Slip & Fall Accident Lawyers
Cohen Highley LLP represents people across Ontario who have been injured in slip and fall accidents caused by unsafe property conditions. Whether your fall occurred at a business, private property, rental premises, or on municipal property, our personal injury lawyers help clients pursue compensation for injuries, lost income, rehabilitation expenses, and other losses resulting from a property owner’s negligence. Under Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Act, property owners, occupiers, tenants, and businesses have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe, and they may be held accountable when they fail to do so.
Time is critical in slip and fall cases. Claims involving ice or snow may require written notice within 60 days under Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Amendment Act, while falls on municipal property such as sidewalks can carry a notice period as short as 10 days. Most slip and fall claims are also subject to a two-year limitation period. If you need help filing a slip and fall accident claim, contact us today to discuss your legal options.
Trip & Fall Injury Services We Offer
Cohen Highley LLP’s personal injury lawyers assist clients across Southwestern Ontario with a broad range of slip and fall claims, including:
- Slip & Fall Accidents on Commercial Property: Injuries occurring on business premises where occupiers have failed to address known hazards
- Trip & Fall Accidents on Private Property: Claims arising from uneven surfaces, cracked sidewalks, broken stairs, poor lighting, or cluttered walkways on residential or private land
- Falls Caused by Ice and Snow: Claims under Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Amendment Act where property owners or their contractors failed to adequately clear or treat outdoor surfaces
- Falls on Municipal Property: Injuries on city-owned sidewalks, parking lots, and public walkways, where strict notice and limitation timelines apply
- Hospital and Care Facility Falls: Claims where inadequate fall-prevention protocols or staff negligence contributed to a patient or resident injury
- Compensation Claims: Pursuing recovery for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, adjusted living expenses, and pain and suffering
- Insurance Negotiation and Dispute Resolution: Handling communications and negotiations with property insurers on your behalf so you can focus on recovery
Our Approach to Slip & Fall Injury Cases
Every slip and fall case begins with a free initial consultation. Our personal injury lawyers take the time to understand where the accident happened, what conditions existed, who was responsible for maintaining the space, and what injuries you have sustained. From there, we assess the strength of your claim under Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Act, identify the relevant notice and limitation deadlines that apply to your specific situation, and develop a strategy aimed at holding the responsible parties accountable.
Once we take on your file, our role extends well beyond legal representation. Our team works to ensure you have access to medical care, rehabilitation support, and other resources you need throughout your recovery. We handle the documentation, evidence gathering, and insurer communications while you focus on getting better.
Why Choose Cohen Highley LLP
Slip and fall claims in Ontario are more legally complex than many people expect. Proving that an occupier breached their duty of care and that the breach caused your injuries requires a clear understanding of the Occupiers’ Liability Act, detailed evidence, and careful attention to deadlines that can be as short as 10 days in some cases. Cohen Highley LLP has been serving clients throughout Ontario for decades, with a personal injury team that brings the legal knowledge, practical resources, and individual attention required to navigate these claims effectively. We serve clients from offices in London, Kitchener, Windsor, Sarnia, and Strathroy.
Our personal injury lawyers work to connect clients with appropriate physical and mental healthcare, accessibility support, and other services that are part of a full recovery. If you or someone you care about has been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact Cohen Highley LLP today for a free consultation. You do not have to navigate this alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in Ontario?
The general limitation period for slip and fall claims in Ontario is 2 years from the date of the accident. However, there are shorter notice requirements that can affect your ability to pursue a claim. If your fall was caused by ice or snow, you must provide written notice to the occupier or their snow removal contractor within 60 days of the accident under Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Amendment Act. If your fall occurred on municipal property, you must give notice of your injury to the municipality within 10 days. Missing these notice windows can prevent you from advancing a claim entirely, regardless of the 2 year limitation period.
Can I sue if I slipped and fell on a private property in Ontario?
You may be able to pursue a claim if an occupier of private property failed to meet their duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Act and that failure caused your injuries. To succeed in a claim, it must be shown that the occupier knew or reasonably should have known about the hazard and failed to address it. Whether a claim is viable depends on the specific circumstances of your fall, which is why a consultation with a personal injury lawyer is an important first step.
What compensation may be available after a slip and fall accident?
The compensation available in a slip and fall claim depends on the nature and extent of your injuries. Recoverable damages may include:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Ongoing care costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Adjusted living expenses
- Damages for pain and suffering
Where injuries are serious and long-lasting, compensation can also account for future medical needs and the broader impact on your quality of life. If the injured party is found to have contributed to the accident in some way, damages may be reduced proportionally under contributory negligence principles.
What should I do immediately after a slip and fall accident?
If you are able to do so safely, document the scene by taking photos of the hazard and your injuries, noting the time and conditions, and gathering the contact information of any witnesses. Report the incident to the property owner, manager, or municipality and keep a copy of any incident report. Seek medical attention promptly because medical records are important evidence in any future claim. Keep track of any expenses and lost income resulting from your injuries. Then contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible, particularly if ice, snow, or municipal property was involved, given the short notice deadlines that apply.
Does Cohen Highley LLP charge upfront fees for slip and fall cases?
No. Cohen Highley LLP’s personal injury group works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay legal fees unless your case results in a settlement or award. When a contingency fee applies, it is no more than 30% of your settlement or award for damages and costs. Initial consultations are provided at no cost.
Our legal team is accessible, innovative, and professional.
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