When you’re out shopping, dining, or running errands in Calgary, you generally assume the properties you’re visiting are safe. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Property hazards can lead to slip and fall accidents that cause painful injuries, expensive medical bills, missed work, and uncertainty about your future. But you don’t have to face these challenges alone.
If you fell on someone else’s property due to an unsafe condition, our Calgary slip and fall lawyers are here to help. Contact us for a free consultation to learn about your rights and legal options. We provide compassionate support, strong legal advocacy, and guidance on your next steps, so you can focus on what matters most—your health and recovery.
Get answers to the following topics and questions:
- What Is a Slip and Fall Accident?
- Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Calgary
- Injuries Commonly Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
- Who May Be Responsible for a Slip and Fall Injury?
- Proving Negligence in a Slip and Fall Claim
- What To Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
- What Compensation May Be Available After a Slip and Fall Accident?
- Why Choose Litco Law After a Calgary Slip and Fall Accident?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Accidents
- Speak With Our Calgary Slip and Fall Legal Team Today
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What Is a Slip and Fall Accident?
A slip and fall accident is when a person falls on someone else’s property due to an unreasonable or preventable hazard.
In Alberta, property “occupiers” have a legal responsibility to take reasonable steps to keep people safe on their property. This applies to anyone who is invited, allowed, or legally on the premises, and means ensuring the space is reasonably safe for how it’s meant to be used.
An occupier isn’t just the owner; it can also be a manager, tenant, or anyone who has physical possession of the property, or responsibility for and control over its condition, what happens there, and who is allowed to enter. When an occupier doesn’t take reasonable care to keep the property safe, hazards can develop and lead to accidents like slips and falls.
For example, store managers must clean up spills or warn customers about slippery floors. If someone reported a spill to a manager and it was not cleaned up, a customer who slips and suffers injuries may be entitled to compensation.
Slip and fall accidents can happen on both private and public properties, including retail stores, restaurants, office buildings, apartment complexes, and parks. The key factor is that the property occupier was negligent (failing to exercise reasonable care), which contributed to the fall.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Calgary
A slip and fall accident can occur when a property occupier fails to address hazards, such as:
- Spilled liquids or foods
- Clutter or debris in walkways
- Damaged or uneven flooring
- Broken handrailings
- Inadequate lighting
- Lack of warnings
- Poor maintenance or repairs
Harsh winter conditions in Calgary can also increase the risk of falls by making sidewalks, parking lots, walkways, and entryways icy and slippery.
Injuries Commonly Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
The types of injuries caused by a slip and fall will depend on where the fall occurred, how far the person fell, and how they may have landed. Common slip and fall injuries include:
- Soft tissue injuries: Twisted ankles, sprained wrists and arms, dislocated shoulders, torn ligaments, bruises
- Broken bones: Fractured arms, hips, ribs, legs, and facial bones
- Head injuries: Concussions, skull fractures, head contusions, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries: Slipped or herniated disks and compressed or damaged nerves that may lead to paralysis
- Psychological trauma: Depression, anxiety, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
A serious fall may cause life-altering injuries that require ongoing care. Our experienced slip and fall injury lawyers in Calgary can work closely with your health care providers to understand the full scope of your injuries and make sure your claim reflects how your life and future are affected.
Who May Be Responsible for a Slip and Fall Injury?
When the occupier of a property does not take reasonable care to prevent a slip and fall accident, they may be considered liable (legally responsible) for your resulting injuries, expenses, and suffering. Under Alberta’s Occupiers’ Liability Act, a property occupier may include:
- Property owners
- Business managers
- Property managers
- Landlords
- Tenants
Additionally, careless maintenance companies or government agencies may be liable for slip and fall accidents if they fail to notice or fix hazards on the properties they are responsible for.
Proving Negligence in a Slip and Fall Claim
Someone is “negligent” when they have a legal responsibility to use reasonable care in a certain situation, fail to exercise that care, and cause harm to another party. With slip and fall accident claims, proving negligence involves establishing several elements, including:
- Duty of care: The property occupier had a legal duty to maintain safe conditions for visitors.
- Breach of duty: The occupier failed to keep their property safe.
- Causation: The property hazard directly led to the slip and fall accident.
- Losses: The accident caused actual harm, such as physical injuries, medical bills, lost income, or emotional distress.
At Litco Law, our team will handle every step of proving negligence and liability, from investigating the accident to determining who is at fault. We’ll get to work right away to gather crucial evidence that will support your claim, which can include:
- Pictures of where the accident occurred
- Incident reports
- Surveillance footage
- Witness statements
- Medical records
What To Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
If you’re injured after falling on someone else’s property, there are steps you can take to protect your health and legal rights, including:
- When necessary, call 911 for assistance and consider medical care for your injuries.
- Report the accident to the property owner or manager. If possible, get a copy of the incident report.
- If you’re able, take photos and videos of the accident scene and hazards that may have caused your fall.
- When available, gather contact information from any witnesses.
- If you received treatments from a medical professional, follow through with your doctor’s treatment plan and medical advice.
- Consider contacting a Calgary premises liability lawyer to discuss your legal options.
We know it can be difficult to collect details right after the slip and fall. Regardless of what steps you were able to take, our trip and fall lawyers in Calgary will take the burden off your shoulders and help build a claim that reflects what you’ve gone through.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Slip and Fall Accident?
The aftermath of a slip and fall accident often goes beyond physical injuries. You may be facing financial struggles, missed work, emotional trauma, and lengthy recovery times. A lawyer can pursue compensation for your financial losses and other ways you’ve suffered after the accident, including:
- Paramedical bills
- Cost of future medical care
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings
- Pain and suffering, including emotional distress
Serious slip and fall injuries can affect your independence, relationships, and ability to support yourself or your loved ones. Our team considers the full impact of your injuries and makes sure all losses are accounted for in your slip and fall claim.
Why Choose Litco Law After a Calgary Slip and Fall Accident?
Serving the Calgary community with award-winning legal service since 1976, Litco Law is prepared to handle your slip and fall claim from start to resolution, putting you in the best position to receive fair compensation for the hardships you’ve faced.
When you work with us, you don’t just get a lawyer. You get your own personal legal team that will be with you throughout the course of your claim. We call this team a “pod.” It includes a lawyer, a case manager, a client care specialist, and a legal assistant who get to know you and the details of your claim and provide compassionate guidance and support every step of the way.
We never bill by the hour, and you won’t pay us anything while your claim progresses. Our fee is a percentage of the settlement we recover for you, and you’ll know that percentage before you ever hire us.
Hear From Litco Law’s Previous Clients
Our Calgary personal injury lawyers are proud of the exceptional level of service we provide. Hear what previous clients have to say about working with us:
- “Litco Law is highly professional and it’s very easy to access their services (either by phone or online), I found their website to be straight forward and they have all the answers you need by phone or email. I would recommend them to anyone who needs a lawyer.” – Lori B.
- “The team at Litco Law were amazing! They kept me informed, always followed up to see how I was doing and advised when needed!
- When closing out my file they were completely professional and made things very easy!” – Wendy F.
- I always felt they had my best interest top of mind! – Scotty
Frequently Asked Questions About Slip and Fall Accidents
Below are answers to questions we often hear about slip and fall accident claims. For free legal answers specific to your situation, reach out to our team for a free consultation.
Is Slip and Fall Liability Difficult to Prove?
What if the Property Owner Says the Hazard Was Obvious?
A property occupier may try to argue that the hazard was obvious and could have been avoided. However, occupiers still have a responsibility to warn of and remove hazards, regardless of how visible they are.
If you do share responsibility for your accident, you may still be able to recover some compensation under Alberta’s Contributory Negligence Act. However, the amount is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, an injured individual who is 10% at fault for a slip and fall accident would have a $100,000 settlement reduced by 10% to $90,000.
How Long Do I Have to File a Slip and Fall Claim in Calgary?
You generally have two years from the date of the slip and fall accident to file an injury claim in Alberta. There are some exceptions, and there could be other important deadlines, so it’s a good idea to contact a lawyer as soon as possible.
Can I Still File a Claim if I Fall on Public Property?
Under Alberta’s Municipal Government Act, a municipality or government agency may be responsible for injuries that happen on public property, but there may be additional requirements when filing a claim against the government. Also, property owners must take reasonable steps to remove snow and ice from public sidewalks that border their private property within 24 hours of snowfall ending. Failing to do so could lead to liability (legal responsibility) for falls and injuries.
If you fell on public property, speak with a premises liability lawyer to discuss your situation and options to take legal action.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Slip and Fall Claim?
While you’re not required to hire a lawyer, working with a legal professional who understands premises liability laws can protect your rights. A slip and fall lawyer can help you navigate the claims process and build a strong claim on your behalf.
Speak With Our Calgary Slip and Fall Legal Team Today
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, our team is ready to take action, advocate for your rights, and pursue financial relief that will help you recover. We’re Lawyers You’ll Love because we offer compassionate support and genuine care while standing up to unfairness and injustice.
Call (403) 273-8580 or contact us online for a free consultation today. We’ll help you find the solution, even if we’re not it.
