Personal Injury · Slip and Fall Claims
Hurt in a fall on someone else's property in Toronto or the GTA? You pay no fee unless we win. Speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer and Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation, and act before strict notice deadlines pass.
Free consultation · We respond within one business day · Offices in Toronto, Huntsville and Bowmanville
Injured in a slip and fall in Toronto?
A fall on an icy walkway, a wet store floor or a poorly maintained stairwell can cause a fracture, a head injury or chronic pain that lasts for years. Under Ontario's Occupiers' Liability Act, the people who own and control a property have a duty to take reasonable care to keep visitors reasonably safe. When they fail, and you are hurt as a result, you may be entitled to compensation.
The personal injury lawyers of Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP act for people across Toronto and the GTA in serious slip, trip and fall claims. We also represent injured people in car accidents and the full range of personal injury litigation. A slip and fall is not automatically someone else's fault, so the real question is whether the occupier did what was reasonable in the circumstances, and that is what we assess.
Why acting quickly matters
Slip and fall claims carry deadlines that are far shorter than most people expect, and missing one can end a claim before it begins. This is the single biggest reason to speak with a lawyer in the days after a fall, not the weeks or months.
If your fall was caused by snow or ice on private or commercial premises, written notice must be served on the occupier and any snow-removal contractor within 60 days, under section 6.1 of the Occupiers' Liability Act.
If you fell on a City of Toronto sidewalk or other municipal property, a much shorter written notice period applies, generally 10 days. These claims are technical and strictly enforced.
Separately, you generally have two years from the date of the fall to start a lawsuit. Giving notice is not the same as starting a claim, so both timelines must be met.
Because the clock can start the day you fall, it is worth getting advice early. Our note on why hiring a lawyer is critical after a slip and fall explains how these deadlines work in practice.
Where falls happen
We act for people injured by hazards a property owner should have addressed, including the most serious cases involving traumatic brain injury, fractures, chronic pain and spinal cord injuries.
Falls on unsalted, uncleared or poorly maintained walkways, entrances and parking lots, the most common winter claims in Toronto.
Falls in grocery stores, malls, restaurants and other businesses caused by spills, freshly washed floors or tracked-in water without warning.
Falls on defective, poorly lit or improperly maintained stairs, handrails and escalators.
Trips on potholes, broken pavement, uneven surfaces and unmarked changes in level.
Falls in common areas, lobbies, hallways and stairwells that a landlord or property manager failed to maintain.
Falls suffered by patients and residents where reasonable care for their safety was not taken.
First steps
Report the fall to the property owner, manager or staff, and ask that an incident report be made. Photograph the hazard right away, because snow, ice and spills disappear within hours: take wide shots and close-ups of what caused the fall, and a photo of the footwear you were wearing. Get the names and contact details of anyone who saw it. See a doctor even if your injuries seem minor, so they are documented from the start, and keep the clothing and footwear you had on. Then get legal advice promptly, because the notice clock may already be running.
Read the full checklist: 7 steps to take after a slip and fall accident in Ontario →
What you may recover
Where an occupier is found liable, the compensation available is meant to put you back in the position you would have been in had the fall not happened.
Depending on the injury, that can include damages for pain and suffering, past and future loss of income, the cost of medical care, rehabilitation and assistive devices, attendant care and housekeeping, and out-of-pocket expenses. In the most serious cases involving long-term or catastrophic injury, the cost of future care can be substantial. We work with medical and economic experts to document the full extent of your losses rather than settling for an insurer's first number.
Working with us
Tell us what happened using the form below or by phone. There is no cost and no obligation to speak with us.
An experienced personal injury lawyer reviews your situation, explains your options, and assesses the value of your case.
If we act for you, we preserve the deadlines, deal with the insurers, and pursue the compensation you deserve.
A proven track record
Our lawyers have recovered compensation for people seriously injured by unsafe premises, including cases where the property owner vigorously contested liability.
For a homeowner who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a faulty furnace installation (2024).
For a transplant patient who injured their back after a fall in hospital (2023).
For a grandmother who sustained orthopedic injuries after a fall in a mall food court; liability was vigorously contested (2023).
Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. Amounts recovered and other litigation outcomes will vary according to the facts of each individual case.
Why clients trust us
We have lawyers certified as Specialists in Civil Litigation by the Law Society of Ontario, a designation granted to lawyers who meet established standards of experience and knowledge.
Since 2018, our lawyers have been recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada for their work in Insurance Law, Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Litigation.
Ranked Tier 1 in Best Law Firms in Canada 2026, with a team that brings courtroom experience to every file.
Hear from former clients in their own words on our testimonials page, or meet the lawyers who would handle your case.
No fee unless we win
We believe everyone should have access to strong legal representation after a serious fall, regardless of their financial situation. That is why we offer competitive, sliding-scale contingency fee representation for personal injury claims.
Common questions
It depends on where and how you fell. If your fall was caused by snow or ice on private or commercial property, written notice must usually be served within 60 days under the Occupiers' Liability Act. If you fell on a City of Toronto sidewalk or other municipal property, a much shorter notice period, generally 10 days, applies. Separately, you generally have two years to start a lawsuit. Because the shortest of these can expire quickly, it is best to get advice within days of a fall.
Not every fall leads to a claim. The question is whether the occupier failed to take reasonable care to keep the property safe, and whether that failure caused your injury. A genuine hazard that the owner knew about or should have addressed, combined with a real injury, is the foundation of a claim. We assess the strength of your case at no cost.
Your initial consultation is free. We act for personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. If we do not win, you do not owe us fees or disbursements.
Often, yes. Ontario applies contributory negligence, so if you were partly responsible, for example because of your footwear or because a hazard was obvious, that may reduce your recovery rather than eliminate it. We assess how fault is likely to be apportioned on your facts.
It depends on who controlled and maintained the area where you fell. That may be the business, the property owner or property manager, or a contractor hired to clear snow and ice. More than one party can share responsibility. Identifying the right parties early matters, particularly for the notice deadlines, which is part of what we do.
Every case is different. Straightforward matters can resolve relatively quickly, while serious or contested claims take longer, particularly where the full extent of an injury is still becoming clear. We explain what to expect for your situation at the outset.
Free consultation
Tell us about your fall and injuries below, with as much detail as you can. We will respond within one business day. There is no cost and no obligation.
☎ 1 (800) 661-7606Speak with our team
Tell us about your fall and injuries, and we will respond within one business day. With offices in Toronto, Huntsville and Bowmanville, we act for injured clients across Ontario, and the consultation is always free.
220 Bay Street, Suite 1400
Toronto, ON M5J 2W4
(416) 360-1194
322 Muskoka Road 3 North
Huntsville, ON P1H 1C4
(705) 788-3740
222 King Street East, Suite 207
Bowmanville, ON L1C 1P6
(289) 316-1301
Speak with our team
Tell us about your fall and injuries, and we will respond within one business day. With offices in Toronto, Huntsville and Bowmanville, we act for injured clients across Ontario, and the consultation is always free.
220 Bay Street, Suite 1400
Toronto, ON M5J 2W4
(416) 360-1194
322 Muskoka Road 3 North
Huntsville, ON P1H 1C4
(705) 788-3740
222 King Street East, Suite 207
Bowmanville, ON L1C 1P6
(289) 316-1301