- Date: October 1, 2005.
- Victim’s age: Adult
- Victim’s Sex: Male
- Occupation: N/A
- Place: Ontario
- Circumstances: fell down the stairs
- Injuries sustained: fractured vertebrae
- Settlement Amount: $107,784
The Trip and Fall accident
On October 1st, 2005, a man fell down the stairs at a residence and fractured his vertebrae. One of the lightbulbs had gone out, therefore, the stairs were dimly lit. The poor visibility on the stairs contributed to the man’s fall. However, according to hospital records, the man was intoxicated at the time of his fall.
Injuries from the Fall
At the hospital, scans showed that he had fractured his spine. Therefore, the doctors put him in a body cast. He stayed in the body cast for six months.
Liability
The court determined that the property owners were 75% liable for the damages since they failed to replace the light bulb in the staircase. However, the judge found the man 25% liable for his injuries since he was intoxicated which contributed to his fall.
Compensation for victim
He received $50,000 in general damages, $15,000 for lost income, $65,000 for future loss of income and $13,712.94 for medical expenses. The total damages came out to $143,712.94. However, he received a 25% reduction in damages since he was partially responsible for his fall. His final payout was $107,784.