Every year, thousands of homeowners get sued for accidents that happen on their property. Many of these lawsuits are filed by family members and friends who have been injured and are forced to sue in order to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, recovery care and disability claims. Find out why homeowners are often sued and what you can do if you are injured on someone else’s property.
Broken Handrails and Steps
As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to keep your property safely maintained. If you don’t take reasonable measures to ensure your property is safe for others, you could be held liable for any injures as a result. For instance, if you knew about a broken handrail or a loose step but decided not to fix it, you would be at fault if a delivery person or visitor fell backwards off a stairway and hit their head or broke a bone.
Slip and Fall Injuries
Owners could also be sued if someone slips and falls on their property and they are found negligent. This could include any type of injury that happened inside the property, or on the driveway, walkway or yard. A slip and fall accident on the sidewalk might also result in a lawsuit if the homeowner was responsible for salting and clearing snow from the walkway in front of their home.
Dog Bites
A large number of liability claims arise from dog bites each year. The law in Ontario deems dog owners liable for any damage or injury that their dogs cause, regardless if they had acted carelessly or not.
Fallen Tree Branches
Severe weather conditions can cause tree branches to break off and cause damage. If the owner neglected to remove any dead branches or prune the tree in a proper manner, they could be sued for the damages.
Fire Damage
Can you sue your neighbour if a fire erupts in their home and spreads to yours? If it caused serious damage to your property and health, absolutely. If the fire is found to have been started because of another’s actions or negligence, a claim can be made to recover any damages caused.
Pool Related Injuries
Even if a homeowner takes reasonable precautions, if they do not lock the fence that is designed to prevent access to the pool, they could be sued if someone enters the area and gets injured. All homeowners who have pools on their premises have a responsibility to implement certain safety precautions to keep visitors and even trespassers safe from drowning.
Structural Defects
If you recently purchased a home in Ottawa with structural defects, you may be eligible for compensation for the damages and any injuries incurred as a result of the previous homeowner’s negligence. Sellers who do not report structural defects during the purchase and sale process can be held liable for any damages caused after the sale has been closed. Intent to mislead or misrepresentation of the relevant facts are illegal and most definitely grounds for a lawsuit by the new owners and any parties involved.
If you or one of your loved ones has been injured because of another homeowner’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation for any injuries sustained. Contact us at David Hollingsworth and we will fight for your rights. Our expert team of persona injury lawyers can assist you with obtaining a fair and just settlement that will cover any of the financial losses you have faced. Over the years we have won some of the most challenging cases involving homeowner accidents and are here to help you get the best result possible in your case.
