Who is liable for a slip and fall in Canada?
Occupiers (property owners, tenants, businesses) have a duty to keep premises reasonably safe under provincial Occupiers' Liability Acts (Ontario OLA, BC OLA, Alberta OLA). They must warn visitors of known hazards and take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. The standard varies by visitor category: invitee, licensee, or trespasser.
How does contributory negligence affect a slip and fall claim?
Under the Negligence Act (Ontario) and equivalent provincial statutes, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were 30% at fault (e.g., distracted by your phone, wearing inappropriate footwear), you recover only 70% of your total damages. Unlike the US, Canada generally does not bar recovery if you are majority at fault.
How long do I have to file a slip and fall claim in Canada?
In Ontario, the basic limitation period is 2 years from the date you knew or ought to have known about the injury. However, if the fall occurred on municipal property, you typically must give written notice to the municipality within 10 days under the Municipal Act.