Slip, Trip & Fall Lawyers in Ontario
A fall on an icy walkway, a wet store floor, or a broken staircase can leave you with fractures, a head injury, or chronic pain that lingers for years. Azimi Law and Naimark Law Firm are Ontario trial lawyers who hold property owners and occupiers accountable under the Occupiers' Liability Act — and who move fast, because slip-and-fall claims carry some of the shortest notice deadlines in the province.
When a Property Owner Fails to Keep You Safe
Under Ontario's Occupiers' Liability Act, the people who own or control a property owe a duty to take reasonable care that visitors are reasonably safe while they are on it. That duty applies to stores, restaurants, apartment buildings, parking lots, condominiums, office towers, and private homes alike. When an occupier ignores a hazard they knew about or should have caught, and someone is hurt as a result, the law allows the injured person to seek compensation.
These are not minor mishaps. A fall from a poorly maintained stair, a slip on an unsalted entrance, or a trip over a raised tile can fracture a hip, tear a rotator cuff, or cause a concussion or traumatic brain injury that changes a person's life. Insurers for property owners routinely argue that the victim simply was not watching where they were going. We answer that defence with photographs, maintenance records, weather data, and witness evidence that show the hazard was real and the occupier did too little about it.
Ryan Naimark spent roughly two decades on the other side of these files, defending insurance companies against exactly this kind of claim. He understands how adjusters assess a fall, where they probe for weakness, and what proof forces a fair settlement. Together with Ben Azimi's trial advocacy, that perspective now works for the injured person instead of against them.
The biggest risk in a slip-and-fall case is usually not the defence — it is the calendar. Ontario law imposes strict written-notice deadlines that can be far shorter than the general limitation period, and they differ depending on where you fell and what caused it. Acting early protects both the evidence and your right to claim, which is why the most valuable thing you can do is call before another day passes.
No Win. No Fee. Legal fees are a percentage of your recovery. The firm funds the disbursements needed to build your case. If there is no recovery, you owe nothing for legal fees.
Types of Slip, Trip & Fall Cases We Handle
No two falls are the same. The cause of the hazard and the type of property determine who is responsible, which insurer answers, and what notice deadline applies.
Ice & Snow
Unsalted entrances, unshovelled walkways, and ice that an occupier left to build up are among the most common winter hazards. Falls on snow or ice on private property trigger a special 60-day written-notice rule, so these cases must move quickly.
Wet & Slippery Floors
Spills left unattended, freshly mopped floors with no warning sign, and tracked-in rain or slush can turn a store aisle into a hazard. We obtain incident reports and inspection logs to show how long the danger was present.
Broken & Defective Stairs
Loose handrails, crumbling treads, missing nosings, and stairs that fail to meet the building code cause violent falls. Engineering and code evidence often establishes that the staircase was unsafe long before you used it.
Uneven & Damaged Surfaces
Raised tiles, cracked sidewalks, torn carpet, potholes, and unmarked changes in level catch a foot without warning. These trip hazards frequently expose poor maintenance over a long period.
Poor Lighting
A burnt-out bulb in a stairwell or a dark parking lot can hide a step, a curb, or a hole. Inadequate lighting is itself a failure to keep visitors reasonably safe, and we treat it as a hazard in its own right.
Municipal Sidewalks & Roads
Falls on city-owned sidewalks, roads, and pathways involve a different defendant and a much shorter notice period — generally about 10 days in writing. We give that notice immediately to preserve the claim.
Compensation Available After a Slip, Trip or Fall
A successful occupiers' liability claim can recover compensation under several heads of damages. We pursue every category your injuries support.
Pain & Suffering
Non-pecuniary damages for the physical pain, limitation, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by your injury — a central part of nearly every fall claim where the harm is real and ongoing.
Income Loss
Past wages lost during recovery and the value of future income or earning capacity you can no longer realize because of a fall that left you unable to do your job.
Medical & Rehabilitation
The cost of treatment the occupier's insurer should bear: surgery, physiotherapy, assistive devices, medication, and rehabilitation needed to recover as fully as possible.
Future Care Costs
For serious or permanent injuries, the projected lifetime cost of care, equipment, and support — often the largest part of a claim where mobility or independence is affected.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Reimbursement for the many costs a fall creates: parking and travel for appointments, prescriptions, mobility aids, and home or vehicle modifications.
Family Law Act Claims
Spouses, children, parents, grandparents, and siblings may claim for the loss of your care, guidance, and companionship, and for the value of the services they now provide you.
The Legal Process & Critical Deadlines
Slip-and-fall claims are won or lost in the first days after the fall. Evidence disappears and notice deadlines run quickly, so the first call you make is the most important one.
Get Medical Care Right Away
See a doctor even if the injury seems minor. Prompt treatment protects your health and creates the medical record that proves how the fall harmed you.
Photograph the Hazard & Keep Your Footwear
Take pictures of the ice, spill, broken stair, or defect before it is cleared or repaired, note the exact location and time, and preserve the shoes you were wearing — they are key evidence the defence cannot dispute.
Report the Fall & Identify the Occupier
Report the incident to the store, landlord, or property manager and get a copy of any incident report. We then identify every responsible party, including snow-removal and maintenance contractors.
Give Written Notice — On a Short Clock
Snow and ice falls on private property require written notice within 60 days. Falls on municipal property require written notice in roughly 10 days. We deliver the proper notice immediately so the claim survives.
Build the Case & Negotiate From Strength
We gather maintenance logs, weather records, and expert evidence, then pursue full settlement while preparing the file for trial. Insurers pay fairly when they know we are ready to litigate.
Two notice deadlines you cannot miss. For snow or ice on private property, the Occupiers' Liability Act requires written notice within 60 days of the fall. For a fall on a municipal sidewalk or road, written notice is generally required within about 10 days. The general two-year limitation under the Limitations Act, 2002 still applies on top of these. Call before a deadline decides your case for you.
Why Injured Ontarians Choose Azimi Law & Naimark Law Firm
We Know How Occupiers Defend
Ryan Naimark spent 20 years defending insurers in fall cases. That insider knowledge now shapes how we value, build, and pressure every claim for the injured person.
We Are Trial Lawyers
We prepare each file for the courtroom, not just the negotiating table. That readiness is what moves insurers off their first lowball offer.
Two Firms, Combined Depth
Azimi Law and Naimark Law Firm work together so your case has the resources and bench strength of two established Ontario practices.
No Win, No Fee
You pay nothing up front and nothing for legal fees unless we recover for you. We fund the cost of building your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to make a slip-and-fall claim in Ontario?+
The general limitation period is two years from the date of the fall, but much shorter written-notice deadlines often apply first. Falls involving snow or ice on private property require written notice within 60 days under the Occupiers' Liability Act, and falls on municipal sidewalks or roads generally require written notice within about 10 days. Because missing a notice deadline can end an otherwise valid claim, it is best to call as soon as possible.
Why does it matter whether I fell on private or municipal property?+
The defendant and the deadline change depending on where you fell. A fall in a store, apartment, or private parking lot is governed by the Occupiers' Liability Act, while a fall on a city sidewalk or road involves the municipality and a far shorter notice period of roughly 10 days. We identify the correct responsible party and serve the right notice in time.
What should I do right after I fall?+
If you can, photograph the hazard before it is cleaned up or repaired, note the exact time and location, and get the names of any witnesses. Report the fall to the property owner or manager and ask for a copy of any incident report. Keep the footwear and clothing you were wearing, see a doctor, and contact us before giving any statement to an insurer.
The owner says I should have been watching where I was going. Can I still claim?+
Often, yes. Ontario uses a contributory negligence system, so your compensation may be reduced by your own share of fault but is not necessarily eliminated. Insurers routinely argue that the victim was inattentive to avoid paying. We use photographs, maintenance records, and weather data to show the hazard was the real cause of the fall.
Do I have a case if there was no warning sign?+
The absence of a warning can strengthen a claim. An occupier who creates or leaves a hazard — a wet floor, an icy entrance, a broken stair — without warning visitors or fixing it may have failed the duty to keep people reasonably safe. We assess the specific facts and the maintenance system the occupier had in place.
What if I fell on snow or ice in a parking lot or walkway?+
Winter falls on private property are common and very time-sensitive. The Occupiers' Liability Act requires written notice within 60 days of the fall to the occupier and any snow-removal contractor. We send that notice promptly, identify the contractor responsible for clearing and salting, and preserve weather and maintenance evidence before it is lost.
What does it cost to hire you?+
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means our legal fee is a percentage of what we recover for you, and the firm funds the disbursements required to advance your case. If there is no recovery, you owe no legal fees. We explain the agreement in plain language before you sign anything.
Injured in a Fall? Talk to a Trial Lawyer Before the Deadline.
Free consultation. No obligation. No win, no fee. Available 24 / 7 / 365.