Winter will bring snow and ice. What do snow and ice bring? Slips and falls.
Last year alone, over 32,000 Canadians were injured as the result of slip and fall accidents. Slip and fall accidents can result in both short-term and long-term consequences, such as missed work, medical care, and even permanent disability.
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident because of a property owner's negligence, such as an unshovelled or unsalted sidewalk, you may want to consider contacting a personal injury lawyer in Prince George.
A successful slip and fall case can result in compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and lost future wages. Read on to learn more.
Do I Have a Case?
The first thing to do is to speak to a lawyer to determine if you have a case. Not all slip and fall cases are appropriate for a lawsuit, so talking to an experienced personal injury lawyer should be one of the first things you do. They can give you an idea of whether or not you have a strong case.
Things your lawyer will consider are whether unsafe conditions caused you to slip and fall and if the owner of the property knew about the hazard and failed to fix it.
What is My Case Worth?
Once you determine whether you have a case or not, you can talk with your lawyer about what they think your case might be worth. There are two main factors that will influence how much your case is worth: how severe your injuries are and who was to blame for the accident.
Injury Severity
Injuries sustained as the result of a slip and fall accident can run the gamut from something minor, like a sprained ankle or wrist, to serious, long-term injuries like a traumatic brain injury.
Responsible Party
In a successful case, your lawyer will be able to prove that the defendant's negligence was the cause of your slip and fall and subsequent injury. You must show that it was the result of a hazard and that the defendant knew or should have known about the hazard and did not address it.
If you played a role in your slip and fall accident, even if another party is also to blame, the amount of your award could be reduced, as the judge or jury might find that the other party was only partially responsible for your injuries.
Possible Damages
Some of the things that you may receive damages for include:
Lost income
Medical bills for past and future care
Disability and loss of ability to do things you once enjoyed
Emotional distress
Pain and suffering
Because every case is different and there are so many variables that impact what your case is worth, it's hard to say what a case is worth without knowing the details of the accident and the injury.
Consult with a Personal Injury Lawyer in Prince George Today
Dick Byl, a personal injury lawyer in Prince George will be able to give you the best answer on what your case is worth. Based on his experience, your injuries, the responsible party, and the extent of your financial and non-financial losses, he will be able to give you an estimate of how much you might expect to collect in damages.
If you or your loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact Dick Byl Law Corporation today.