ONTARIO-WIDE SLIP AND FALL REPRESENTATION
Ontario Slip and Fall Lawyer
If you were injured in a slip, trip or fall anywhere in Ontario, DR Injury & Disability Law can investigate the unsafe condition, identify the potentially responsible parties, protect important deadlines and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to receive.
Speak directly with a personal injury lawyer about what happened and the steps you should take next.
Serving injured people across Ontario from our Toronto office. Phone and virtual consultations are available.
Free Consultations
No Upfront Legal Fees
Phone and virtual meetings
HELP AFTER A SLIP, TRIP OR FALL
How an Ontario Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help
After a fall, you may be dealing with pain, medical appointments, missed work and uncertainty about who controlled the property. An Ontario slip and fall lawyer can investigate the hazard, identify the potentially responsible parties, preserve important evidence, protect short notice deadlines and manage the legal process while you focus on your recovery.
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Investigate How the Fall Happened
We examine the property condition that caused the fall, including photographs, incident reports, surveillance footage, maintenance records, weather evidence and witness accounts.
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Identify Potentially Responsible Parties
We determine who owned, occupied, managed, maintained or repaired the property and whether contractors or a municipality may also be involved.
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Preserve Important Evidence
We act promptly to preserve surveillance footage, maintenance documents, evidence of the hazard and items such as the footwear worn during the incident.
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Protect Important Deadlines
Slip and fall claims may involve short notice requirements, particularly when a municipality, snow or ice is involved. We identify and address the deadlines that may affect your rights.
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Pursue Compensation
We assess how the injuries have affected your health, employment and daily life, build the supporting medical and financial evidence and pursue compensation from the responsible parties.
PRIVATE AND MUNICIPAL PROPERTY CLAIMS
Who May Be Responsible for a Slip and Fall?
Responsibility depends on who owned, occupied, controlled, inspected or maintained the area where the fall occurred. More than one person or organization may be involved, and the applicable legal rules can differ depending on whether the property was privately or municipally controlled.
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Private Property Claims
A fall at a store, condominium, apartment building, restaurant, office, parking lot or private residence may involve a property owner, occupier, tenant, property manager, maintenance company or snow-removal contractor.
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Municipal Property Claims
A fall involving a public sidewalk, roadway, park, staircase or other municipal property may involve a municipality. Different statutory standards, defences and strict notice requirements may apply to these claims.
Identifying every potentially responsible party early is important. Property records, contracts, maintenance logs, incident reports and other evidence may be needed to determine who controlled the area and was responsible for addressing the hazard.
COMMON PROPERTY HAZARDS
Slip, Trip and Fall Cases We Handle Across Ontario
Falls can result from many different property conditions. The surrounding circumstances, maintenance history, available warnings and length of time the hazard existed may all be important when determining whether reasonable care was taken.
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Snow and Ice
Uncleared snow, untreated ice, improper drainage and inadequate winter-maintenance practices can create dangerous walking conditions.
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Wet or Slippery Floors
Spills, tracked-in water, recently cleaned floors and other slippery surfaces may cause a fall, particularly when inspection or warning procedures are inadequate.
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Uneven Walking Surfaces
Raised sidewalk slabs, potholes, cracks, depressions and abrupt changes in elevation can create unexpected tripping hazards.
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Unsafe Stairs and Handrails
Broken steps, inconsistent stair heights, loose flooring and missing or defective handrails may contribute to serious falls.
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Poor Lighting and Hidden Hazards
Inadequate lighting can make steps, elevation changes, obstacles and other dangerous conditions difficult to see or avoid.
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Clutter, Debris and Obstructions
Merchandise, cords, construction materials, loose mats and other objects left in a walking path may create preventable hazards.
POTENTIAL COMPENSATION
What Compensation May Be Available After a Slip and Fall?
There is no standard formula for valuing a slip and fall claim. The compensation that may be available depends on whether responsibility can be established, the nature and duration of the injuries, their impact on the injured person’s life and the supporting medical, financial and factual evidence.
Pain, Suffering and Loss of Enjoyment
Compensation may be available for the pain, functional limitations and loss of enjoyment of life caused by the injuries.
Income-Related Losses
Past income loss and a reduced ability to earn income in the future may be claimed when supported by appropriate employment, financial and medical evidence.
Treatment and Rehabilitation Expenses
A claim may include reasonable expenses for treatment, rehabilitation, medication, assistive devices and future healthcare needs that are not otherwise covered.
Housekeeping and Care Needs
Compensation may address the cost or value of assistance required with housekeeping, home maintenance, personal care or other activities the injured person can no longer perform.
Out-of-Pocket and Future Losses
Reasonable expenses and continuing losses resulting from the incident may be recoverable when they are properly documented and connected to the injuries.
IMMEDIATE STEPS
What Should You Do After a Slip, Trip or Fall in Ontario?
Your health and safety come first. The steps taken immediately after a fall can also affect the available evidence, the identification of responsible parties and your ability to pursue a claim.
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Photograph and Record the Hazard
Take photographs and video of the exact condition that caused the fall, the surrounding area, lighting, weather conditions and any warning signs—or absence of warnings—before the scene changes.
Report the Incident
Notify the property owner, manager, staff member or municipality as soon as possible. Ask that an incident report be created and request a copy if one is available.
Identify Witnesses and Surveillance
Obtain the names and contact information of anyone who saw the fall or the hazardous condition. Note the location of any surveillance cameras that may have recorded the incident.
Seek Medical Attention
Obtain an appropriate medical assessment, explain how the fall occurred and report all symptoms. Continue following reasonable treatment recommendations and keep records of your appointments.
Preserve Your Footwear and Records
Photograph and safely store the shoes or boots worn during the fall without cleaning, repairing or wearing them again. Keep receipts, medical records, employment information and related correspondence.
Protect Short Deadlines and Obtain Legal Advice
Very short notice periods may apply, including 10 days for certain municipal claims and 60 days for certain snow-or-ice claims. Obtain legal advice promptly before evidence disappears or a deadline is missed.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Ontario Slip and Fall Claim FAQs
SPEAK WITH AN ONTARIO SLIP AND FALL LAWYER
Get Clear Advice About Your Next Steps
If you were injured because of an unsafe property condition, you do not have to investigate the fall, identify the responsible parties and deal with the insurance process alone. Contact DR Injury & Disability Law for a free consultation about what happened, the evidence that should be preserved and your possible next steps.
Ontario-wide representation, with consultations available by phone, video or at our Toronto office.