Just west of the GTA, the city of Hamilton was recently found guilty of negligence in a slip-and-fall case. The case is especially egregious in that it is of course the municipality’s own bylaws that it breached.
In this instance, a woman and her friend were in the habit of walking part of the way to work, including a long staircase that leads from the top of the Niagara Escarpment to the lower city and downtown area of Hamilton.
The area had not been cleared of ice and snow for more than three weeks prior to the day of her accident even though more than 35cm of snow had fallen during that period. A staircase would necessarily involve using staff to clear it manually. On that particular morning, new snowfall concealed ice underneath and she slipped, falling backwards and hitting her head. The woman suffered a concussion as a result and lost time from work during a long rehab process.
Railings
A second issue in the ruling involved a section of the railing which had rusted and was no longer properly fastened to the pathway. That’s an important issue to keep in mind as well as it directly affects the safety of those navigating stairs and other areas; it’s not only the condition of the walking surface that matters.
- Stairs and certain types of walkways are required to have railings – railings kept in good working order.
The ruling shows that the courts do take such matters seriously. The city had a clear responsibility to keep the path in question clear and it very clearly did not, creating a risk that should not have existed.
It’s Not Winter Now, But…
There may be no ice or snow to slip on at the moment but we’ve had plenty of rain in the Toronto area and that can present its own set of problems and issues for both motorists and pedestrians. There are any number of situations that create slippery conditions,
- Water pooling on stairs or ramps
- Wet floors in stores, restaurants or other public places
- Water on metal surfaces
If you own a business or manage a workplace, it becomes a matter of common sense and logic. Cleaning up wet floors as soon as possible and clearly marking them until they are dry are the basic steps that ensure the safety of your customers or guests.
Your Slip and Fall Legal Specialists
Slip and fall injuries often involve soft tissues, sprains, strains and even breaks and can range from mild to very serious, including fatalities. Head injuries like a concussion are nothing to take lightly. Don’t take chances – some of the worst effects can take place weeks, months or even years later as they develop into conditions such as:
- Arthritis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Degenerative disc disease
- Chronic back pain
That’s why it’s important to get medical attention right away even if your injuries seem relatively minor.
The second thing you need to do is to contact a slip and fall lawyer immediately. It’s the only way you can fully protect your interests and try to get the compensation you need to start on the road to recovery and rehabilitation.
At Petrillo Law, we work on behalf of injured people to get them the compensation they deserve. As experienced slip and fall lawyers, we understand the pain and uncertainty that comes with being injured. We have successfully recovered damages on behalf of hundreds of slip and fall victims throughout Mississauga, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Ontario. And we can help you too.
Call us (905) 949-9433 for a free consultation with an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer. We look forward to hearing from you.
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