helping those injured on dangerous premises regain their footing.
Dangerous Premises
you are owed a duty of care.
Owners and occupiers in BC are responsible for keeping their properties reasonably safe. Standards of safety exist to protect persons on the premises from conditions – both known and which ought to be known to the occupier – that pose an objectively unreasonable risk of harm or injury. This duty to minimize risk extends to the ordinary use of a property by those who are in the building or on the grounds, including residents, visitors and people who trespass.
The term “occupiers” refers to anyone who is in physical possession of premises or who has responsibility for and control over the condition of premises. This includes those who rent, lease, or otherwise occupy a property.
If an owner or occupier does not ensure the safety of their property and a visitor suffers injuries as a result, the injured person may have grounds for an Occupier’s Liability claim against the negligent owner or occupier.
In BC, the Occupier’s Liability Act sets out the legal responsibilities of owners and occupiers. In broad terms, if an owner or occupier fails to ensure their property is reasonably safe, they have failed in their duty. Duty of care includes: the condition of the premises; the activities on the premises; the conduct of third parties on the premises; and the safety of people (and their property) who may come upon the owner’s or occupier’s land.
Accidents can be caused by the defective or dangerous condition of an owner’s or occupier’s premises. Their premises can include homes, cabins, apartment complexes, city property, strata property to grocery stores, concert venues, restaurants, schools, libraries, movie theatres. Lawsuits typically include slips and falls in retail stores, and accidents involving unsafe stairs, railings, and poorly lit areas.
- Falls due to defective structures (such as handrails or balconies);
- Slip and falls on wet or icy surfaces;
- Trips over uneven flooring;
- Trips or falls due to poor lighting.
The Personal Injury lawyers at Helpforme are adept at creating the most effective legal strategy and presenting the best evidence to the Court to recover compensation for injuries suffered by our clients due to the negligence of others. We care about how injuries impact your life. We work closely with you to make sure you have access to the treatments you need to minimize the impact of your injuries and move forward in your life. If you or a family member has been injured on someone else’s property and believe injuries were caused by the failure of another to ensure premises were reasonably safe, contact us for a free initial consultation.
It is important to document the circumstances of your injury; this can include taking pictures, contacting witnesses and in some cases, filling out an incident or other report. You should also ensure that you seek medical treatment and advice immediately. We will quickly assess the validity of your claim and discuss your legal options. We will be by your side from start to finish.
As for legal fees, all our personal injury services are offered on a contingency basis. You don’t pay legal fees until your claim is resolved positively, which helps reduce your stress and financial worry so you can focus on healing. We’ll support you through every step of your claim and make sure you get the care you need to recover and move forward in your life.
