If you have slipped, tripped and/or fallen on someone else’s property because of dangerous conditions that existed on that property, you may be entitled to compensation. These incidents often happen because hazards were not properly addressed. Our team of slip and fall lawyers in London, Ontario can help you file a personal injury claim and make sure you are properly compensated for medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation costs, and pain and suffering.
Notice deadlines after a slip and fall injury in Ontario
Timing is critical after a slip and fall. Ontario law imposes strict notice deadlines that can directly affect your ability to pursue a claim. It is best to speak with an injury lawyer as soon as possible after a slip and fall. Different locations have different notice requirements. For example, if you are injured on municipal property, you must provide written notice of the incident and your injuries within 10 days of the incident. If you are injured on private property, due to snow or ice, you only have 60 days to provide written notice to the occupier of the property. Failure to provide proper notice can permanently block future lawsuits. Missing these deadlines can significantly limit or prevent your ability to bring a claim. Speaking with a lawyer early helps protect your rights and preserve critical evidence.
Common causes of slips and falls
In many cases, they result from preventable hazards that were ignored, poorly maintained, or inadequately addressed. Courts assess whether a property owner took reasonable steps to identify and fix risks. The most common sources of dangerous conditions occur because:
- owners and occupiers of premises allow the condition of a floor, stair, parking lot, or even lighting to fall into disrepair;
- owners and occupiers of premises do not clean properly or at all so that debris, garbage, or other substances accumulate; and
- owners and occupiers of premises do not reasonably keep up with winter conditions like ice and snow build up.
Everyone who owns, occupies, manages or maintains property in Ontario has a legal duty to take all reasonable steps to keep people who use that property safe. This duty is part of our provincial law and is written in the “Occupiers Liability Act”.
Everyone has a duty to mind their own safely and take reasonable steps to ensure they are not injured. However, even if you are partly to blame for your own fall, you can still make a successful claim against the owner or occupier of the property for their share of your losses.
Understanding liability in Ontario slip and falls
Under Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Act, anyone who owns, occupies, or controls property has a legal duty to take reasonable steps to keep visitors safe. This includes regularly inspecting the property, addressing hazards, and warning of risks that cannot be immediately fixed.
Everyone has a duty to mind their own safely and take reasonable steps to ensure they are not injured. It’s also important to understand that liability is not always all-or-nothing. Even if you may have contributed to your fall, you may still be entitled to compensation.
How Siskinds can help
Working with Siskinds means working with a team of professionals. Our team of lawyers, clerks and paralegals work exclusively in the area of personal injury law. We know the legal and medical systems and are looking out for you. We will be with you each step of the way as you recover from your injury and make sure you get the support you deserve.
At Siskinds our personal injury group specializes in slip and fall accident cases. Please contact us to arrange a free consultation with one of our experienced slip and fall lawyers.
