust

You can trust Tim Louis & Company to ensure the best possible outcome for your slip and fall-related personal injury case. Contact us today (604) 732-7678 or email timlouis@timlouislaw.com

Sources:

https://globalnews.ca/news/4315219/falls-most-common-injury-canada/

https://globalnews.ca/news/3576912/injury-related-hospitalizations-canada/

http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96337_01

Common Workplace Injuries

Prevent Workplace Injuries

When we think about workplace injuries, what often comes to mind are high-risk occupations in construction, manufacturing, or those dealing with hazardous materials – but the fact is, workplace injuries happen across all industries, in all occupations – and most of them are entirely preventable with proper care and preparation.

Workplace Injuries

Although the types of injury commonly sustained at work are as numerous as the number of jobs that can be listed – some of the more common and preventable injuries are:

Strains/Sprains

These types of injuries also referred to as “repetitive strain injuries (RSI)” or “musculoskeletal disorders” are very common workplace injuries due to the number of occupations dealing with repetitive tasks throughout the day.

Some of the more frequent causes of these injuries can include:

Repetitive or vigorous movement over long periods of time
Lack of movement/holding your posture or limbs in an unnatural position for long periods
Overusing a particular group of muscles
Poor posture or a non-ergonomically designed workspace

Back Injuries

back pain

Injuries related to the back are common among numerous occupations and can have an affect — both personally and professionally, long after the initial injury itself. Some of the more common factors resulting in back-related injury can include:

Repetitive lifting or moving of heavy objects, reaching or bending
Sustained whole-body vibration or jarring from the use of machinery
Poor posture, improper or inadequate back support seating in the workplace
Prolonged periods of inactivity

Head Injuries

A head injury can be serious and can lead to contusions, hematomas (bleeding in the brain), and concussions. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon in the workplace –, especially in manufacturing and construction industries. ‘Closed’ head injuries do not pierce the skull and “open” head injuries happen when an object has pierced through the skull, causing possible brain injury. Generally, recovery time may be longer than other common workplace injuries, although most people fully recover from minor to moderate head injuries.

Some of the more frequent causes:

Being hit by falling or flying objects
Slipping or tripping and falling
Falling from above such as tumbling down stairs or falling off a ladder
Walking into objects such as a wall, cabinet or glass window

Herniated/Bulging Discs

Both herniated and bulging discs can affect a person’s nerves, tendons, muscles, and joints. These are common injuries and can result from repetitive motion trauma and or soft tissue disorders resulting from a workplace injury. If you injure your back or neck, a spinal disc can move out of place and can bulge outward from between the vertebrae — putting pressure on spinal nerves. Sciatica (nerve pain radiating down one leg) is a
common symptom of a herniating disc injury, as well as numbing, tingling pain in the legs and weakness in the back and legs.

Some of the more frequent causes of these injuries can include:

Heavy lifting and overexertion
Hard blows to the lower back
Ongoing, repetitive motion
Sitting for extended periods of time in an awkward position
Slip, trip or fall

PREVENTION:

workplace safety

With a little care and consideration, most of the workplace injuries we’ve listed can be prevented with proper understanding and preparation. Some of the methods for preventing these common injuries are:

Proper lifting techniques
Make exercise a part of your daily routine
Listen to your body
Pay attention to posture and form
Proper protective gear such as helmets to protect the head from injury
Safety training, preparation, and education on behalf of the employer

These common workplace injuries can have a lasting impact on one’s health and quality of life. If you or a loved one has experienced a serious injury while on the job, contact Tim Louis and his compassionate and experienced legal team today: 604-732-7678

Common Personal Injuries Following a Traffic Accident

personal injury

Personal Injuries from Car Accidents

If you or someone you care about has recently been in an automobile accident, you may wonder how severe or how common your injury is – should you go ahead and pursue a claim?

The simple fact is you may not feel pain immediately following an auto collision. Symptoms and pain may start to creep up on you weeks or even months later. That’s why it is crucial to have a thorough medical exam as soon as possible following any type of vehicular accident.

Common Personal injuries Following a Traffic Accident:

Neck Injuries

Neck injuries are often one of the most common complaints after an automobile accident.

Whether the impact to the vehicle is minimal or severe, the neck can be one of the most sensitive parts of the body and is easily affected by any type of collision.

Whiplash is the most common as the head shakes to the side or backwards; an extreme amount of pressure is put on ligaments – causing soft tissue damage that results in strains or sprains. Pain is not always felt immediately as symptoms can be overlooked due to shock and heavy adrenaline coursing through the body following a crash. It is important to get checked out by a medical professional immediately.

Spinal Cord/Back Injuries

Damage to the spinal cord, whether it is slight or serious, can cause significant nerve damage and in extreme cases can cause permanent paralysis. Examples of other serious spinal injuries include herniated discs, fractures, sprains and lumbar disc injuries. Don’t underestimate even mild back pain following an accident! Symptoms may surface weeks or even months after an auto collision.

Internal Injuries

crash test collision

The sudden impact from a collision can cause severe damage to internal organs and may have serious implications such as damage to the spleen, lungs, heart, kidneys, bowels or liver amongst others.

Rib fractures are also quite common. Such fractures may lead to other injuries, resulting in punctured lungs and other organs. Internal injuries can be fatal, so it is important to get checked out by a medical professional immediately after a traffic accident.

Head & Brain Injuries – personal injuries from a car accident

Head and brain injuries are some of the most common and most debilitating injuries suffered by passengers and drivers of automobile accidents. Symptoms can be mild to severe depending on where a person is located in the vehicle and the level of violent force impacted to the skull. Even without physical signs of trauma such as cuts or bruises, sudden force to the head can cause damage to the brain – which is why it is important to seek medical attention straight away.

Facial Injuries

Facial injuries are common and can result from hitting the dashboard, steering wheel, windshield, airbag, side window, back seat or shattered glass. The severity of injury varies ranging from minor cuts and bruises to jaw fractures and can even cause serious dental injuries.

Psychological Injuries

stress Regardless of any physical injuries that result from a traumatic auto collision, emotional distress is very real and can easily be overlooked when the focus is on visual signs of trauma. Everyone responds to stress differently and depending on how severe the crash; anxiety, depression, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder can all be the direct result of an auto accident.

Personal injuries as the result of an automobile collision should never be taken lightly as the long-term effects of a serious injury can be devastating to one’s quality of life.

You can trust Tim Louis & Company to ensure the best possible outcome for your personal injury case. Contact us today (604) 732-7678 or email timlouis@timlouislaw.com

long-term disability lawyer