A sudden slip, trip, or fall can happen when you least expect it — on a wet grocery store floor, an icy parking lot, or even a dimly lit staircase.
While some falls result in nothing more than a bruised ego, others leave victims with serious injuries: broken bones, concussions, torn ligaments, chronic back pain, or lasting disability. On top of physical pain, the financial and emotional impact of a slip-and-fall accident can be overwhelming — medical bills, lost wages, and a diminished quality of life.
At Cambria Law Firm, we’re here to help you recover the compensation you deserve and to hold negligent property owners accountable.
Here’s what you need to know about the types of compensation available, real-world examples of recent Ontario cases, and how we can help you every step of the way.
Understanding Property Owner Responsibility in Ontario
In Ontario, property owners (or those responsible for maintaining the property — like tenants or property managers) have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors.
When they fail to meet this duty, and someone gets hurt because of their negligence, they can be held liable under the Occupiers’ Liability Act.
We often see cases involving:
- Wet, unmarked floors
- Icy or uncleared sidewalks and parking lots
- Broken stairs or uneven flooring
- Poor lighting that obscures hazards
- Obstructions left in walkways
But liability isn’t always straightforward — as the following recent cases show, it depends on the specific circumstances and evidence.
Real Cases, Real Lessons: Ontario Slip-and-Fall Decisions
Recent Ontario court decisions illustrate how property owners’ actions (or inaction) can create dangerous conditions — and how courts decide compensation.
🎵 A Concertgoer’s Fall: Lyng v. Ontario Place Corporation (2024 ONCA 23)
At a concert in Ontario Place, a man slipped on a wet, steep hill while leaving the venue. Security had closed the safer pedestrian bridge without warning visitors and provided no barriers or signs about the hazardous alternative route.
He tore his ACL and was awarded about $175,000 in damages, despite being found 25% contributorily negligent (he was wearing flip-flops and had consumed alcohol).
➡️ Lesson: Even ordinary hazards, like wet grass, can become dangerous when a property owner’s decisions force visitors into risky situations without warning them.
🧊 An Icy Staircase: Bainbridge v. 1392396 Ontario Limited (2024 ONSC 6990)
A tenant slipped on an icy, poorly cleared staircase outside her apartment. The landlords didn’t defend the lawsuit and were held 100% liable, with the court emphasizing their failure to properly maintain the property.
She was awarded over $150,000 in damages plus costs.
➡️ Lesson: Property owners must take snow and ice removal seriously and defend claims properly — ignoring a lawsuit can lead to a steep price.
🪵 A Dangerous Workplace: Steele v. Bicknese (2024 ONSC 6090)
An employee fell through an old, broken barn floor known to collapse “quite regularly.” The owner admitted no inspection or repair system was in place, and injuries were common.
The court awarded the plaintiff $100,000 for a spinal injury, finding the owner 100% at fault.
➡️ Lesson: Property owners — especially employers — have a duty to proactively inspect and repair known hazards. Accepting injury as “normal” is unacceptable.
🚗 A Parking Lot Slip Tied to Vehicle Use: Davis v. Aviva General Insurance (2024 ONCA 944)
In this case, a woman slipped on ice while unlocking her car with a key fob. The court ruled that her fall qualified as an “accident” under her auto insurance benefits, as her activity was connected to vehicle use.
➡️ Lesson: Some slip-and-fall incidents can trigger insurance claims in unexpected ways — having a lawyer guide you through the process is invaluable.
What Compensation Can You Claim?
When pursuing a slip-and-fall claim in Ontario, compensation generally falls into two main categories:
🔷 Special Damages (Financial Losses)
These are measurable, out-of-pocket costs such as:
- Medical expenses: hospital bills, medications, physiotherapy, mobility aids.
- Lost wages: past and future income if you can’t work due to injury.
- Care costs: if you need help with personal care or household chores.
- Out-of-pocket expenses: transportation, home modifications, assistive devices.
🔷 General Damages (Pain & Suffering)
These cover the emotional and physical toll of your injury, including:
- Pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress and trauma.
- Loss of enjoyment of life and hobbies.
In Ontario, there are deductibles and caps on general damages — for 2025, the deductible for minor injuries sits at about $46,790, and there is a cap of approximately $155,965 for non-pecuniary damages in catastrophic cases.
What Kind of Cases Are We Looking For?
At Cambria Law Firm, we’re here to help clients with serious injuries caused by hazardous property conditions. We are currently accepting cases involving:
✅ Falls on icy or uncleared parking lots, sidewalks, or steps.
✅ Slips on wet, greasy, or unmarked floors in businesses.
✅ Falls due to broken stairs, uneven sidewalks, or poor lighting.
✅ Falls on municipal property (note: you must give notice within 10 days).
✅ Injuries that result in significant harm: broken bones, head trauma, or long-term disability.
If your fall occurred because a property owner ignored their legal responsibility to keep visitors safe, we want to hear your story.
Why You Need a Lawyer
Insurance companies work hard to minimize payouts. We work harder — gathering evidence, documenting your damages, negotiating with insurers, and, if necessary, taking your case to court.
At Cambria Law Firm, we offer:
- Free consultations with no obligation.
- No upfront fees — you don’t pay unless we win.
- Personalized support to help you focus on your recovery.
Don’t Wait — Act Now
If you’ve suffered a slip-and-fall injury in Ontario, time is critical. You generally have two years to file a claim — but if your fall was on municipal property, you must give notice within 10 days.
📞 Contact Cambria Law Firm today for your free consultation. Let us help you secure the compensation you deserve while you focus on healing.
