Bridgewater Slip and Fall Lawyers

The beautiful town of Bridgewater in Lunenburg County is home to various nature walks, hikes, and biking trails. This scenic town offers stunning beaches and a quaint town with numerous opportunities to shop and dine. Bridgewater can be largely experienced by foot. The last thing people expect would be to slip and fall unexpectedly in a poorly maintained environment.

Everyday hazards can lead to serious injuries. Simple maintenance problems can cause slip and falls that leave victims with painful injuries and unexpected challenges. In fact, these falls are a major reason people end up hospitalized in Bridgewater.

Property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe. If you’re injured due to their negligence, you may be eligible for compensation. Please contact us to discuss the details of your case. We look forward to explaining more about the law surrounding Occupier’s Liability and reviewing the insurance coverage in place at the home or business through which your claim will be pursued.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Incidents

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reported that slip and fall accidents accounted for over two-thirds of all ER visits and hospital admissions in 2020-2021. Everyday hazards, such as icy sidewalks, messy stores, and uneven floors, can lead to serious slip and fall injuries.

Winter woes: Bridgewater’s icy winters make surfaces slippery and uneven. Property owners should take care to clear snow and ice promptly.
Parking lot perils: Uneven pavement, debris, and potholes can cause trips and falls. Parking lot maintenance is crucial.
Supermarket slips: Wet floors and poor signage are a recipe for disaster. Stores need to clean spills and warn customers appropriately.
Workplace dangers: Slippery floors, cluttered walkways, and faulty equipment threaten employee and customer safety. Employers and business owners must prioritize safe work environments.

The responsibility lies with property owners and employers, who have a legal duty to keep their premises safe. This means:

Regularly inspecting and fixing floors;
Cleaning up spills and hazards quickly;
Keeping walkways clear, well-lit and with proper handrails;
Providing slip-resistant footwear in some workplaces; and
Other relevant safety practices and procedures.

How Can I Prevent a Slip and Fall Incident from Occurring?

Watching your step and wearing good shoes with grip are great ways to avoid falls. Report hazards at work or in public areas. But let’s be honest, we can’t be perfect. Stay alert, but accidents happen. Sometimes unexpected dangers can appear.

What Kind of Injuries can You Sustain from Slip and Fall Incidents in Bridgewater, NS?

Slip and fall injuries come in all shapes and sizes, and the impact can vary greatly. From bumps and bruises to life-altering conditions, slip and fall injuries can be serious. Here are some common examples:

Head Injuries: Falls are a leading cause of concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). While some concussions heal with rest, severe TBIs can cause lasting problems with memory, communication, and cognitive function.
Hip Fractures: Some studies suggest that the majority of hip fractures happen from slip and fall accidents. Hip fractures often require surgery, hospitalization, and extensive rehabilitation efforts, potentially impacting a person’s ability to walk or work independently.
Spinal Cord Injuries: The force of a fall can fracture vertebrae or damage discs, causing pain and limited mobility. Serious spinal cord injuries can lead to paralysis or lasting neurological problems.
Shoulder Dislocations: These painful injuries can occur in a slip and fall, requiring surgery and physical therapy to regain full use of the shoulder.
Sprains and Fractures: Falls can cause ligament sprains in the ankles, knees, and other joints. The impact can also break bones, with the most common fractures occurring in the hips, spine, arms, and legs.
Knee and Ankle Injuries: Sprains and fractures of the knees and ankles are frequent when you slip and fall. As your ankles twist and tendons stretch, a fall can tear your meniscus, or ACL or PCL ligaments, leading to pain, extensive surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation.
Facial Injuries: A fall can leave its mark. A fall can damage the most visible part of your body. Broken noses, jaw fractures, chipped teeth and cuts can all result from a slip and fall, requiring potentially painful and expensive corrective surgery.

The Lasting Impact of Slip and Fall Accidents on a Victim’s Life

The impact of a slip and fall on a victim’s life goes far beyond the initial incident.

Financial Strain: Slip and falls can lead to a mountain of medical bills. The cost of hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, and medications can all add up quickly.
Long-Term Pain: Many slip and fall injuries linger, requiring ongoing treatment and forcing victims to take additional time off work.
Emotional Toll: The physical pain of injuries from a slip and fall is often accompanied by anxiety, depression, helplessness, and frustration as victims struggle to recover.

That’s why it’s important to contact NOVA Injury Law right away if you’ve been injured because of an unsafe premise. We’ll explain the nuances of Occupiers’ Liability law and help you to find the best treatment and benefits available under an applicable insurance policy, so that your recovery isn’t hampered by financial stress.

Compensation for slip and fall accidents isn’t limited by legislation like most motor vehicle accident claims are. This means that you may be able to gain more compensation for certain injuries, and our team of experienced slip and fall lawyers can help you through the whole process, from the day of your injury to the day you receive your rightful compensation. No matter how long it may take, NOVA Injury Law is there to fight for you.

Should I File a Slip and Fall Accident Claim?

In order to launch a successful claim, you need to show that the other party (usually the property owner) was responsible for your injuries. Our team of lawyers will look to answer the following questions:

Who is liable for the incident?

In order to determine liability, we will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. We’ll examine the property for hazards that caused your fall. We’ll gather evidence by looking for surveillance footage, witness statements, and anything else that proves what happened and hold the relevant party accountable.

Generally, a slip and fall claim will come down to whether the responsible party should have been aware of a dangerous condition and notified the victim before the incident, or whether the responsible party caused the dangerous condition that led to the incident.

Were you at fault in any way for the incident?

In some cases, victims may have contributed to the incident by engaging in negligent behavior themselves. For example, if someone was texting and not paying attention to their surroundings when they slipped and fell on a wet floor, they may be deemed partially responsible for the incident. This may still result in compensation being owed to you, but for a reduced amount. Our lawyers will evaluate the facts of the case to determine whether you had a role in causing the incident.

Did the property owner take reasonable preventative measures to stop the incident from happening?

It then comes down to whether both parties acted reasonably when trying to prevent the incident. For example, we may have proof that the property owner was at fault for failing to put up proper signage in an area with slippery floors or uneven surfaces. We will also consider what procedures, policies, or guidelines were in place to prevent injuries from happening.

In Clements v Clements, 2012 SCC 32, Justice Rothstein, a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada stated:

“The law of negligence imposes a duty on both the occupier of the premises and the person entering upon them to take reasonable care to avoid injury. The occupier must ensure that the premises are reasonably safe, while the visitor must take reasonable care for his or her own safety. In cases where an incident occurs, it is necessary to determine whether the occupier or the visitor failed to meet their respective obligations.”

If You’ve Been the Victim of a Slip and Fall Incident in Bridgewater, it’s Important to Act Quickly

In Nova Scotia, the general time limit for making a claim for a slip and fall incident is two years. So it’s important to reach out to us for a Free Case Review, where we help you with your claim right away. Once you have us in your corner, you will get access to medical advice and a team of experienced slip and fall lawyers to quickly assess your injuries, compile your medical records, and start building a compelling claim.

Working so closely with medical professionals has allowed NOVA Injury Law to secure maximum compensation settlements for many Nova Scotians in recent years, and is the reason why we are considered the premier personal injury law firm in Atlantic Canada.

Our lawyers are a part of the community in Bridgewater, and our principal lawyer, Jeff Mitchell, is proudly Nova Scotian born and raised. He and his team work closely with professionals, community groups and volunteers all over the province to build your case and get you the support you need.

We understand the devastating impacts a slip and fall injury can have on your life and the lives of your loved ones. Know that you are not alone with our team of lawyers and medical professionals in your corner fighting for you every step of the way.

If you’ve been in a slip and fall incident, contact NOVA Injury Law, so we can help you to recover today, and get your life back on track tomorrow with our no-obligation consultation, and contingency fee agreements.

For more information or to set up a Free Case Re, you can reach us by calling 1-800-262-8104 or writing Jeff Mitchell at jeff@novainjurylaw.com now. Our team of lawyers is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to support you and help you learn more about your legal right to recover compensation. Get in touch with us now to learn how we can help you!